Rebecca laughed. If it was one thing Blackburn money was, it was old. It was also scarce. She said, “Then all I need to do is head up to Beacon Hill and borrow some dumpy old dress stuffed up in my grandfather’s attic-”

Alex suddenly clapped his hands together. “Of course!”

“I will not-I was only kidding. Look, thanks, but I’ll figure something out.”

“Rebecca, hush, will you please? I don’t care about the frumpy clothes in your grandfather’s attic. I have our answer.”

Rebecca was dubious. “What?”

“Not what-who. Lenny.”

“Lenny?”

Alex would say no more. He grabbed Sofi and disappeared. When they weren’t back in twenty minutes, Rebecca was contemplating her denim skirt and her roommate’s silver sequined top, but then they burst in, with Lenny, a senior theater major. Lenny wasn’t short for Eleanor or Leonora, as Rebecca had anticipated, but for Leonard. He was five-ten, had a wiry runner’s body and wore a short ponytail. He, Sofi and Alex all carried an assortment of evening clothes.

“Lenny finds playing women’s roles both fun and instructive,” Sofi said, obviously quoting him. “He thinks his openness toward new experiences ultimately will help him become a better actor and director.”

Lenny made a clinical examination of Rebecca, in her ratty chenille robe and bare feet, and immediately dismissed three of the dresses he’d brought along. Rebecca made a none-too-subtle remark about the time. Sighing, Lenny posted Alex outside the door. When Jared arrived, Alex would knock three times.

Finally, Lenny said, “The white.”

He withdrew his choice from the masses of dry cleaner bags, unwrapped it and held a white linen dress up to Rebecca. It had tiny white lace edging and a high collar. He said, “Perfect.”

“I’ll look like a virgin!”

“Of course you will.”

“But…”

“You are a virgin,” Sofi pointed out, quite unnecessarily, in Rebecca’s opinion.

Lenny was all business. “You don’t have shoes, I suppose?”

“Sneakers and L.L. Bean boots.”

“My God. Sofi?”

“I wear a size six. Rebecca wouldn’t fit in my shoes.”

“I’m a size ten,” Lenny said.

Rebecca couldn’t believe they were having this discussion, but surrendered. “Size eight.”

“Must be somebody around here who wears an eight,” Sofi said. “I think Edie might.”

“They must be white,” Lenny instructed, “and as delicate as possible.”

“Virginal,” Sofi added, with a wicked grin at her roommate, and shot out the door.

The decision made, Lenny called Alex in, and together they played valet for Rebecca as though she were the star in one of their student theater productions. By now she was getting too big a kick out of the whole thing to protest. They helped her off with her bathrobe, assuring her their interest in her slip-clad body was purely professional, although Alex did make a point of telling her that Lenny might be gay, but he wasn’t.

“Don’t worry,” Lenny reassured her, amused, “if the cretin tries anything, I’ll punch him out.”

“I have five brothers. If he tries anything, I’ll punch him out.”

They had her raise her arms and slipped the dress on. Lenny was bigger in the bust when he played a woman than Rebecca was, but otherwise the dress was a remarkably good fit. The lace hem came to midcalf. Ignoring Lenny’s pained expression, Rebecca added her only pair of pantyhose.

“You don’t have makeup, I presume?” he asked.

“I use a little Vaseline on my lips…”

“Horrors. Luckily I brought along my own palette. Sit.”

She sat. He draped a towel over her shoulders and, with Alex assisting, began on her face, explaining he used only natural cosmetics and would go for a light, unpainted look. He remarked on her creamy skin, but suggested genetics and youth were responsible since he assumed she didn’t bother with a proper skin-care regime.

“You know,” Rebecca said, “I don’t care about makeup. My ride will be here any minute-”

“We’re practically home free now. And your ride will be delighted to wait. I’m assuming it’s a man? Another woman might not let you out the door.”

Rebecca suddenly felt self-conscious. “I could just forget all this and go in my denim skirt.”

Lenny shook his head. “Relax, sweetheart. Although a little nervousness adds color to your cheeks and spark to your eyes. What do you think, Alex?”

“I think I’m going to toss her date down the elevator shaft and take her to dinner myself.” He grinned. “You like dorm food, Rebecca?”

She couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “You guys are impossible, but thanks. I look okay?”

“You look smashing,” Lenny said. “Where are your shoes?” He whisked off the towel and took Rebecca by the hand, guiding her to the mirror. “Your hair’s still a near-disaster, but rather innocent-looking-and the color’s magnificent.”

She had to admit that in a few quick minutes, Lenny had transformed her from looking like an impoverished student to a woman who could hold her own at any party the Sloans and Winstons decided to throw. On her own, though, she still wouldn’t have picked white lace.

Sofi slipped into the room, breathless, and handed Rebecca a pair of low white sandals with very skinny straps. “This was the best I could do. It’s reasonably warm tonight-”

Lenny grabbed them. “But these are perfection!”

He insisted on slipping them onto Rebecca’s feet himself. Sofi was highly entertained. “My, my, Cinderella in the flesh.”

“Sofi…”

“Hey, just kidding. You look great. I mean it. If this were an Aztec party you were going to, they’d sacrifice you on the altar.”

“You’re a big help.”

There was a knock at the door. Lenny picked up Rebecca’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Have a wonderful time.”

“Thanks.” Rebecca gave him a hug. “I’m not used to fussing over my appearance. I appreciate what you’ve done, and I’ll try not to ruin the dress.”

“I hope your man tears it off you.”

“Lenny,” Alex said, “you’re making her blush.”

“Of course I am. I want her to have fresh color in her cheeks when she walks out the door.”

Thanking them again, Rebecca shot out into the hall before one or another of the three could make one last remark. She quickly shut her door behind her so Jared wouldn’t see her entourage and room filled with cast-off clothes and think she’d put any effort into the evening.

He was breathtaking in a black evening suit. “Sorry I’m late. I forgot your room number.”

“You’ve been here awhile?”

“A few minutes.” He tried to hold back a smile, but failed.

“Um…You met my roommate Sofi?”

“Was she the one running up and down the hall looking for virgin shoes in size eight?”

So much, Rebecca thought, for illusions of sophistication, but by the time she and Jared reached the elevator they were both laughing.

“I won’t have her here.”

Jared stiffened in anger at his aunt’s words and looked to Quentin for support, but his cousin remained silent. Annette seemed hardly aware of her son’s presence in the small sitting room off the elegant drawing room where dozens of guests had gathered. Jared could see Rebecca smiling as she took a glass of champagne. She was so damned beautiful. His aunt, elegant in diamonds and black silk, had pulled him aside moments after they’d arrived at her Mt. Vernon Street house.

It was her party, she was his aunt, and Jared, despite his irritation, tried to be patient. “Aunt Annette, I don’t see why you’re carrying a grudge against her.”

“I’m not. She’s a Blackburn, Jared, and while that may be no fault of hers, it’s certainly none of mine.” Annette sighed, her expression softening as she touched her nephew’s hand. “I know this must be frustrating and embarrassing for you, but please try and understand. There are reporters here tonight. If they find out that’s Rebecca Blackburn over there, they’ll be all over me-and her. And I’d rather not have the past dredged up right now. I’m sure she wouldn’t, either. If not for my sake, then for hers, take her home.”