Thirteen
PEARL HAD NO INTENTION of going back to the ballroom. The message Cowasj had received must be about the financial mess that involved her father, and she wanted to know more. She waited a few moments before following them.
Christopher’s large build was easy to spot even in the dark. He headed towards the rear of the house while chatting with Cowasj in hushed tones.
“He sent her a message with the information,” Cowasj hissed. “I can’t believe it.”
Christopher pushed the back door open, and the two men disappeared inside the house. Hiding behind a hedgerow, she held her breath. They were probably going to talk in Christopher’s office.
The door was flung open. A footman hurried out and headed towards the stables.
Pearl bit the inside of her cheek. If she used the back door, the servants would ask questions, delaying her. Using the French window that opened to the ballroom would lead her to the middle of the party, and she’d waste time.
So she marched towards the front door. If she avoided the ballroom, she might arrive at Christopher’s office quickly.
The thin soles of her silk slippers let her feel every stone on the path, and she slowed her pace as stings of pain travelled up her legs. When she arrived at the porch, she tried the knob, but it didn’t budge.
Dash it. Her only option was the French window.
Scoffing, she rushed along the path that went around the house. Strands of hair fell on her face, and she brushed them back. Most likely, her cheeks were flushed, her lips kiss-swollen, and the race around the house wasn’t going to help her complexion. Everyone would understand she’d been dirty-puzzling with someone. Never mind. Discovering what Cowasj had learned was more important.
Pearl chose the first French window at the beginning of the room. It was the one closest to the door. She could slip inside in the ballroom and sneak out, hopefully without no one noticing anything.
The music pounded harder as she approached the window. She slowed her pace and patted her curls. There was nothing she could do about her cheeks though or the stains of dirt on her slippers.
She pushed the door inwards and slid inside. The bright lights hurt her eyes after the darkness of the garden. The notes of acontredansefilled the room, and for a moment, she wished to join Julia and Benedict twirling around.
Her heart skipped a beat when the dark and looming figure of Mrs Armstrong flashed into view like a crow. Pearl froze, wondering if she should go back to the garden and take her chance through the rear door. And she was wasting time.
Mrs Armstrong’s sharp gaze roamed the room, surely searching for her.
Pearl withdrew to a quiet corner when she bumped into a hard chest.
“Going somewhere, miss?” Dorian’s voice came from behind her.
She jolted and curtsied to the tall captain. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”
“So I gathered.” A crooked smile twitched his lips. He raked a gaze over her, lingering on her face. His brow arched. But if he’d guessed what she’d been doing in the garden, he didn’t mention it. “You seem scared,” he said.
Sometimes telling the truth was the best strategy. “I’m trying to avoid Mrs Armstrong and slip out of the ballroom without her noticing me.” Bold, but Dorian was too clever to be fooled by a bad liar like her.
“I can help you.” He offered her his hand. “We can dance our way out of the room.”
“Brilliant.” Pearl placed her hand in his. “I accept your invitation.”
Dorian slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “My pleasure.”
He twirled her around towards the middle of the room where they joined the other dancing couples.
Mrs Armstrong shot her a glare when Pearl pirouetted in Dorian’s arms. Her stormy mood could start a hurricane.
“May I ask why you need to leave the room?” Dorian said.
“I only need a moment of privacy without Mrs Armstrong lecturing me about what a lady should do.”
His strong hands gripped her waist as he lifted her and twirled her. Her head spun, but the movement was so light and fluid that she laughed.
“I don’t mean to be too bold,” he said, heading her towards the end of the room, “but you know, years in the army, surrounded by rowdy soldiers, made me hard and ill-mannered. I do have a question for you.”
