Page 46 of Only a Duke
She could just imagine the dashing figure he would cut. He’d be able to move a bit more freely in the house, while she would use the masked ball to slip away and search her host’s bedchamber. That should be the likely spot to hide anincriminating item of value. It was where she would hide it if she were part of a secret club and kept a private ledger.
“I do so enjoy a masquerade ball.”
“Indeed,” the duchess said, her smile tight. “It seems this must be fate.”
“Fate?” Louisa said with an equally tight stretch of lips. Her stepmother’s tone put her instantly on guard. “Why?”
“Since you are here, there is someone I would like to introduce you to tonight,” the duchess answered with a gleam that put Louisa further on edge.
Lawks, this would not be good. In fact, this could be really, really bad. “Oh? And who might that be?”
“The Earl of Westbridgeson.”
Curses she would never utter out loud flew across her mind.
“Ah.” Louisa fought to keep her smile in place. All eyes turned to her reaction, so she took a page from Mortimer’s book to keep her countenance as cool as a fresh, crisp breeze. “I am sure he is an interesting fellow.”With your nails dug deep into him.
Considering what she’d recently discovered about her stepmother and presumably her stepmother’s friends, every single woman in this drawing room took on a suspicious aspect.
She could not trust anyone in this house.
“And quite handsome,” Lady Havendish said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, yet her gaze held some sort of excitement in them, nevertheless.
Louisa shivered.
One of the other women, Lady Keening, poured Louisa a cup of tea. “Have some honey tea, Lousia. You must be weary from your journey.”
“Oh, it wasn’t that far,” Louisa said lightly, willing her heart to stop throbbing in her ears. “The journey was quite uneventful.” If you could call sharing a carriage with a manwho exuded raw power with one mere gaze and constantly stole small increments of his companion’s breath uneventful. Stoleherbreath.
But she preferredthatoverthis.
Honestly, Louisa!
She accepted the cup from Lady Keening, a beautiful woman who could be considered in her prime. If only she didn’t have ties to her stepmother and their host. Her gaze flicked over the other ladies who were chatting away in all corners of the room, most not paying her any attention anymore except for the occasional glance.
So, this was how it felt to enter the den of predators. Like a pack of hyenas, each gaze glinted with cunning, always assessing, and always calculating.
They would sense the smallest weakness.
But so long as Louisa revealed no weakness and did not challenge these gazes, no teeth would be bared her way. Fortunately, her only weakness was in Brighton.Unfortunately, a wolf had already enteredthatden.
She brought the teacup to her lips and took a sip. Lawks. No sugar. Smile, Louisa! Her composure was her strength! She set the cup on the table. “I would very much enjoy some rest before the ball tonight if that is possible?”
“Of course,” the duchess said as if this wereherhousehold. “I shall inform your father of your arrival when he returns.”
Lady Havendish nodded.
“Where is Papa?” She hadn’t glimpsed any gentlemen yet.
“He is out hunting today with the other gentlemen.”
In Worthing? What on earth would they be hunting? Birds? An inward snort. Hyenas? They need not look any further than this room. In any event, it seemed everyone at the party was on the hunt in one way or another.
At least she was not being scolded for joining the party without notice.
What was Mortimer doing at that moment? Not to mention that man, Reaper. Hopefully, they were both staying out of sight. There was no way she’d be able to explain her “hires” to her father, and never mind that scarred Fury, the duke would recognize the other duke instantly.
“It’s a shame the earl went hunting as well,” Lady Keening said. “The two of you could have taken a delightful stroll in the garden.”
