AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Cease fidgeting,” scolded Aunt Sarah.
“I am not.” Chastity rose on her tiptoes to catch sight of Valentine over the crowds.
Aunt Sarah rapped her knuckles with her closed fan and Chastity yelped and glared at her aunt.
“You will make everyone suspicious,” her aunt reminded her. “If Reynolds is a murderer, you must stop staring in their direction.”
Chastity dropped back onto her heels and grimaced. “I cannot help it.”
Aunt Sarah flicked open her fan and lifted it to her face, disguising a wicked grin. “He is such a commanding presence.”
“That is not what I meant,” she protested.
“One cannot deny there is something about him.” Aunt Sarah sighed. “You know, were I ten years younger, I would not be hesitating to demand a dance.”
Chastity did not comment on the fact Aunt Sarah was five and fifty ten years ago because the chances were her aunt would have happily demanded a dance from many a handsome man before her joints started aching.
But she did not need to be thinking on how handsome Valentine was at present. They were here to catch a murderer, not ponder how he made her heart beat out of rhythm with a mere glance in her direction. Good Lord, she was acting like a debutante and it needed to cease.
Demeter sidled over, beautiful in a white gown accented with a thin gold overlay and little pointed gold details on the cap sleeves and neckline. She’d drawn the eye of many a man tonight, yet she had not danced once.
Demeter would be grateful for the absence of requests, but she hated to see her sister standing on the edge of the dancefloor. Her quiet nature did nothing to entice anyone to ask, unfortunately. The daft men were all too cowardly to risk a denial.
Cassie joined them, stealing their aunt’s fan and wafting it rapidly in front of her face. “There are far too many people here tonight,” she said, her cheeks flushed from exertion. “The dance floor is too full.”
“Well, you have been occupying it rather a lot,” Aunt Sarah said. “You should let the unattached ladies have their chance.” Aunt Sarah jerked her head not-so-subtly toward Chastity.
“I have been dancing, Aunt Sarah!”
“Yes, but not with the right people,” she said firmly.
“What of this Reynolds?” Cassie demanded. “Do we know anything yet?”
“No.” Chastity shook her head. “I am waiting to see what he says to Valentine.”
“I do so hope it is him.” Demeter wrapped her arms about herself. “He always made me feel uneasy.”
“There is something arrogant about him,” Cassie agreed. “But I’m not certain I can see him as a vicious killer. Look, he takes out his handkerchief every time he shakes hands with someone. Surely he would not wish to dirty his hands with murder?”
“Not everyone is who they appear to be.” Aunt Sarah said this sagely, as though she had knowledge the rest of them did not.
Chastity rolled her eyes. “I think we have been investigating for long enough to know that, Aunt Sarah.”
“Yes, but I have lived much longer than you all, and I have been investigating for far longer too. You would be surprised at the hidden depths behind even the quietest of demeanors.”
Chastity directed the briefest glance at Demeter and her sister’s cheeks reddened, but she could not ask why as Lady Fenwick and Mrs. Crisp entered their circle to greet them all. Chastity let her expression harden. Both were awful gossips and had been instrumental in spreading lies of Eleanor.
“Did you hear?” Lady Fenwick asked, the huge jewels about her wrist clattering together so hard as she gestured wildly even Chastity heard it over the music. “Mrs. Ramsey has taken up with Mr. Holman.” She waved her fan briskly. “He is such a rake he shall discard her in but a moment, and we all know he only wants her for her money.”
“Oh yes,” Mrs. Crisp agreed. “She cannot be too bright to have allowed him into her bed.” She smiled quickly. “Thank goodness your girls are more clever than that, Sarah.”
“My girls are cleverer than any woman in attendance here,” Aunt Sarah said brightly. “There really is quite the selection of dolts in this ballroom tonight.”
Lady Fenwick’s smile faltered. “Yes, well, none of us shall be surprised when he ends things with her much richer than before.”
“I am sure she shall have a lot of fun in the meantime!” declared Aunt Sarah.
