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“I hope I haven’t missed much,” a playful, accented voice drawled from the terrace, just behind the other onlookers.
“Your Highness,” Lady Thurmont gasped, turning sharply and revealing the man at the doorway.
Still in his traveling clothes and flanked by two guards, Prince Derrick of Warcia, Derry to his friends, gave their hostess an apologetic smile. “Apologies for arriving so late, Countess. There was a delay on the way here.”
“You are welcome to come and go as you wish, Your Highness,” Lady Thurmont replied, her eyes shining with glee. No doubt having an entire prince attending her party was the coup of the season.
“Perhaps we should delay the game, mother, so that we may see His Highness settled?” Thurmont supplied hopefully.
“I don’t wish to impose,” Derry replied magnanimously.
But Thurmont’s obvious wish to prevent the game overruled. “Nonsense, friend. Come with me, and I’ll see you settled.”
“I suppose I should go along,” Nathan mused.
Miss Balfour cast a baleful glance around the green. “The game is lost, regardless. Everyone is far too excited to concentrate.”
“Excuse me,” he said with a polite nod. Lockhart had left Miss Hughs and was already making his way towards Thurmont and Derry. The tension that lifted from Nathan upon the baron leaving her company was both relieving and maddeningly perplexing.
ChapterEight
Arabella knockedon the door to Cecily's room, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.
“She’s here,” Cecily's excited voice sounded from within. The door opened, the smiling woman standing behind it. “I’m so glad you decided to join us. Come in!”
Arabella followed her into the room. Miss Russel and Mrs. Parson sat near the window, both women giving her a welcoming smile. Another girl she didn’t recognize sat at the foot of Cecily’s bed. A pretty woman with flaxen hair and friendly eyes, the stranger seemed charming enough, though her walking dress was a few years out of date.
“This is Miss Jane Lambert,” Cecily said. “She’s the daughter of a neighboring gentleman, or so she tells me. I met her in the village on my way up a few days ago, and we had a lovely conversation.”
“A pleasure,” Miss Lambert said, rising a moment to take a brief curtsey. “My mother is good friends with the family, and Lady Thurmont was kind enough to extend us an invitation to her party. I was delayed at home and only just arrived.”
“You’ve met Mrs. Parson, of course,” Cecily said. The companion gave Arabella an elegant nod.
“And you are Miss Russel, though we have not met directly,” Arabella said to the other woman.
Miss Russel beamed. “That would be me. Theo told me about her trip with you to the ruins morning, and I was very jealous.”
“She insisted on coming along tonight,” Mrs. Parson said, a touch of affectionate exasperation in her voice.
“Can’t let you have all the fun, now can I?” Miss Russel replied, her refined tones slipping into more common speech.
Mrs. Parson winced. “Your accent, dearest.”
Miss Russel blushed with a sheepish smile as if this were a common occurrence. It likely was, if Mrs. Parsons had been employed to such an extensive degree. “Right, apologies.”
Cecily smiled. “We don’t mind, do we?”
Arabella gave a friendly nod, and Miss Lambert mirrored it. “No trouble, dear.” She had no right to judge Miss Russel’s failing but admirable attempts to fit in when her own standing amongst society was so abysmal. Miss Russel could be as pretty and charming as she wanted, and the Ton would still shun her. Arabella was spared from that, at least.
“Thank you,” Miss Russel replied, her refined accent melting back into place as if she’d never slipped. “So, what exactly is your plan, Miss Balfour?”
“I read something in the library,” Cecily replied, excitement shining in her eyes. “I found a travelogue that mentioned this estate, particularly the lake. Apparently, when conditions are just right, the water is so still that you can see the reflection of the entire night sky. The effect is simply devastating during a full moon, supposedly.” She pointed to the window. “And as you can see, there is one now. The air is still, so I think we have an excellent shot at seeing this magical effect tonight.”
“I’ve heard similar rumors about the lake in the village,” Miss Lambert said. “Why did you not ask Lord Thurmont or his mother about it, Miss Balfour?”
“And tip them off to our plans? You realize this is risky for us to do.”
A group of ladies going off on their own in the middle of the night was indeed a mildly scandalous thing, hence why she hadn’t brought Caroline along for this little excursion in spite of the woman’s protests. “So long as we are careful, it should be alright,” Arabella mused. Besides, it wasn’t as if she cared much for her reputation any longer, and she supposed the others didn’t either if they were here.
