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“I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait along with everyone else,” she whispered. With a laugh that was pure wickedness, she pulled away. “Look for me when midnight arrives.”
“Shall I look here or in the kitchens?” he asked, managing to sound nonchalant.
Those beautiful lips quirked. “I shouldn’t waste my time searching below, if I were you.” Turning, she sauntered away, her walk a provocation all by itself.
He could follow her, but it might be looked upon unfavorably. Have some self-control, man. If she wanted to tease him a bit and whet his appetite, who was he to deny her the pleasure? There would be time aplenty to satisfy his curiosity later. At midnight, to be precise. He watched her until she disappeared into the crush.
In the meantime, he had business to attend to: Harriett. He’d been looking for her all evening, but had yet to spot the troublesome tyrant. She was here. He’d confirmed her presence and that of her younger sister earlier through an acquaintance. But where was she?
Searching the crush, he strove to pick her out from among the bright silks and merrymaking. He meandered about the edges of the room, looking carefully at those seated along the walls. She was not among them and neither was she hanging about in the gallery above. Perhaps she was in the powder room? Or perhaps his friend had been mistaken.
He was surprised to find himself disappointed at the thought. Truly, he’d hoped to find her and negotiate some sort of truce—as a means to introduce her to several unmarried acquaintances, of course. Having encountered his as-yet mystery woman, his trepidation at the prospect of seeing Harriett had waned. A good thing, too. Still aroused by her, he now wondered how he could ever have been stirred by someone like Harriett.
He’d been without a woman for far too long. That must be it. Lack of intimate female companionship had taken a toll on his judgment. Since William’s death, he hadn’t felt like maintaining a mistress. They required great amounts of attention, patience, and money. The latter he could now give in plenty. The first two had been in short supply for some time.
That was all about to change, however. He was required to marry within the year, and the mystery woman seemed as good a candidate as any. If luck remained on his side, he would satisfy his brother’s mandate to marry and his request to look after his betrothed.
If he could ever manage to find Harriett, that is.
Having nothing better to do, he again went up to the gallery to see if he could pick out his nameless lady. But though he looked and looked, she was nowhere in sight. At first he thought nothing of it, but as it drew closer to midnight he began to grow concerned.
Just as he was about to go down to search her out, a flash of teal caught his eye. There! She was on the far side of the ballroom amid a cluster of ladies. He observed as she drew one of her fellows aside. After a few moments of what looked to him like urgent pleading on the part of his mystery woman, the pair parted company with the group and made for the exit.
Dismay filled him. She was leaving? Now? Determination rushed in to displace despair. Not without his first learning her name, she wasn’t. He took the stairs two at a time, heedless of the startled looks from those he brushed past, and headed for the same exit. There they were up ahead. He knew better than to call out. If she had decided to leave before the midnight reveal, then it must mean she wanted to keep her identity a secret.
Moving among those loitering in the hall, he followed the pair out. The foyer was all but empty, and he breathed a curse for the lack of cover. Hiding behind a potted orange tree, he listened as the two talked.
“What shall I tell Papa when he asks where you have gone?”
“Just say I wasn’t feeling well and decided to wait in the carriage. Tell him it was a headache brought on by all the noise. He knows I am accustomed to quiet. And it isn’t as if I’m actually leaving. I’ll be waiting for you. I’m just going to take a short nap, that’s all.”
The mystery woman’s companion—her sister, apparently—stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Honestly, Harriett. You cannot avoid Russell forever. Running away will only aggravate the problem as he seems to delight in chasing after you. You must confront him and tell him you are not interested.”
Roland’s skin went icy and hot all at once. Harriett. She’d called the woman Harriett. He peered through the leaves in disbelief. Maybe they had worn similar gowns and he’d made a mistake...but no, it was the very same gown he’d admired earlier tonight.
And the woman wearing it—Harriett, he reminded himself with growing chagrin—was just as fabulously beautiful, just as alluring. He watched as she removed her mask. Without her customary stern expression, she was bloody stunning.
“I will think about it, Cat, but right now I really must get out of here,” said Harriett, darting a nervous glance about the room. “Please make my excuses.”
The one called “Cat” rolled her eyes. “I cannot believe I am aiding you in your cowardice.”
“Please, Cat? I don’t often beg you for help, but please? Just this once?”
“Very well,” grumbled the other. “What shall I tell Lord Russell when he asks where you’ve gone?”
“Don’t bother with him,” said Harriett in a rush. “He didn’t recognize me. At least I don’t think he did. That’s the whole point of my leaving before midnight. I don’t want him to know it was me.”
Roland didn’t think she was talking about Lord Russell, but nonetheless doubt crept in. Could he be mistaken?
Regardless, he now knew who his mystery woman was. What to do with the knowledge escaped him at the moment, however. He needed time to process the discovery and decide his next move.
“Do whatever you must, but make sure Papa doesn’t come out to fetch me back inside,” continued Harriett. “I cannot explain now, but suffice it to say that if I were to be seen unmasked tonight it would be catastrophic.”
The other girl’s eyes narrowed. “Something else is going on here, isn’t it? What have you done?”
“Oh, not now!” wailed Harriett. She propelled her sister back toward the ball
room.
