“I hope so.” He bowed at a passing lady he didn’t remember the name of. “I might need to talk to you in private later on in the evening. It’s quite a delicate matter. Something I hope you might help me with.”
She regarded him with a hint of curiosity. “Whenever you feel inclined. Now if you don’t mind, I shall find a glass of champagne.” She moved towards the refreshments, through people bowing at her passage and giving friendly greetings. Everyone smiled and welcomed her with warmth and reverence. Definitely, Ethan needed her support.
After he started the dance with the highest-ranking lady as etiquette demanded, he took advantage of a quiet moment to leave the ballroom.
He went down the stairs and headed to the parlour. Empty. Damn. David and Harry weren’t there. Games of cards and jigsaw puzzles lay scattered on the rug in front of the fire. He searched the hidden hallway. Nothing. Not even the servants were around. Where to go? The garden perhaps. Harry wouldn’t expose David.
Ethan was heading to the garden when he caught a snippet of a conversation.
“… and that’s why no one will see us.”
He skidded to a stop upon hearing Harry’s voice. It came from a nook at the end of the hallway. He crept towards it andhid behind a Grecian column. There they were. If Harry planned another attack with Beecham’s pills, Ethan had to stop him.
Harry yanked a button from his jacket until it broke free and handed it to David. “Hold it.”
“What is it for?” David asked.
“Insurance. You’ll understand when we need it.” Harry waved him closer and pointed at the floor.
What the hell were they doing? Curiosity won, and Ethan stood there to find out Harry’s latest mischief. The two boys lay on the floor on their bellies. Harry opened the louvered panel of an air vent on the floor, revealing a view of the ballroom.
“See?” Harry said. “From here we can see all the ladies’ ankles without being seen. Look.”
What? Ethan slowly lowered himself and peered at the ballroom, following Harry’s gaze. Dammit, Harry was right. As the ladies danced and twirled around, their skirts inched up, and from the low spot, Ethan caught glimpses of slender ankles and silk stockings. The flounces of the petticoats played a hide-and-seek game with the ladies’ legs that he had to admit had its pleasurable interest. The lovely silk slippers in different colours weren’t bad either. Hidden behind the louvered panel in the secluded corridor, no one would ever spot them. Besides, the servants were too busy to pay attention to two naughty boys. Clever.
David clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle a giggle.
Harry elbowed him. “Look at that girl, the one in the blue dress. When she spins, you can see her bloomers.”
David laughed. It was the first happy, carefree laugh Ethan had heard from the boy. Somehow, it hurt. That moment of laughter reminded Ethan of how miserable David’s life had been so far. He was too young to carry worry and sadness on his small shoulders. He should be like Harry. Well, maybe not exactly like Harry.
“But bloomers are nothing special, you know.” Harry clicked his tongue. “Them ladies put bloomers on when they want to hide their drawers.”
“I don’t know anything about drawers, but I guess the ankles look pretty,” David said. “Maybe because we never see them.”
“Yes, and I don’t understand what the fuss is about. Why all the mystery, cloak and dagger around ankles? I’ve got them, and there isn’t anything special about them. Look at that other lady in pink. She shows her bloomers as well. She must be in search of a husband.”
“A husband?” David asked.
Harry nodded sagely as if about to reveal an important truth. “Ladies show their ankles and legs when they’re looking for a good match. It’s a fact.”
“What do legs have to do with marriage?”
Harry scratched the top of his head. “Adults are complicated. But when a lady shows you her ankle, she means business.”
“What business?” David asked.
All right. That was enough. Ethan straightened and stomped towards them.
“Lads, I told you to stay in the parlour.”
Harry sprang up so fast Ethan worried the boy might pull a muscle. “Have you found my missing button, David?” He smoothed down his jacket, searching around.
“What? I… yes.” David opened his hand to reveal the infamous missing button. “Here.”
“Thank you.” Harry took it and showed it to Ethan as proof of his innocence. “I lost the little bugger here, and we were searching for it.”
“Indeed.” Ethan folded his arms over his chest.
