Page 9 of His Scarred Duchess
“Of course, of course.” Weatherby chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. “Can’t let the young buck cause too much mischief, eh? Though between you and me, I’d say a little mischief now and then keeps a man young.”
With a tight smile and a brief bow, Edmund excused himself and began scanning the crowded ballroom.
Damn Daniel and his impulsiveness!
Where could he have disappeared to with this mysterious lady in peacock feathers? Didn’t he realize the risks he was taking, not just for himself, but for the young lady as well?
There, near the door to the ballroom—a flash of vibrant feathers disappearing into the shadows. Edmund’s jaw clenched as he recognized the peacock mask of the young woman Daniel had been so enthralled with earlier.
He hastily made his way towards the door, his long strides eating up the distance. As he slipped out of the ballroom, he found himself in a dimly lit corridor. The sounds of the party faded, replaced by the quiet rustle of silk and the distant murmur of hushed voices.
Which way had they gone?
He paused, listening intently. To his left, he heard a burst of muffled laughter—feminine, bright, and unmistakably young. His frown deepened. The girl sounded so carefree, so unaware of the danger she was placing herself in by wandering off alone with a known rake.
Moving as quietly as his size would allow, Edmund made his way down the corridor. It branched off in several directions, each shadowy hallway looking much like the last.
He cursed under his breath. This house was a veritable maze, designed for secret trysts and clandestine meetings. How was he supposed to find them in this labyrinth?
Another laugh, closer this time, followed by the low rumble of Daniel’s voice. Edmund quickened his pace, turning down a narrow side passage. The voices were clearer now, but still frustratingly elusive.
As he rounded another corner, Edmund caught a glimpse of vibrant feathers disappearing through a doorway at the far end of the hall. His heart raced. He had to reach them before things went too far, before reputations were irreparably damaged.
Adeline walked swiftly down the hall, peeking into each room she encountered.
A small parlor, empty save for moonlight streaming through gossamer curtains. A music room, the pianoforte standing silent and expectant. A library, its shelves of leather-bound books nearly tempting her to abandon her search and lose herself in their pages.
With each empty room, Adeline’s anxiety grew. Where could Isabella be? And with whom? The thought of her naïve sister alone with some rakehell of thetonmade her blood run cold.
At last, she came upon a small study tucked away at the end of the hall. A sliver of light escaped from beneath the door. Heart pounding, Adeline reached for the handle.
The door swung open, revealing a figure silhouetted against the warm glow of a banked fire.
For a moment, her breath caught in her throat.
The man before her cut an impressive figure—tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of quiet authority that seemed to fill the room.
He turned at the sound of the door opening, and Adeline stared into the most striking pair of gray eyes she’d ever seen. They regarded her with surprise, then something that might have been appreciation, from behind a simple black mask.
“Who are you?” he demanded, and every instinct urged her to step back into the safety of the crowd.
Chapter Four
“Ibeg your pardon,” Adeline said, finding her voice at last. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m searching for my sister and thought perhaps?—”
“Your sister?” the stranger interrupted, his deep voice sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. “Would she happen to be wearing a rather ostentatious peacock costume?”
Adeline’s eyes widened. “Yes! Have you seen her? I’ve been looking everywhere and?—”
“I’m afraid she’s gone off with my friend,” he said, a note of frustration creeping into his voice. “I’ve been trying to locate them myself.”
“Gone off with your—” Adeline sputtered, her indignation rising like the tide. “Sir, I don’t know who you are or who you think you are, but I’ll have you know that my sister is a lady of good breeding and would never?—”
“Peace, Madam,” the man said, raising a hand to halt her tirade. “I assure you I’m as concerned about this situation as you are. My friend, while a good man at heart, often acts without thinking of the consequences.”
Adeline bristled at his calm demeanor. How dare he stand there, so composed, while her sister’s reputation hung in the balance?
“And you allowed this to happen? Sir, I must say, your definition of friendship leaves much to be desired if you permit your companions to compromise innocent young women!”
