“I’ll meet you in the ballroom,” I told Tarik, deciding to descend first so we didn’t arouse any unnecessary gossip.
“Wait.” He gripped my fingers and pulled me back toward him into the darkened interior of our coach, pressing a quick but heated kiss to my lips. “Will Lord Ansel be here tonight? Ihaven’t seen him in a while, and we really must discuss his progress. Mr. Peacock required an update.”
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. How on earth was I going to be my cousin tonight? And there would be no good reason why he wasn’t at our family’s ball. Illness, perhaps? My mind raced and my belly churned with nerves.
“He should be,” I said brightly, knowing I probably should have confessed everything then and there, but it didn’t feel like the right moment. I was starting to doubt that there would ever be arightmoment. The fear of jeopardizing our rapport and his obvious esteem toward me was too much to bear. I didn’t want to ruin a perfect evening.
Later. I’ll explain it all later.
“Rosalin,” he said and when I turned the carriage door handle, his smile was dazzling. “Save me a dance.”
“All my dances are yours, sir,” I said, and meant it. There was no one else worth dancing with.
My insides buzzing with a nauseating mix of exhilaration and anxiety, I walked briskly up the footpath and entered through the kitchens, hurrying past the bustling space. I discarded my cloak and dashed up the servants’ staircase to my bedroom, where Anna was pacing a hole in the plush carpets. Her face was so red she looked like she’d rubbed beetroot juice all over it.
“Good heavens, my lady,” she hissed, eyes widening comically when she caught sight of me slipping into my chambers. “Where in creation have you been? I’ve been having conniptions for hours, and the duchess is convinced I’m lying to her, whichIam.Father, forgive me.” She made the sign of the cross and stamped her feet in a fit of frustration that made me want to giggle, but it would be in awful form, so I kept my lips zipped shut. “Andthen,Lady Ela and Lord Ridley arrivedwithoutyou.”
My mirth instantly vanished. “Oh no.”
“Indeed,” she pronounced grimly. “But by the grace of heaven, I narrowly avoided chaos by waylaying the marchioness’s maid in the foyer and begging for Sally’s assistance to explain your continued absence to her mistress.”
“And did she?” I asked, wondering in a mild state of panic if my mother was going to storm into my room and demand to know where I’d been if I hadn’t been with the Marchioness of Ridley.
“Luckily,yes.Lady Ela helpfully informed the duke and the duchess that you were en route with Lady Zenobia because of a gown emergency. Right now, Sally is waiting for the lady to arrive to inform her of the plan.”
My breath rushed out. Okay. That was good. I was safe for the moment.
Suddenly, my heart quaked. “Wait, did you say theduke? Has Papa returned?”
“Yes, just this evening. His ship put into port earlier than planned. Don’t worry. He, too, is unaware of your tomfooleries.”
Grinning, I threw my arms around her and squeezed. “That is why you are the best lady’s maid in all of Britain!”
“Flattery will not get you anywhere, my lady,” she groused. “Let me look at you.” She adjusted my bodice and smoothed down the skirts, before fussing over one or two loosened strandsof hair. “Excellent. Are you wearing lip stain?” Her eyes narrowed on my mouth.
I blinked at the odd question. “No?”
“Your lips are quite red,” she muttered, staring at them again and frowning until I had the urge to cover my mouth with my palm. “I hope you’re not coming down with a cold. Chapped lips are quite unbecoming, though yours look rather swollen to tell the truth.”
Oh.Oh.The realization washed over me, my cheeks aflame.
“Now your face has gone red, too,” Anna exclaimed, and shoved the backs of her knuckles to my forehead. “Do you have a fever?”
Blushing harder, I swatted her away. “No, goodness, Anna. I’m just hot from rushing around. Truly, I am fine, I promise you.”
My lips are red only from kissing and my cheeks are red from remembering how wickedly delicious it was.
That explanation wouldnotgo over well.
“Quickly, let’s slip downstairs before Zia arrives and my subterfuge is discovered,” I said, giving myself another quick glimpse in the mirror before sweeping from the room.
I knew I’d have to explainsomethingto the girls, but at least it wouldn’t be to my mother. Ela and Zia would understand. They’d told a few tall tales themselves over the years. Mama, categorically, would not. I ran down the servants’ staircase again to one of the front salons, which was adjacent to the foyer. From there, I would see the minute Zia and Rafi arrived.
Luckily, I had to wait only about fifteen minutes before I saw Zia’s distinct head of bronze-brown spirals. Dressed in agorgeous gold gown that complemented her complexion, she was accompanied by her doting fiancé. My skin heated as I wondered dreamily if Tarik and I would look the same—so in love and happy—and draw the envy of others. Was he already inside? I couldn’t wait for our dance.
As Zia approached, she shot me a narrow-eyed stare. Clearly, she had received what I was sure had become a rather cryptic message from Sally—who had been waiting for her outside—that I was to join them. I greeted Rafi with a grin as he shook his head with a resigned look and raised brows. He was very used to his own fiancée’s penchant for mischief, so it was a relief that he remained silent.
“You will explain later,” Zia told me under her breath in no uncertain terms.
