Page 94 of The Lady Glass
Time to move. “Let’s dance,” he said to Theresia.
“Now?”
He pulled her into the line of dancers promenading around the room. He hoped anyone interested in him was taking note of his beautiful partner and his preference for her. He might have returned to the ballroom for other reasons, but he was not against accomplishing two tasks at once.
They had not traveled far when Theresia squeezed his hand. “Rolland, they’re leaving.”
Lord Caspar and his family had stepped away from Her Grace and Lady Cadogen and were moving in the opposite direction.
“Keep going behind them, and I will try to cut them off by the door,” Theresia said.
“Theresia—”
“One of us has to keep them from leaving.” She released him before he could stop her and disappeared behind a gentleman. Rolland stepped out of the line of dancers, trusting Theresia’s plan, and kept his course to follow Lord Caspar. He prayed Theresia would be well, but he didn’t like that he could no longer see her.
No one else could die over this. It was time to end this once and for all.
Chapter 43
Theresia wanted nothing more thanto dance with Rolland. The strong desire to return to him motivated her to be brave one last time. She threw herself in front of the ballroom door just as Lord Caspar reached for the handle.
“What is this?” Lord Caspar drew back, a scowl crossing his small mouth.
“Theresia!” Helena stepped forward, relief lining her face.
“Don’t be a fool, Helena.” Lady Caspar held her back. “You mustn’t draw unwelcome attention to yourself by acknowledging Theresia in public.” Lady Caspar faced Theresia. “Senseless girl. Will you disgrace yourself by coming to a duke’s ball uninvited, especially after deceiving them like you did? It’s positively shameful. You must remove yourself at once.”
Theresia noticed a few eyes turning their way. She refused to cower, but her body shook disobediently. “Iwasinvited.”
Lord Caspar smirked. “A likely story. Move aside. We are in a hurry.”
She had sacrificed her reputation many times, but never in front of so many people. Even so, she wouldn’t move, no matter how many insults they flung at her.
“She’s telling the truth.” Rolland stepped up beside her, followed by two footmen. “She is here as my special guest.”
“But she’s practically a servant!” Lady Caspar cried.
Theresia cringed. Several couples were drawing closer. Rolland’s name would be tied to hers now. He deserved better.
“I am not certain how you could say such a thing about your stepdaughter,” Rolland answered loudly enough for those behind him to hear.
“What is going on here?” Lord Barrack stepped up next to Lord Caspar. His eyes widened at the sight of Theresia.
“Let’s take this matter into the drawing room, shall we?”Rolland said quickly.
Lord Caspar eyed the footmen behind Rolland and gave a reluctant nod.
Rolland stepped out first, leading the party down the corridor and into the drawing room. After the others entered the room, Rolland discreetly instructed a footman to fetch His Grace from the guest wing upstairs. Theresia was the last to walk through the drawing room door, where Rolland waited for her.
He snagged her by the waist, pulling her close. “Are you well?”
“A little shaken.”
He rubbed her arm. “I thought the plan was for you to stay by my side.”
Before she could answer, Lord Barrack interrupted. “Rolland, what is going on?”
Theresia’s bravery was nearly used up. She couldn’t bear seeing the disapproval in Lord Barrack’s eyes.
