Page 49 of The Insufferable Duke
“The beauty of a masquerade ball is that no one will know who she is.”
“No mask ever truly disguises a person.” Anna laughed at the idea and took a seat nearby. “Their hair is visible, their mannerisms, everything. It is plainly obvious who everyone is.”
“Not if extra care is taken.” Helena could feel her sister’s hand tightening on her own, her desperation growing. Helena squeezed back, showing she had everything in hand. “If I can disguise Julia completely, so much so that even you two, her own parents, struggle to recognize her, may she be allowed this one last night of freedom before the wedding?”
She waited for an answer. Anna fidgeted constantly in her seat, and Benjamin stared at the two of them, not in a rush to give an answer.
“The wedding is just a few days away now,” Helena reminded them.
“It is true.” Benjamin sighed deeply then offered a sad smile at Julia. “I will be sorry to see you go, Julia, especially to a Moore.”
“He is a good man, Father; I have told you that countless times.”
“So, you have.” When Benjamin expressed no wish to believe it, Julia hung her head forward, her spine crumpling completely. Helena’s eyes widened, and she looked at her father, angling her head to jerk in Julia’s direction. That look of plain dejection must have stirred something in his stomach. “If you can disguise her well enough, you may both go to the ball.”
“Truly?” Julia sat straight again. “Thank you, Father. Thank you!”
“May it be a last chance for you to smile before the wedding.”
Helena felt for the first time just how steadfastly her father, as well as her mother, was clinging to the rivalry. Anyone who had taken the time to look at Julia would know she smiled constantly in Lord Robert’s company. Benjamin appeared intent on not noticing such a thing.
* * *
“Well, if I hadn’t arrived with you two myself, I’d find it hard to guess who you were tonight,” Percival declared as he walked into the masquerade ball, leading the way.
Christopher caught sight of himself in the nearest mirror. In truth, he’d not wished to attend at all. He was tired of being forced into such events by his mother and aunt with even his great-uncle adding a word or two of insistence.
Appearances must be kept up.
He scoffed at the thought as his eyes raked over his reflection. The entrance to the ballroom was flanked with floor to ceiling mirrors, reflecting the myriad of candles that were attached to sconces and ceiling candelabras. In that light, people’s elaborate masks glowed.
Christopher’s dark black suit caught the eye. The golden waistcoat was so dusky, it was more of a rich amber hue that glittered in the light. It matched the mask he wore, stretching the full-length of his face, hiding every part of his features that could be recognized. Even his hair had been slicked back, and the usually identifiable wild blond waves were slicked with so much wax that the tendrils looked much darker than usual.
“Look at you, Robert,” Percival laughed, the most identifiable of the three of them with merely a small navy mask placed over his eyes. He danced around Robert and ushered him into the ball, pushing him forward. “You look like you are here undercover tonight. Would I be right in hazarding that was the purpose?”
“How is it he sees everything?” Robert asked in a hushed whisper to Christopher.
“He is annoyingly perceptive.” Christopher levelled a glare at their cousin with the words, knowing it to be true. Only Percival had noticed his recent closeness with Lady Helena. No matter what objections Christopher put to the idea, nothing had shifted Percival from the knowledge that there was something afoot.
“I have eyes and, surprisingly, a brain too,” Percival declared dramatically and led the way further into the ballroom. “I see what you two both try to hide.”
“Both of us?” Robert spluttered, adjusting the rich dark purple mask he wore. Just like Christopher’s, it covered his full face. His suit was not his usual style either, with full tails, and it was a little baggy in places, intended to hide his figure. He’d cropped his hair shorter in preparation for the wedding, but tonight, it served the purpose of disguising him from the world. “Pray tell, what is Christopher trying to hide?”
Christopher walked behind his cousin then stepped around him, managing to step cleanly on his toe. Percival hopped to the side, releasing his foot.
“Nothing at all — I’m simply being theatrical.” Yet Percival looked away from Robert and glared at Christopher.
“Where is she?” Robert muttered and walked off, striding between the people.
“Let us go after him.” Christopher took his cousin’s shoulder and steered him forward. “Before he causes anymore scandal for the family.” Percival dug his heels into the fine floorboards beneath them, trying to slow their pace. Fortunately, Christopher was stronger and won out in their war of strength.
“If Robert is up to mischief, isn’t it better to leave him to it?” Percival asked in a low tone. “It would leave you chance for your own mischief.”
“I have need of none.”
“I could give you an argument on that.”
“Not another word, Percival.”
