AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes…it’s me!”
Her friend’s voice wobbled before she squared her shoulders.
“It is very late, and why are you dressed like that? Would you like to come inside?”
Charity shook her head.
“Then why are you here?”
“Your house is only a few houses down…I supposed I panicked.”
Dread pooled low in Prue’s belly. “A few houses down from where?”
A tense silence lingered, then her friend said, “I executed the dare tonight.”
Oh, blast!“You broke into the Viscount’s home?”
Charity nodded quickly.
“Bloody hell,” Oscar muttered behind her.
“What happened? Did you get the letters?”
“Yes. I have them.”
Prue wilted against the sill in relief. “Then what—”
“I was caught.”
For precious seconds Prue was rendered speechless. “You werewhat?”
Charity glanced around frantically. “Keep your voice down, Prue!”
This was a disaster. Visions of scandal and ruination for her friend danced in Prue’s head. Charity did not deserve this. “We will convince Lord Sallis—”
“It wasn’t the viscount who caught me,” Charity muttered.
Prue stared at her in incomprehension. “I…what do you mean?”
“There was someone else there in the blasted house with me…in the dark, and it was not the viscount!”
Good God.
Charity looked around once more as if the mystery man had followed her. Prue leaned through the window, looking out the empty streets. “Charity, I am not comfortable with you leaving. Please come inside.”
“I am supposed to be at a ball. I should change back into my gown and return home.” She took a deep breath. “I…I suppose my nerves were more shattered than I realized. I did not mean to disturb your rest. We will talk tomorrow.”
Then her friend turned and gracefully ran off. Prue whistled sharply, and Charity stopped and hurried back.
“Yes?”
“Who was with you in the dark. Did you identify the person? More importantly, did they identify you?”
There was a slight hesitation, and to Prue’s shock, Charity blushed fiercely. So it was a gentleman then. One who was also breaking into the viscount’s house. What rotten luck.
“Who is he, Charity?” Prue asked again, impatience roiling inside.
Instead of answering, an odd smile…a bit mysterious, touched her friend’s mouth before she turned around and melted into the shadows of the gardens.
