Vivienne exchanged a desolate glance with her father. She could bet he was thinking the same as she.
They’d just met Mother’s new obsession.
For the whole dinner,Vivienne hadn’t stopped thinking about Samuel’s visit. At first, she’d agreed with enthusiasm to his proposal and defended it against Captain Jackson’s complaints. Walking at night might be dangerous for him, but the captain would protect him, and she had no doubt he was a good climber.
But now, as she sat on the edge of her bed, waiting, the risks of Samuel being caught climbing to her room were real.
Also, she worried about what he would think of her opulent house. Huntington Hall had belonged to a few generations of Huntington earls; it was loaded with precious carpets, porcelain vases, and priceless paintings. Mayfair was the area where dukes and earls lived…and for the first time in her life, she’d been self-conscious of that.
What if Samuel became overwhelmed when he saw the imposing, white-walled houses, the manicured gardens, and the many tall windows? She looked down. The Worth gown waslovely, one of her best, but it looked ridiculously extravagant now.
He would think she was too different from him, that they came from two different worlds, which was true; he would think they shouldn’t see each other.
She sat on the edge of her bed in a froth of ivory-and-golden silk and massaged her temples. Too many thoughts crammed her brain at the same time. Her emotions pulled her in two different directions. She wanted it all—to be with Samuel and keep her place in society, which was selfish of her. Samuel’s happiness was more important than anything else. If staying close to her caused him pain, then she would respect whatever he chose to do.
“I’ll help you undress, my lady,” the maid said.
“No, not now. You may retire. Thank you.” She glanced at the window, wondering if Samuel was already there.
The maid dropped a quick curtsy, narrowing her gaze, likely upset because she would need to brush and press the gown the next morning while she wanted to put it away now.
“Anne.”
The maid paused at the door. “My lady?”
“I’ll hang up the gown.”
The maid gave her a slight smile, acknowledging Vivienne had read her mind. “Thank you, my lady.” And she closed the door.
Vivienne crossed the room and locked the door. She’d asked Dobkins not to be present. Nothing untoward would happen, and the captain would wait for Samuel on the street.
But her time spent with Samuel was precious. She meant to give him as many good moments as she could.
A rock pinged against the glass.
She opened the window, shivering as the cold winter night caused her skin to pebble. The clouds hid the moon, so she stuck her head out.
“Samuel?” she whispered.
When he waved from the tree branch right in front of her, she suppressed a gasp.
He was almost invisible in his dark clothes.
She stepped aside to let him enter, and he landed on the floor with a soft swoosh.
It was too late to change her mind.
