Sylvia and her cousin pressed closer. “Well?” said the cousin.
Lily swallowed, anxiety for Rose battling with shame. She had no idea what the note said. She glanced around, looking for Emm or Cal.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, how stupid!” Sylvia exclaimed.
Lily flinched, but before Sylvia could loudly reveal Lily’s dreadful flaw to all around them, she said, “I forgot for a moment—Lady Lily can’t read a word without her spectacles. Here, give it to me.” With a wink at Lily, she plucked the note from Lily’s nerveless grasp and quickly scanned the contents of the note.
Lily held her breath.
“It’s from Rose. She says she’s in trouble and needs your assistance. She’s waiting in a carriage outside the house and says you’re to go to her immediately.”
“Of course,” Lily said. She was feeling a little dizzy. “I’ll just let Emm and Cal know.” She scanned the room, but she couldn’t see Cal or Emm anywhere.
Sylvia placed a hesitant hand on Lily’s arm and said in a discreet tone, “Far be it from me to interfere, but she sent the note toyou, Lily, not your brother or his wife. It sounds to me as if Rose doesn’t want them to know.”
“Oh, of course,” Lily said, flustered. It would be just like Rose to do something reckless and try to hide it from Cal especially. Whatever had she done? Rose could be so hotheaded at times.
“I saw a golden-haired young lady sitting alone in a carriage outside,” Mr. Nixon said. “Quite a beauty. Would that be your sister?”
“Yes, yes, it would.” Lily bit her lip. Rose leaving the opera on her own didn’t surprise her in the least. Her sister had always been a rule unto herself. She scanned the room anxiously. “But I must tell—”
“In the absence of your brother, I would be happy to escort you outside.” Mr. Nixon offered his arm.
Sylvia nodded. “Go and see what Rose wants, and if you need your brother or his wife, you can come back in and fetch them. It’ll only take a minute.”
Lily hesitated. She shouldn’t go outside with him, she knew. But he was Sylvia’s cousin, not really a stranger. And her sister needed her.
Mr. Nixon proffered his arm again. Lily gave one last agonized look around the ballroom and nodded. “All right.” She took his arm.
“Do you have a cloak?” Mr. Nixon said as they neared the exit.
“What?” Lily gave him a distracted glance.
“It’s cold outside and your sister was shivering. I’ll fetch it for you.” He hurried toward the cloakroom.
Lily rushed out of the house and down the front steps. She stopped dead. In the street stood a long line of waiting carriages. Which one was Rose in? She hesitated and found herself swaying a little. The dizziness was getting worse. She should have eaten something at supper.
“Here.” Mr. Nixon dropped her cloak over her bare shoulders. She shivered. He was right. It was cold outside. “Your sister’s carriage is along here. Come.” He led her around the corner, to where a lone carriage waited.
He opened the door. The interior was dark and gloomy. “Rose?” Lily peered inside. A shadowy figure was huddled in the far corner of the coach. “Is that you, Rose? Whatever is the matt—” Without warning she was pushed hard from behind. She fell half into the coach and before she knew it, her legs were seized and she was shoved bodily onto the floor of the coach.
Lily tried to scream but someone grabbed her chin in a rough grasp and stuffed a rag into her mouth. It almost choked her. A heavy cloth was bundled over her head. Someone caught her flailing arms and bound her tight. She couldn’t see or move. A pair of heavy feet pressed her to the floor.
“Go!” Mr. Nixon shouted. With a jerk, the carriage moved off, its wheels rattling over the cobblestones.
Chapter Two
There is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.
—EDMUND SPENSER,THE FAERIE QUEENE
“You look as sick as a dog,” Cal told his wife.
“Such a charming way with words you have,” Emm said, smiling despite the nausea that had suddenly swamped her. Her current condition made her extra sensitive to smells, and the close atmosphere of the room, combined with the clashing scents of burning candle wax, strong perfumes and overheated bodies made her distinctly queasy.
Cal slid an arm around her. “Even pale green and drooping you’re beautiful. But you need to be in bed, so we’re leaving.” He glanced around the room. “Where’s Lily?” He frowned. “Wait here and I’ll go and find her.”
He settled Emm in a chair with a glass of water at hand and asked the Countess of Maldon, one of Emm’s former students, to keep her company.
