“I shall take a short turn about the ballroom, I think,” she said, aware of the knot in her stomach. “I do not want Lady Tabitha to come to speak with us for, no doubt, she will cause you all the same pain that she caused me. No doubt she is displeased with the audacity with which I spoke to her of late, and I would not be surprised if she were to go on to say something – either true or untrue – which might very well make thetonthink all the more ill of us!” With a quick smile, she stepped away. “I will return shortly.”
Her parents had become used to allowing Rachael the freedom to stand with the other wallflowers while they made their way around the ballroom and, even though it was not proper for her to be walking in the ballroom without a chaperone, Rachael did not care. No-one would look at her. She was, as she had come to realize, almost entirely invisible to thetonand anyone who so much as glanced at her would not look back at her again, or wonder who she was. Her presence would barely be acknowledged.
Walking slowly, her hands clasped loosely in front of her, Rachael found herself thinking on Lord Blackmore again. His kindness was not something she had expected, especially given how she had been forced toaskfor his consideration at first! Now, however, he appeared to be determined to do what he could to help her and, for that, Rachael was more than grateful.
I only wish my heart would not quicken so whenever he should look at me.
Coming to a set of double doors – one of which was held open by a hook and a latch – and the other closed, Rachael glanced through it into the hallway, merely from idle curiosity, only to see something which caused her to stand quite still.
Lord Blackmore?
The gentleman was laughing at something another gentleman was saying, with three of them standing together in the hallway. She did not know what it was that he was saying, nor what was so mirthful but, all the same, the smile on his face and the light in his eyes made her smile.
“They are there?”
Rachael blinked, turning her head to see two figures standing a short distance from her. She could not make out their faces and, no doubt, they were not easily able to see her, given the darkness of this part of the room. All the same, she stepped away at once, moving back along the wall and, seeing a vacant chair, sat down in it carefully. The last thing she needed at this moment was for anyone to notice her and, thereafter, exclaim over her lack of propriety in walking through the ballroom alone.
“What do you plan to do?”
“What we have been asked to do,” the other voice said, as Rachael turned her head away, hoping such a gesture showed a lack of interest, should either of the two gentlemen realize she was there. “We must find a way to start some gossip about Lord Blackmore. If he is in there with his friends, then why do we not send… Lady Duthell to him?”
Rachael’s breath caught in her chest as she stared straight ahead, not looking back to where the two gentlemen stood, but straining to hear what was to be said next. They were speaking of Lord Blackmore, of wanting to encourage gossip, to have yet more whispers surround him? Why?
“Do you think Lady Duthell will do as we ask?”
The second man chuckled, sending a dark chill down Rachael’s spine.
“Lady Duthell will go where we tell her, especially if we state that there is an eager and willing gentleman waiting for her.”
Rachael closed her eyes and tried to breathe steadily, unable to move from where she was but, at the same time, desperate to see who these gentlemen were, to see their faces so that she might help Lord Blackmore identify them should it come to it. Slowly, she turned her head, squinting as she tried to make out their faces, but neither gentleman was identifiable. The shadows were too great. All she could see was that one was taller than the other, but both were standing close together, their low tones barely loud enough for her to hear over the music and buzz of conversation.
“He has friends there,” the first complained. “We cannot have Lady Duthell sent to him if his friends are present. How–”
“We will have one of the staff do our bidding,” the second interrupted, sounding a little frustrated now. “Go. Tell Lady Duthell that she must make her way to the parlor. Tell her that a gentleman is waiting to speak with her.” A quiet chuckle had Rachael’s eyes squeezing closed. “I can promise you that she will go there at once.”
“And for Lord Blackwell?
“A footman will tell him that Lord Kelling requires his help and is waiting for him in the parlor,” the second said, clearly the one who was able to organize matters without so much as a thought. “I do wonder if you have anything to contribute in this matter, given that you are so cloth-headed!”
Rachael swallowed hard, her fingers locking together as she watched the two gentlemen separate. She rose swiftly, her legs a little unsteady as she stepped forward, trying to spy one of them,trying to see their faces, but they had already disappeared into the crowd of guests.
I must warn Lord Blackmore.
Her breath catching in her chest, Rachael hurried back to the door and, stepping through it, came face to face with Lord Blackmore. His smile grew a little fixed, the laughter in his eyes starting to fade the moment he laid eyes on her.
“Miss… Simmons.” Speaking slowly, Lord Blackmore gazed to the open door, clearly wondering if he was about to see a chaperone of some sort coming after her. “You are alone?”
“Lord Blackmore,” Rachael began, barely glancing at the other two gentlemen, “I have just now overheard something most grievous, and I have come to warn you of it.”
The remaining lightness in Lord Blackmore’s face disappeared completely.
“What is it, Miss Simmons?”
“Two gentlemen spied you in here,” she said, aware of just how breathless she was, how much tension was humming through her. “I do not know who they were, I did not hear their titles and, try as I might, I could not see their faces. There were too many shadows clinging to the back of the room – but oh, Lord Blackmore, youmustbe careful!”
Lord Blackmore moved closer to her at once, his hand finding hers though her blue eyes were suddenly a little darker as he searched her expression.
“What have you overheard, Miss Simmons? Please, do tell us at once. I can see that you are distressed by it.”
