"Oh," Henry whispered. "This is excellent."
The woman ignored him. She pointed at the bird. "It stole my necklace!"
The bird flew toward the chandelier. Julian looked up, then at her.
"Does it often do that?"
"Only when it sees me."
"That seems personal."
"It is personal."
The bird dropped the necklace. It landed directly on Julian's head. Nobody spoke. Henry made a strangled noise. Lady Margaret covered her mouth. The woman stared at Julian. Then, despite herself, she laughed. It was a bright, helpless laugh.
Julian removed the necklace from his head. "You appear to have found your thief."
She walked toward him. "I am so sorry. For the bird, for everything."
He handed her the necklace. Their fingers touched. She looked up. For one strange second, the room disappeared. Julian saw clear gray-blue eyes, a small freckle near her left cheek, and an expression that seemed to contain equal parts embarrassment and defiance.
Then she looked toward his aunt, then toward the unmarried ladies, then back at him. "You are the Duke."
"Yes."
Her eyes widened. "Oh no."
Julian almost smiled. "You have heard of me."
"I have heard enough to know I should probably leave."
"You may be right."
She took one step toward the door. Julian spoke.
"Miss."
She turned. "What is your name?"
"Eliza Hart."
"Miss Hart."
"Yes."
"Are you unmarried?"
She stared at him. "That is an extraordinarily rude question."
"Under ordinary circumstances, I would agree."
"And these are not ordinary circumstances?"
"Not remotely."
She looked at the bird. "No, I am unmarried."
Julian glanced at his aunt. Lady Margaret looked as though she had just witnessed the collapse of the British Empire. Eliza frowned.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Julian smiled. "Because you are the first unmarried woman to enter this room."
Her mouth fell open.
Henry whispered, "I would like to point out that the bird technically entered first."
"Henry!" Lady Margaret snapped.
"What? It is relevant."
Eliza looked at Julian. "You cannot be serious."
"I made a promise."
"To your aunt?"
"To myself."