Chapter 32
Pinpricks of panic raced up and down Elinor’s skin. She opened her mouth. No sound emerged.
“Myniece?” Sir John’s words came out as a roar of disbelief. “What the devil—?”
“Elinor?” Penelope shook her head wildly. “But that’s not possible!”
“You think not?” Miss Armitage’s vivid blue eyes were alight with speculation as they darted back and forth between Benedict and Penelope. “They did meet at an inn the night before he arrived here, didn’t they? It must have been a memorable meeting indeed, to bring about such a swift betrothal. Perhaps she has more personal attractions than you’d realized.”
Penelope’s face was rapidly turning pink with fury. “She must have tricked him into it! There isnoother reason any gentleman wouldever—”
“You mean as you tried to trick me into marriage tonight?” Benedict’s voice was sharper-edged than Elinor had ever heard it. “Is that the sort of underhanded, dishonourable trick to which you’re referring, Miss Hathergill?”
She stared up at him. “Why—well—that is hardly the same! Anyone would marry me!”
“Not anyone,” said Benedict. He looked back at Elinor, his gaze warm and intent. “Not me.”
But Penelope’s father had already seized upon Miss Armitage’s statement. “By God, you’re right. I thought it a mere coincidence. But if Hawkins has been in cahoots with my niece all along—good God, we’ll have to check his room, see if he’s stolen anything himself!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” said Elinor, finding her voice at last. “Mr. Hawkins is no thief. If you would simply calm down for a moment, Sir John—”
“Calm down?” Sir John roared. “My daughter has been compromised, her seducer is in league with the wretch who stole from us—and you think I should calm down, ma’am?!”
He kept on roaring, but Elinor had stopped listening. A movement had caught her eye in the corner of her vision: the servants’ door cracking open. It slid half an inch back from the wall, then stopped: just far enough to listen, without being seen.Servants know everything.
Elinor had a feeling that she knew exactly which servant had come to find out what she was doing now. She took a deep breath. Within the next ten minutes, depending on how well she managed her negotiations, she would either be exposed and imprisoned or else in desperate flight. She had no remaining chance to protect her sisters or her aunt.
But perhaps she did have one last chance, after all, to see one piece of justice done. And at least, this way, she would have fulfilled a promise.
Elinor aimed her voice directly at that crack in the wall. “If you want a real thief, look for Lucinda Staverton. I saw her steal your wife’s diamond bracelet not half an hour ago.”
The door quivered, as if whoever was holding it had given a start of surprise.
Sir John stopped bellowing at Benedict to stare at her.
Penelope said, “Don’t be absurd! Lucinda would never—”
“She’s done it in the past,” Elinor said, “and blamed innocent servants to save herself from being caught. But this time you can all see it for yourself. She’ll have hidden the bracelet on her person somewhere. Why don’t you go and find out if I’m telling the truth? Lady Hathergill knows; she’ll help you do it.”
“This is all irrelevant nonsense!” snapped Sir John. “You’re trying to distract us, ma’am, and I won’t have it. Do you understand me?”
But the servants’ door shut, and Elinor knew that her message had been received. She had done her part, as much as she could; now, Sally would have to find a way to finish it herself.
Miss Armitage sighed and moved forward to take control of the room. “This is all perfectly fascinating, I am sure. But now, if we could all turn our minds to saving Miss Hathergill’s reputation, I’m sure my brother would be only too happy to—”
“That won’t be necessary,” Elinor said. “Mr. Hawkins can leave by the servants’ entrance. No one outside this room will ever know that he and Penelope were alone together.”
“Excellent plan,” Benedict said. His face was solemn, but his eyes were full of mischief as he looked at her. “May I hope that you will accompany me, Mrs. De Lacey?”
Sir John snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. My daughter’s début hasn’t finished. If you think you can waltz off with our guest of honor after what you’ve done—”
“I’m afraid you haven’t any choice in the matter, Sir John.” Elinor drew herself up as proudly as an empress. She set one hand on Sir Jessamyn’s glittering scales and felt a surge of pride as he straightened, too, looking brave and astonishingly noble despite the smell of dragon slime that still permeated the room.
Back in the ballroom, her aunt was no doubt telling everyone around her exactly what she had seen. At any moment, the gossip would spread along the corridor. But for these last few moments, Elinor wouldbeMrs. De Lacey for all that she was worth and snatch her only chance to escape.
“If you think I am going to stay for even one more moment in this house…” she began.
But her words were cut off by a sudden commotion in the corridor outside. Guests’ voices rose in a muffled roar of shock and horror—then fell silent as one loud, imperious, and utterly unfamiliar voice spoke over all the rest:
