Page 54 of A Virgin for the Rakish Marquess

When the scene was set in her room, Diana went to the door, wrapping her hood around herself. She had a goal—Bess’s window. The only clear path out of the manor that she was familiar with.

She smiled. She had specifically asked for her maid to have that room when she first came to the manor. It was just below her room, one staircase away and next to a small auxiliary kitchen. She didn’t want the poor girl to go to such lengths while catering to her needs.

It seemed that her kindness was repaid. However, to use such a sincere, considerate act for such scandalous reasons was evil.

Or anunexpected stroke of luck.

All she needed was to have Bess out of her room. Asking for chamomile tea, for instance, did the job. And she needed to hide. She knew exactly the spot—the only safe spot between her room and that window.

But now that she was standing before that very spot, she hesitated. This had seemed like a good idea in theory. Now, faced with the grim reality, she reevaluated the worth of her plan.

Diana stood before the grandfather clock, staring at it. Squeezing herself into the narrow body of the clock had seemed like a good idea, but now it made her reconsider her life choices.

“James, you better appreciate this,” she murmured in the empty hallway

She opened the wooden door, hiked up her skirts, and squeezed inside, drawing it almost shut.Almost. She had no intention of being locked inside the clock. She could feel the cold brass weights against her back, but she was shaking from agitation.

Her ears were straining to hear the one thing she was waiting for—Bess walking into her room with her chamomile tea. She had to be ready. The moment the maid was in her room, Diana had to move as fast as lightning and as stealthily as a cat. Time was literally ticking.

She was trembling, but it wasn’t all from fear. The thrill, the forbidden nature of what she was doing was exhilarating.

This is madness.

But at the same time, her blood was thrumming with something dangerously close to delight. And the reward for her audacity.Him.All to herself.

Her chest heaved at the thought.

Footsteps. She heard footsteps.

Diana’s focus became razor-sharp as every muscle in her body tensed. The footsteps passed her by, and she heard a knock on a door.

“Lady Diana?”

Then the creaking of the door.

It’s now or never!

Diana opened the clock door, which she had made sure was well-oiled, and climbed out of the ticking coffin. One glance at her door, hearing Bess murmur, “Poor thing,” and she ran down the hall.

She had a small window of time. Bess would probably take her tea to the kitchen to dispose of it and wash the cup and teapot before she retreated to her room.

Diana had to remind herself to breathe as she ran. It would be profoundly stupid to go to all this trouble only to faint halfwaydown the hall. She rounded the corner on silent feet. Then, she ran down the stairs, gripping the banister to keep from stumbling in her haste.

Left turn. Past the little kitchen. Bess’s room. The door didn’t creak.

“Lady Luck is on my side.” Diana chuckled in the darkness. “My courage has been rewarded.”

The window was right there. Her hands trembled as she unlatched it, pushing it open just enough to squeeze through. A rush of cool air kissed her skin.

Almost there.

Without hesitation, she hoisted herself on the sill and climbed through. It was wide and big enough to make it easy for her. Now, all she had to do?—

Snag.

Her skirt was caught in the latch and was not giving in. Perhapsthiswas the sign that she was snarled up in something out of her depth.

“Not now. Damn these dresses. I should have worn breeches. Blast it!” Diana cursed and pulled.

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