Lucy gasped when she heard a masculine voice, whirling around with some contraption made of strips of leather still in her hand.  Her mouth opened and then closed again as she realized it was<em>him,</em>Katie's Hugh.  Dear lord in heaven, what was he doing here?  He should be at the fête!  She should have still had plenty of time.<br/><br/>Quickly, she took a step away from the armoire, hiding the leather apparatus behind her back and tucking loosened hair behind her ear as she listened to his accusations.  She was unsure how to handle this.  She knew she had found something, although she did not know exactly what.  And if she did not understand it, Katie too was unlikely to.  Deciding on a course of action, she tilted her chin up, opening her mouth to lie once again... and then he said her name.<br/><br/>Lucy paled visibly, drawing air into her lungs with a sharp gasp.  How could he know who she was?  Katie...?  No, as soon as the thought entered her mind, it was gone.  Not in a thousand years would her lady betray her.  Suddenly, Lord Covington felt like a foe, and a formidable one at that, one who was sharp enough to know who was in his household even without introductions.<br/><br/>She listened to his threats to go to Katie, and she knew that she must not allow that to happen.  Of course, his betrothed knew of her maid's presence in his study; it was sanctioned by her, after all.  But she would never be able to admit it.  To spy on one's affianced, such a thing was unheard of.  Lucy could not imagine the embarrassment if the nuptials were called off at such a late date.  Who would offer for Kate then?  Frantically, her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plausible story.<br/><br/>And then he gave her one.  "Yes," she said eagerly.  She was relieved that she had found a way out of heartache for her mistress and excited that Hugh had admitted that he was, indeed, shrouded in mystery.  And was offering to share with her what those mysteries were!  The situation could not have been more perfect.  She would save Kate's honor<em>and</em>find out information.  Wide-eyed, she brought her hand back around, holding out the strips of leather.  "I have heard whispers, my lord, and... well, here I am."