Sally
As Sally and Leonard joined their guests in the bustling ballroom, she was immediately greeted by a wave of laughter and music that filled the air with infectious energy. This spoke of a successful ball, but it was early yet.
“I shall mingle. I will find you later so we can talk, yes?” Leonard said, his eyes fixed on her.
Sally nodded, though longing to stay beside him flared when he walked away.
Why is it so easy for him to make me hope for another outcome again with a simple word or a promise of a conversation?
It was a reckoning she’d have to confront soon, but for now, she had to play the role she was meant to play. Hostess.
Amidst the sea of dancing couples, Sally’s presence did not go unnoticed. Whispers of admiration rippled through the crowd as guests paused in their revelry to pay homage to the radiant hostess.
“Your Grace, you look positively resplendent tonight,” one guest exclaimed, their eyes aglow with admiration as they took in Sally’s elegant gown and radiant smile.
A tall lady with striking chestnut hair approached her, her eyes filled with genuine warmth. “I must say, your efforts in organizing this ball have not gone unnoticed. It’s truly a magnificent affair.” She blinked, desperately searching for the lady’s name. Again, it was Leonard who saved her.
“Lady Charleston,” he said as he rounded the corner with a glass of wine. “How lovely of you to come.”
“Ah, my husband told me you were very insistent that this is a ball not to be missed,” the woman replied, and Sally raised her eyes at Leonard. He had done what? Had he worked behind the scenes to make this ball succeed? She looked at him, her lips parted, but he swiftly shrugged and set into motion again.
“Well, it is. You will find my wife not only a keen organizer but also a capable fundraiser, a true patroness in the making.” He placed a hand on her arm as he walked past her. “But now I must tend to some of the other guests.” He winked at Sally as he left, and she felt as though she had been swooped up into a wild storm and tossed out again. He’d helped her more than she’d ever suggested, hadn’t he? Why?
“Your Grace, I did hear you are interested in joining a charitable organization,” Lady Charleston said now, and Sally realized just who she was. The lady patroness of a large organization supporting wounded soldiers.
“I am, indeed, I find it very honorable work,” she said quickly, keen to please the woman.
“Well, I think someone who can put together such a splendid ball in just a fortnight is someone we can certainly use in our organization. Now, why don’t we meet at my home in Chelsea for tea, day after tomorrow?
Sally beamed at the woman, and after confirming, they parted ways. Her eyes swayed over the ballroom in search of Leonard. They were by no means past their struggles, but she wanted to tell him at once. Was it sad that the first person she wanted to tell of her success was the one person who’d caused her the most heartache? Perhaps…. And yet, so it was, and she didn’t know how to change that.
She spotted him across the ballroom with Kenneth, the two deep in conversation with her parents. Not wanting to disturb their gathering, she instead looked out for Joanna, but she was dancing with Lord Worcester. It was odd seeing them talk amicably when it was her father’s attempt to marry Joanna off to Lord Worcester, which had set her on the path to becoming the Duchess of Wells, but such was life. One never knew what to expect.
Rosy likewise danced with a gentleman. As she considered waiting for the dance to be over to share her news with Joanna, she spotted an all too familiar figure slinking away from the ballroom and into the hall leading to Leonard’s study.
“Aaron?” she muttered under her breath.
A pang of concern gripped her heart as she watched him, her mind racing with worry at the sight of his unsteady demeanor amidst the festive atmosphere. Where was he going? It wasn’t usually permissible for guests to go wandering around unaccompanied in a home like this. Then again, Leonard had wandered into her family’s library, too, hadn’t he? Still, she wasn’t comfortable with Aaron sneaking the way he did, eyes scanning the room as if he wanted to be sure nobody could see him.
The man had always struck her as odd. They never spent much time together, and yet he was one of Leonard’s confidants, almost as close to him as Kenneth.
Sally wasn’t quite sure why, but she felt a need to follow him, so she made her way across the ballroom and down the hall. Up ahead, she spotted Leonard’s study door open and dipped her head to one side. He usually kept the door shut unless he wanted the maids to clean, in which case it was left open. For a ball, however, he’d certainly not just close it but lock it.
Did Aaron have a key? And why would he want to go inside at this hour?
Sally stepped into the doorway and peered in, watching quietly as Aaron rustled about inside. He’d lit the candle on Leonard’s desk; the light cast eerie shadows across Leonard’s study as Sally stepped into the room, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. She watched as Aaron opened drawers and rifled through papers, cursing under his breath.
Whatever he was doing here, she was certain that he was up to no good – and she was going to find out just what was going on.
CHAPTER34
Sally
“Where is it? It has to be here ...” he grumbled. “Darn you, Leonard. You and your father both.” Leonard and his father? What in the world was he talking about? And what was he looking for? Just then, Aaron made his way to the opposite corner and removed a landscape painting from the wall. Sally gasped when she noted what was behind it - a wall safe.
She’d never seen it before, but then again, she wasn’t in the habit of searching Leonard’s study in the dark of night. She took a step forward, her heart pounding as she did while Aaron fumbled with the lock. From the way he stood and swayed back and forth, she could tell he’d already indulged in more than enough wine. Was that the reason for his behavior? Whatever it was, she had to put a stop to it.
“What are you doing in my husband’s study?” she bellowed, gathering all her courage, and pushed open the door, which let out a loud creak. Aaron spun around, his eyes flashing with a mixture of surprise and hostility.
