Frederick’s mask, the empty chair, would be one that needed constant explanation and Kitty was certain he’d be at it all night. Frederick had folded Lady Blakeley’s note in his pocket as proof to the doubting, as he could not bear to think someone posited that he was as boring as an empty chair.
Kitty thought her own large and colorful eyes was one which might be interpreted any number of ways, though she did not mind as she did not think any of them particularly terrible.
She nearly forgot she wore a mask at all upon entering Lady Blakeley’s ballroom.
Lady Penderton had forewarned of Lady Blakeley’s original decorating. She’d even told Kitty there was an Egyptian sarcophagus in the drawing room and the dining room was such a riot of color that it made one dizzy.
The ballroom was as no other Kitty had ever seen, or even imagined possible. The walls and the ceiling, which one would expect to find white or cream or a light pastel, were painted the deepest indigo. Upon that interesting background had been etched the night sky on a clear summer evening. Very tiny pieces of polished silver and cut glass had been embedded into a constellation mosaic and they winked and blinked in the candlelight. The wood floors were in direct contrast to the dark walls, as they were pale and whitewashed.
Lady Penderton leaned close to her ear and said, “We are meant to feel as if we stand on the beach at Bolberry Down at midnight. Apparently, Lady Blakeley’s father used to take his children there to camp in the summer and she has fond memories of it.”
“It is extraordinary,” Kitty said.
“Miss Dell?”
Kitty turned and saw a tall man, broad shouldered. His mask was a somber one, showing a man standing on a hilltop and looking in the distance. She could not fathom what it meant, but she need not wonder at the gentleman’s identity, as she recognized the voice well enough.
“Lord Burke,” she said.
He reached for her card. “May I? For supper, perhaps?”
Kitty nodded in acquiescence.
“Very large eyes, I see,” Lord Burke said. “May you reveal the meaning behind it?”
“I am afraid it will bore you,” Kitty said. “I spoke to Lady Blakeley about my research into Cornish eyebright.”
“Ah, I see. And there are the bright eyes.”
“Just so,” Kitty said.
Before she could inquire into Lord Burke’s own mask, another gentleman joined their circle.
Kitty perfectly well knew who it was. If her eyes did not perceive the well-cut coat, the particular way of standing, the smile always at the ready, her heart certainly saw it. It began its thump-thump, just as it always seemed to do upon the arrival of Lord Grayson.
“Miss Dell? I am certain that is you. Large eyes? In search of knowledge, perhaps?” Lord Grayson said.
“Something like it,” Kitty said.
“If you don’t mind,” Lord Grayson said, reaching his hand for her card.
Kitty allowed him to enter his name, though she was not certain she wished him to. No, that was not it. She wished him to, but she wished she didnotwish him to. She knew well enough that Lord Grayson was dangerous. Both Penny and Lord Dalton had told her so and she ought to believe at least one of them. That her mind kept presenting ideas that might explain away what had been told her was confounding.
“I see Burke has knocked me out of the way for supper,” Lord Grayson said.
Kitty did not answer, there was absolutely nothing to say to a comment such as that. How she felt, however, was a different matter. There was a thrill in knowing that Lord Grayson would have wished to escort her to supper. A very wrong thrill, she was convinced.
“Good Lord, Grayson,” Burke said, eyeing his mask, “what is all this meant to represent?”
“Vanity,” Lord Grayson said. “I am vain, you see. Just as Louis the XIV.”
“Why is it marked the fifth though?” Burked asked. “There is only the V. Where are the other numbers?”
“It is not V for five, it is V for vanity. Do not trouble Miss Dell with your fanciful speculations,” Lord Grayson said hurriedly. “By the by, come with me. Lord Helmer is anxious to speak to you about a horse.”
Kitty could almost see Lord Burke’s brows knit underneath his mask, but he did not resist and allowed Lord Grayson to lead him away.
Her thoughts were taken elsewhere as a variety of gentleman approached. Most of the gentleman she had previously met, and she examined their masks with interest to guess if they said something good or bad about their wearers. She was not surprised to see one of them masked as all notes and coin—she knew from Frederick that Mr. Waverly was a determined gambler. On Sir James, shewassurprised to see two pistols crossed and was very afraid that young man had recently found himself in a duel. It was the height of foolishness. The baroness, for all her easygoing affection for her children, had told Frederick if he ever engaged himself in that sort of nonsense, he would find himself staying with a great aunt in York for a twelvemonth. His most exciting activity there would be tea time.
