But dared she do this thing?
She took up the invitation again and read it.

It was to be a fancy-dress ball, and all were to wear masks.

The waltz which she had learned to dance from Lady Blythebury herself and which was only just coming into vogue in England, was to be one of the greatest features of the evening.
There would be no foolish formality, Lady Blythebury had assured her.
The masks would preclude that.

Altogether the whole entertainment promised to be of so entrancing a nature that she had permitted herself to look forward to it with considerable pleasure.

But she might have guessed that Sir Roland would refuse to go, she reflected, as she sat in her dainty room with the invitation before her.