Twenty-Three

The Duke's London townhouse on fashionable Park Lane was four stories high, and had many elegant rooms available for what was commonly known as a "squeeze." Cassy saw immediately why it was referred to that way when she stood beside the dowager duchess to greet the guests who had been invited. Lilian didn't make it because she was sick, but she sent in a letter telling Cassy that something amazing was going to happen.

The guest were divided into two classes, the curious, who had never been invited to a party given by the notorious "Devil" Eastland, and the highborn rakes who had. Those who "had" were faintly startled, then amused at the tameness of the dancing, drink and damsels provided. None of the fair Cyprians, as those ladies of the evening were euphemistically called, were present. Instead, only young ladies of birth and or breeding were present, a great many with their mamas, and the others with proper chaperones.

Looking around the assemblage with a jaundiced eye, one fellow wa