Page 131 of Winterset
I glanced over my shoulder and saw a masked man walking behind me. “Yes?”
“Do you know where Duchess Montrose might be?” The masked man’s voice sounded vaguely familiar, though I could not place it.
“I don’t. I apologize. She is likely still in the ballroom,” I said as I turned to take my leave.
“That does present a problem,” the man said, stopping me. “You see, there is somewhere I have to be, but the duchess must have her smelling salts, should she swoon. Would you be so kind as to help me?” He held up a woman’s full silk bag. Heavens, it looked heavy. What did women carry in those things?
“My apologies, but I, too, am on my way out. I’m sure a footman would be happy to help you.” I pointed toward the entrance hall, where he might find someone. I did not wish to be rude, but neither did I wish to keep Kate waiting. She probably had her things by now and was in the carriage, or she would be soon.
“Please, sir,” he said, begging my assistance.
I supposed it would not take me too long to help him. “I will take the reticule and deliver it to the duchess on my way out.” I wasn’t sure why he could not do that himself, but apparently, he could not. I held out my hand.
The man stepped close, extending the silk reticule to me, but when I reached for it, he drew it back. “First, you must congratulate me,” he said.
“For what, sir?”
“For my upcoming nuptials. Soon, I shall be married to Miss Lockwood,” he said.
Too late, I recognized his voice. Markham.
He swung the reticule at my head, and everything went dark.
Kate
It took me less thanthirty minutes to change out of my ball gown and pull the pearls from my hair. Nora packed my belongings and set the small satchel on the edge of the bed. I stared at it and marveled that my necessary belongings could fit inside one tiny bundle.
“You’re sure you want to do this, miss?” Nora chewed her lower lip.
“I am. Do you have a piece of paper?” I wanted to write Hannah to thank her and tell her what Oliver and I had decided. Oliver was downstairs even now telling his brother our plans, but after everything Hannah had done for me, I thought she deserved to hear the details from me. It was the least I could do for the kindness she’d shown me.
Nora handed me a paper and pencil, and I moved to the vanity table. It took me only a moment to write the note. I didn’t worry about my words; I just wrote. When I was finished, I folded the paper in half and wrote Hannah’s name on the front.
“See that she receives this tonight.” I handed Nora the note.
“Of course, miss.”
“Thank you for your help, Nora.”
She nodded again, and I could tell from the way she rubbed her lips that she wanted to say something.
“What is it?” I said.
“There are other ways to marry Mr. Jennings. If you wait until morning, I’m sure Lord Jennings could procure a special license. Waiting would protect your reputation and Mr. Jennings’s too.”
I didn’t explain that I had no reputation to protect—dead ladies don’t—but I did worry about Oliver’s. I knew how much this marriage would cost him.
“Does your father disapprove of the marriage?” Nora asked.
“It’s not that,” I said but did not elaborate. Had Father been alive, he would have given us his blessing. “Running away, marrying in secret is the only way Oliver and I can be together.”
I could tell Nora didn’t understand, and shedefinitelydisapproved, but she nodded.
“Thank you,” I told her again as I lifted the small satchel and left the room. It took only moments for me to descend the stairs and walk out the front door.
A single carriage waited on the drive.
My stomach fluttered with excitement. Oliver was waiting for me inside that carriage.
