Page 5 of His Scarred Duchess
Her sister’s vibrant peacock costume was nowhere to be seen. Adeline’s heart raced as she remembered the rakish gentleman who had been paying Isabella particular attention earlier. Had he lured her away?
The thought sent a chill down Adeline’s spine.
She set down her glass, her discomfort forgotten in the face of this fresh worry. How could she have let Isabella out of her sight? She knew how impulsive her sister could be, how easily swayed by charm and flattery. If anything happened to Isabella, if she were found in a compromising position…
Adeline’s mind raced with dire possibilities as she moved through the crowd, searching desperately for any sign of her sister’s distinctive costume. She had to find Isabella, and quickly, before their night of adventure turned into a scandal that could ruin them both.
As she pushed her way through the throng of masked revelers, her eyes darting frantically from face to face, a flash of vibrant color caught her attention. There, in the center of the dance floor, a whirl of iridescent blues and greens spun past.
Isabella.
Her breath caught in her throat as she watched her sister twirl gracefully in the arms of a masked gentleman.
It wasn’t the rakish man from earlier, but a different partner altogether. Isabella’s head was thrown back in laughter, her eyes sparkling with joy behind her elaborate mask.
The knot of anxiety in Adeline’s stomach began to loosen. Her sister was safe, enjoying herself as any young lady at a ball should. The tension left her shoulders, and she felt her racing heart begin to slow.
From this vantage point, Adeline could observe the swirling crowd without feeling quite so exposed. The anonymity that the masks afforded seemed to have freed everyone from the usual social constraints. Ladies laughed more openly, while gentlemen flirted more boldly. It was a heady, almost scandalous atmosphere.
For a moment, Adeline allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to truly be a part of this world again. To dance without fear of judgment, to engage in witty repartee without the shadow of pity in her partner’s eyes. The longing was so acute that it was almost physical, a dull ache in her chest.
But then reality intruded, as it always did.
Tomorrow, she would once again be Lady Adeline Follett, the scarred spinster, destined for exile in Scotland. This moment, this taste of freedom was nothing more than a fleeting fantasy.
Still, as she watched a couple twirl past, their movements graceful and synchronized, Adeline felt a small spark of defiance ignite within her. She might be leaving London, leaving Societybehind, but for tonight, she was just another masked reveler. Why shouldn’t she make the most of it?
With newfound determination, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She would find Isabella, yes, but not to leave. Instead, she would embrace this adventure, this one last night of freedom before her exile began.
After all, what did she have to lose?
Adeline took a deep breath and turned back to the refreshments table, reaching for another glass of punch. As she did so, a thin figure in a plain black mask approached her side.
“Pardon me, Madam,” the man said, his voice reedy and slightly hesitant. “Might I be so bold as to request a dance?”
Adeline’s heart leaped into her throat. A dance? With her? She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had asked her to dance at a social gathering. For a moment, she was tempted to refuse out of sheer habit. But then she remembered her earlier resolve. This was her night of freedom, her chance to experience everything she had missed.
“I… yes, of course,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you, Sir.”
The man offered her his arm, and she took it with trembling fingers. As he led her to the dance floor, she felt both excitementand trepidation. She had practiced dancing, of course, but only with Isabella in the privacy of their bedchamber.
This would be her first real dance in years.
They took their positions as the orchestra struck up a new tune. Adeline recognized it as a simple country dance, much to her relief. Surely, she couldn’t mess this up too badly.
As they moved, she found herself counting the steps in her head, desperately trying to remember the proper sequence.
One-two-three, one-two-three.
Her partner’s hand was clammy around hers, and she could feel the slight tremor in his grip. Was he as nervous as she was?
“Lovely weather we’re having, isn’t it?” the man asked suddenly, his voice cracking slightly on the last word.
Adeline blinked in surprise. Weather? They were discussing theweather?
“Oh, um, yes,” she replied, scrambling for something to say. “Very… pleasant.”
“Indeed, indeed.” He nodded enthusiastically. “I find the barometric pressure to be particularly agreeable this time of year. Don’t you agree?”
