This was something she could not fail at.
‘What is wrong?’ Elizabeth asked. ‘Your foot is beating like a hummingbird’s heart.’
She stilled her foot, but it didn’t help her restlessness. ‘Nothing’s the matter.’
Tonight there would be plenty of distractions and she could search Lyman’s private rooms. With any luck during the mummers’ dance she could searchallthe rooms.
‘Well, you are certainly in a foul mood of late, and tonight, it’s worse. If you mean to find a proper suitor—’
‘Don’t. Not tonight.’
‘Why not tonight? Thatiswhy you’re here. Lyman is throwing the largest party of the season, he’s got us wearing masks, and he can’t stop staring at you.’
Lyman was no doubt looking at her breasts.
‘Although why you’re interested in him is beyond me.’
She was interested if he was a traitor. What if he asked her to dance? She didn’t know what was worse. That any one of the men she danced with could be a traitor. Or that after she’d risked her reputation by searching their private rooms she could be forced to marry one of them. How could she ever marryLyman?
‘I believe he may be misunderstood.’
‘Speaking of which—I think our father has changed.’
Her father was currently eating himself into a stupor. ‘I thought we had finished that subject.’
Elizabeth rested her hand against her arm and Alice stopped scanning the room. ‘I’m trying to tell you there’s someone special for him. He’s been seeing only her.’
Her father had been supposed to see only their mother, but that hadn’t stopped him from being with others. Still, it was hard to be angry with her father.He was always so happy, and her mother had not been miserable. In fact, she’d adored their father. Her father, from all she could see, only cared for himself.
Alice had never understood their relationship. Maybe that was why she took things too seriously. Why she tried to help others. Because her father never thought of anyone but himself. But if she sometimes thought of others...shealwaysthought of Hugh.
‘Where is Mary?’ she asked instead.
‘Being doted upon, as always. Her having married an even wealthier landowner has made her quite popular. She’s sitting in the other room.’
The smaller room was much warmer, with plenty of cushions and sofas. Alice had looked at it longingly before heading to the hall. She needed to find a traitor, not rest in comfort.
‘Why are we dressed for a masquerade when everyone can guess who we are anyway?’
‘There are a few who look unfamiliar,’ Elizabeth said.
‘Oh, you mean the Alistairs? Truly, no one can guessthemwhen already she is weaving around.’
Elizabeth covered her laugh. ‘All right, maybe not those two.’
Alice sighed. ‘I can’t believe Mary’s here. She’s due any day.’
‘Nothing will stop her from visiting home during Christmas season—you know that. Although her husband is certainly trying to keep her off her feet.’
‘And where’s John?’
‘Talking with the burghers even now. He’s constantly working.’
Elizabeth sounded all too proud of that fact. As the most prosperous wool merchant and landowner, it should have been up to her father to be mayor of Swaffham, and he had played at it several years ago. Played at it poorly. When it had been suggested that John become mayor instead, her father had readily agreed. He got the power of his wealth and John got to do all the work.
Yes, the Fenton family had all the power in Swaffham. Both her sisters had married well.
And then there was her. A spy.
