Page 11 of To Break the Rules

“M-My Lord Montagu,” the fellow said, suddenly stiff and awkward.

“Richards,” Montagu replied, an expression of extreme displeasure in his eyes which made the young man look quite terrified. Turning back to Matilda, the marquess inclined his head a little.

“It seems my services are not required. I bid you good afternoon, Miss Hunt, Miss de Feria.”

Matilda let out an uneven breath as he turned and walked away from them.

“There,” Lucia said with obvious satisfaction. “We don’t need him when we have such a charming companion to escort us.”

Mr Richards flushed once more and stood rather straighter, and Matilda gave the young man a grateful smile.

“Indeed not,” she agreed, and didn’t give the marquess a backwards glance.

***

6th July 1814. South Audley Street, London.

Lucia knocked on Matilda’s bedroom door and entered as she heard her friend call out in reply.

“Come in.”

Lucia admired the picture of Matilda before her dressing table, putting the finishing touches to her appearance with the addition of a lovely sapphire necklace that brought out the blue in her eyes.

“How beautiful you look,” Lucia said, regarding Matilda’s ivory skin and blonde hair.

She was everything Lucia supposed an English lady ought to be: the perfect English rose. Lucia forced back an unwelcome stab of some jagged emotion she refused to acknowledge. Yet what must it be like to know exactly where you had come from, and where you belonged? Lucia had never, would never have that. She was part of two disparate worlds, each of which despised the other, and yet both were inextricably linked.

“Thank you.” Matilda turned and then sighed as she looked at Lucia. “Well, I can only return the compliment. My word, poor Lord Cavendish will be surlier than ever when he catches sight of you.”

Lucia rolled her eyes, refusing to be bated, though she was pleased with her gown. It was one of the last extravagances she’d allowed herself before the pot had run dry. It was a dramatic shade of deep purple, like the night sky before a storm.

“Will you be able to dance tonight?” she asked as Matilda got to her feet.

“Yes,” Matilda said, grinning and doing a little jig on the spot to demonstrate. “See? Good as new.”

Lucia laughed as a soft knock at the door pronounced the entry of Matilda’s maid, a sweet-natured girl called Sarah.

“Here you go, Miss,” she said, handing Matilda a large, square box of the kind jewellery parures were kept in.

“Oh, lovely. Thank you, Sarah.”

Lucia frowned, wondering why Matilda needed it. “But surely you’re not changing those glorious sapphires, Tilda? They look divine.”

“No,” Matilda said, shaking her head and opening the box. “But I thought you might like to wear these tonight. They are the perfect finishing touch for that dress.”

Lucia moved closer and gasped at the exquisite amethyst and diamond set nestled upon a bed of white silk. “Oh, Tilda, I… I can’t.”

“Of course you can,” Matilda said, laughing and taking out the necklace. “I insist. I’d have moped to death here all by myself. Your company has been just what I needed, and it would make me happy to see you wear them.”

Lucia held her breath as tears prickled in her eyes. The weight of the necklace, cold and heavy, settled about her throat and she swallowed hard as saw her reflection in the looking glass. She wanted to tell Matilda everything, but she didn’t dare. The young woman had proven herself kind and generous, but Lucia knew how that could change when the truth about her was revealed. She’d learned it the hard way. To survive what was coming, she must protect her heart. She had to prepare for the moment when these people who appeared to be her friends would turn their backs on her.

For now, however, there was no harm in accepting a kindness from Matilda.

“Thank you,” she said, hearing the quaver in her voice.

Matilda smiled at her over her shoulder before turning to give her a brief hug. “You’re welcome. Now, I believe there is a young lady with a dare to complete this evening.”

Lucia forced a smile to her own lips and took a deep breath, knowing there was more to tonight’s dare than Matilda realised.