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He’d wondered how long it would take London’s flesh peddlers to finally figure out there was someone after them. They mustn’t find out who it was. Not only would it put him in danger, but Miss Trouvère and the school would be at risk, as well.
Innocent lives, indeed. How he wished he could warn Eden and her parents about Ravenwood, but the fellow might make the connection between him and Loxdon. From there all else would unravel. There was too much at stake to allow that to happen.
Sighing, he drained his glass and leaned back with a groan.
He needed to find out what it was Eden had been about to say before her father had interrupted them. He needed to see her.
She’d mentioned a while back that she was to attend the upcoming Dunsany house party and ball this Thursday. It was one of the few events to which he had not been invited, thanks to the Earl of Dunsany’s dislike of him—he’d once made the grave error of expressing admiration for the man’s wife. He’d not been invited to any of their functions since.
A grin pulled at his mouth. Being a marquess was good for some things. Inviting oneself to parties was just one of them.
…
Percy smiled at the frowning man before him. “Dunsany, I’m so pleased you decided to invite me to your little party. It has been a long time, has it not?”
Dunsany’s bewildered frown turned into a thunderous scowl. “Indeed it has,” he said from between clenched teeth. “Though perhaps not long enough for some.” Beside him, Lady Dunsany stood, her cheeks flushed with color and a not-displeased look in her eyes.
The lady was due for a disappointment; his reason for being here had nothing to do with her. He bowed before his hostess and made sure to shoot her a winning smile as he murmured, “I look forward to our renewing acquaintances over breakfast.” Straightening, he turned and departed before the purple-faced Lord Dunsany could pass out from lack of blood to his extremities.
He’d come in late on purpose, hoping to slip in relatively unnoticed and keep his head down, so to speak. So far so good, but it wouldn’t last long. He needed to find—
Eden. There she was, dancing—with someone other than Ravenwood, thankfully. He skirted the ballroom floo
r until he stood within her line of sight and waited. She stiffened the instant she spied him. On her next pass, she flicked her eyes to the right toward the musicians’ blind. He nodded and began moving in that direction.
Clever girl. The potted plants and decorative screens set up to conceal the musicians would work to conceal his presence as well. He reached it just as the music ended.
A short while later, Eden appeared. “Be quick,” she whispered. “I have only a moment.”
“Tell me what you were about to say before I had to leave you,” he urged, fighting the impulse to take her in his arms. He had to settle for devouring her with his eyes. “I must know.”
Her cheeks pinked. “I cannot. Not here. Are you staying tonight?”
“I am.” He couldn’t help grinning. “I wasn’t on the guest list, but I’ve managed to secure a room nevertheless.”
“Tell me which, and I’ll come to you.”
He blinked at her boldness, but nodded. There really was no other way for them to talk—and they needed to talk. “West wing, third floor, fourth door on the right.”
“I’m here tonight with Genevieve and her parents,” she told him. “Papa and Catherine were obliged to be elsewhere this evening, but if Genevieve’s parents see you…”
“They won’t. I’ll go up now and wait for you.”
“I’ll have to wait for Genevieve to fall asleep before I can come to you. It may be very late…”
What he saw in her eyes told him there might be more than talking on her mind. “I’ll wait for you,” he repeated, despite knowing it was madness to agree. He didn’t care. He needed to be with her. If they were caught, so much the better and so be it. Anything was preferable to being without her.
Chapter Fourteen
All the while Eden danced, her mind was elsewhere, with Percy. What would she tell him? There was so much she wanted to say, so much they needed to discuss. The sight of him had sent a bolt of longing through her, awakening every sense, fanning the dying embers of her soul back to life.
As expected, Ravenwood claimed her for the final dance of the evening. It was difficult not to betray her nervous state, but she did her best, determined not to let him know anything was amiss. To her relief, he mentioned nothing of Percy’s being present as he attempted to make small talk. God willing, he wouldn’t know until morning, by which time it would be too late.
She knew what she wanted, and nothing was going to stand in her way.
Once safely free of him and in her chamber, Eden was spared the burden of conversation by Genevieve, who talked incessantly. Her friend had managed to win the favor of Dunsany’s second son and was ecstatic over his attentions tonight.
“I anticipate a proposal before a month has passed,” boasted Genevieve. “His uncle has given him a parish, and he is to take charge of it just before Michaelmas.” She flashed a wicked grin at her. “He’ll not wish to arrive without a wife. I’ll see to that.”
