Page 71 of When the Duke Met His Match

Nodding obediently, he swallowed back a lump in his throat and reached for the lacing. “Certainly.”

She settled into place as he carefully pulled the dress tighter, watching as it came together to conceal her back. The cut was low enough to accentuate her shoulder blades in a way that felt like a simple temptation to him.

Gently, he swept her hair over her shoulder, reminding him of their numerous times together, intertwined in bed and able to forget about their worries for the time being.

Her skin's smooth, milky complexion made him wish he could feel every inch of it again, to worship her as he saw fit. It was as if a heavenly being had handcrafted her.

He wanted to kiss her long enough for her to never forget how dearly he cared for her, to remind Odette that she was made for him as he was made for her. He wished they could forget about the ball and the assassination for a while longer, even if he knew that desire was for a selfish reason.

Deciding against his impulses, Theophilus tightened the dress and worked to fasten it. They stood in a contemplative silence until Odette sighed and her shoulders loosened.

“I must ask you. Are you afraid for what is to come?” she wondered, her voice uncharacteristically timid.

He could only imagine the thoughts that were running wild in her mind with the anticipation of the conflict sure to reach them, but he knew it wasn’t wise to shake her up even further.

In all honesty, he was afraid, but only because he couldn’t be certain if Wright had heeded his warning. Their odds of success were significantly lowered without the English army behind them. Trying to approach the king before the rebels could get to him was nothing more than a shot in the dark, but he knew there was no other choice.

Pushing his uncertainties away, he mustered as much conviction as possible. “I have faith everything will work out as it should.”

“And what if that involves any of us getting hurt, or perhaps even—”

Theophilus softly turned Odette around by her shoulders, stopping her before she could allow her thoughts to run away completely. He adjusted her hair once more, smoothing it into place down her back. “Nothing will tear us apart, not injury, the law, or even death. We are attempting a good thing, and it will pay off.”

“You always sound so sure.”

“That’s because I am,” he returned simply, his lips curling in amusement.

Uncertainty swam within her eyes as they took him in, but she took a deep breath and nodded. Her urge to resist his optimism seemed to flicker out, and she saw no point in fighting it.

“You look beautiful as always, but you will need this,” he murmured, reaching for her mask and cloak that waited nearby.

Ever so carefully, Theophilus placed the black half-mask over her face, allowing her blue eyes to shine through. As he tied it around her head, it glittered in the dim light, and he could only imagine how entrancing the mask would be at the ball.

He draped the cloak around her shoulders, to which she secured the front. Once the hood was placed over her hair, she looked very much like a well-to-do woman ready for a masked ball.

“Remember your promise,” she murmured to him, gazing at him through the mask and hood.

With a warm heart, he smiled once more. “I’ll never forget it.”

Seemingly satisfied by his commitment, Odette mirrored his content expression. She looked him up and down as he had to her, and a hint of suggestion gleaned through her gaze.

“I knew that color would look wonderful on you.”

“My compliments to your keen eye,” he returned, humored by the statement. He put his arm out for her. “Now that my desire to impress you has been fulfilled, I believe we should be off now. We have a king to save.”

His most treasured gem grinned back at him and slipped her arm around his. Together, they returned to the main room to find Eric standing by the door, prepared to leave.

Ready at last, the trio left the room behind, uncertain if they would make it out of the ball alive.

* * *

The kitchens were completely dark by the time they snuck in through the servants’ entrance. It was completely empty, as they were told it would be. It made slipping inside far easier, even if they were still cautious.

The room was difficult to navigate due to the lack of outside light, but Theophilus found a spare candle and brought it to the hearth, still full of smoldering embers. He kneeled and angled the wick into the coals until it lit, and he returned to Eric and Odette.

“Good thinking,” Eric murmured, looking around the room as if afraid someone might come out of hiding and shout for help at the intrusion.

“This way,” Theophilus whispered to them, pointing toward the door. “Don’t forget to conceal yourselves.”