The sun was rising in the sky, which meant he would be late for the morning practice. He could use another foil, but he needed to know where his sword was. It wasn’t simply a family heirloom, but it was also the perfect sword. Light, extremely well balanced, and with a comfortable grip that fit his hand. It’d been his mother’s favourite. He’d learnt his first lunges with that foil.
That foil was unique. And to lose it for no reason added insult to injury. Although he wasn’t as upset as he’d been last night. When his footman had told him Esther had run away with the foil, he’d been hurt at first, and annoyed later.
But seeing her humiliated and sorry had calmed him. And hell, she truly was wonderful. Another person would have refused to help him, but she was eager to.
Esther returned, wearing a fresh dark blue gown and a large hat that partially covered her face.
“Sorry to have made you wait.” She lifted the veil covering her face.
“Any news?” he asked, not to focus on her eyes.
She shook her head. “Not much. The dowager’s cloak is missing. I took it. Apparently, I spent the night stealing things, and Minnie doesn’t know anything about the foil. She saw me leaving the club with a blond gentleman. So I’ll go to the club and ask if anyone remembers me leaving with this man.”
He stretched out his arm towards the carriage. “I’ll accompany you.”
She hesitated. “I think walking will be better. Perhaps I lost the foil and the cloak along the way on the pavement? Or a place will trigger a memory?”
“Fair enough.” He sucked in a breath when she took his arm. “What do you think happened with this gentleman? Are you worried?” Because he was.
In the vulnerable state she’d been in, any depraved man could have taken advantage of her.
“A little.” She blushed, searching the pavement. “I don’t…feel any different, if you know what I mean.”
“Do you mean you aren’t hurt and don’t have bruises?”
“Yes, that’s surely a good sign.”
He hoped so. “It is, but if you want to see the physician again, I’ll send for him.”
She squeezed his hand, and he trembled at her touch. A combination of worry and a wish to protect her caused his pulse to race.
They walked to the town centre in the maze of cobbled streets and narrow alleyways. Esther paused at every corner, muttering under her breath.
“No memory?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She slowed her pace, as they were close to The New Club. “I don’t have any memories, but some unpleasant feelings stay with me. Not to mention the embarrassment.”
“Once, during a competition, I tripped, rolled over one of the seats, and flew out of a window, shouting blue murder.”
She chuckled. “What?”
“I fell on my arse on a rose bush. Not my proudest moment. And the worst thing is that I remember it. So do my friends.”
Her smile brightened her face, and that was all that mattered.
When they arrived at The New Club, she grew serious again. “Please no more stealing. I don’t want to know that I stole something else.”
They knocked on the door, but no one answered.
“It must be closed. Let’s try the back.” Alexander led her around the red brick building.
At the back, attendants and workers were carrying wooden crates of champagne bottles and whisky to the secondary entrance, likely to restock the club’s supplies.
“Excuse me.” Esther stopped a man.
The attendant put down the box of bottles. “The club opens at nine, madam.”
“I came here last night, and I think I left my cloak inside. Would you please check? I’m Lady Esther.”
