Slave to the Night (The Brotherhood Series, Book 2) (17 page)

Chapter 15

"When we looked through our correspondence we found we had already been invited," Evelyn said as they made their way into the Croxton's ballroom. "It only took a little gentle persuasion for Lady Croxton to extend the invitation to visiting guests."

"She did look at me rather strangely when I entered the receiving line," Grace said. "I'm certain she thinks I'm Caroline and have given a false name with the intention of ruining her soiree."

Evelyn leaned closer. "Either way, it gives the gossiping birds a fat juicy worm to feed on."

Grace felt a sudden tickle in her tummy when Elliot moved to her side and put his hand to the small of her back, and she turned to face him.

"Would you care for some refreshment?" His vibrant green eyes sparkled as his gaze dropped to her mouth. "I believe you may have worked up quite a thirst this afternoon."

She liked the way his face lit up when he smiled as opposed to the look of pain and anguish she had witnessed earlier.

"I am in need of something to wet my lips," she replied brazenly in a bid to prolong the intimacy of the moment.

"I am brimming with suggestions." His sinful gaze fell to the exposed curve of her breasts. "But for now, it is best to settle for a glass of lemonade." Leaning closer, he whispered, "I should like you moist and hydrated when I take you home tonight."

Desire pulsed through her just thinking about all they had shared. The few hours she had spent in his chamber had altered her in some way. She felt stronger. Alive. Free.

"Why wait until then?"

Elliot laughed. The sound was music for her soul. "I fear I shall never be able to beat you when it comes to salacious banter."

"Good. I would hate you to find me tiresome."

"Tiresome?" He raised a brow. "I find you exactly the opposite."

Alexander stepped forward and jerked his head in the direction of the hallway. "Come. Let us leave the ladies to mingle and gossip. Remember we have but a few hours to gather as much information as we can."

Elliot bowed to her. "I shall return soon with your refreshment, my lady."

Grace gave an amused smile. "Hurry," she said aware of the numerous gazes directed her way. "I fear the vultures are circling. You may return to find nothing more than a pile of scraggy bones."

"Then I'm thankful I had the foresight to enlist help. Leo has been feeling a little unwanted of late. The ladies will stop at nothing to keep his attention and he does so like to gossip." Elliot turned and scanned the sea of heads. "He's here somewhere. With strict instructions to learn as much as he can about Caroline Rosemond."

Just from the way he spoke it was obvious Elliot felt a certain responsibility towards his friend. Perhaps when one shared such a terrible affliction, it was only natural for a strong bond to develop. And it really did please her to know he had someone else who understood the weight of his burden.

"Excellent," she beamed. "The more, the merrier. I don't think I could face another night of fancy frocks and packed ballrooms."

His gaze dropped again to the scandalously low neckline of yet another one of Caroline's gowns. "If they're all like that I one, I think I could happily face a hundred or so such nights."

"Off with you," she said shooing him away before she gave in to temptation and threw her arms around his neck. "I'm supposed to be here to help Caroline, and you're too much of a distraction."

"I'll give you twenty minutes and then I'm coming back to distract you even more."

She watched him push through the crowd, her thoughts turning warm and dreamy as she imagined how wonderful it would be to lie next to him in bed each night.

Evelyn clutched Grace's arm and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "He has no idea, does he?"

With a mental shake of the head, Grace acknowledged her question. "He has no idea about what?"

"Elliot doesn't know that you've fallen in love with him."

Even if she wanted to answer, she couldn't. Her throat felt tight and swollen while her heart thumped wildly in her chest.

"Don't worry," Evelyn whispered. "I won't tell anyone. Your secret is safe."

"There's nothing to tell," Grace replied trying to regain her equilibrium. Their passion for each other helped them to forget the past that's all. "I like him a great deal. But we're different people, from different worlds. I could never be happy here."

"Where could you be happy?"

Elliot's bed was the first place that sprung to mind. A few days ago such a thought would have terrified her. After finding someone who worshipped her mind and body, would she ever be able to settle for a solitary life in Cobham?

"I have no idea anymore," she replied honestly. "I like gazing out over fields and hills. I like breathing fresh air, running while the wind blows my hair. I enjoy reading and quiet walks through the forest."

"Elliot has an estate in Yorkshire."

Grace gave a weak smile. "I would never ask him to leave London. Besides, he has his friend Leo to think of, and I believe he would soon grow tired of looking at the same face each day."

It felt better to be honest with Evelyn and with herself. Had it not been for Caroline disappearing off into the night, she would have never met Elliot Markham.

A smile touched her lips.

Despite the bleak circumstances, she would never regret the time she'd spent with him. Her attraction to him was like a bitter-sweet addiction. It felt painful at times. Yet she longed to be near him, dreamed of his touch. With him, she felt wild and reckless. Without him, she wondered if she'd shrink back into the woman who shied away from intimacy, who bent to the will of others far too easily.

"We shall see," Evelyn replied with a smug look on her face.

While contemplating Evelyn's comment, she glanced around the room. "Am I imagining it, or do people keep staring at us?"

"No, you're not imagining it. I suspect they're curious about the likeness between you and Caroline. Come, let's stroll around and see who accidentally bumps into us to force an introduction."

As they moved around the perimeter of the dance floor, Grace grew more aware of the whispers and sly glances.

"There's Leo," Evelyn said as she stared at a gentleman surrounded by a group of ladies giggling and playing with their fans. She waited for him to glance in their direction.

He appeared vastly different when not dressed in his vibrant and slightly comical costume. Despite looking older, more masculine, he still held a boyish charm, which his female admirers seemed to find vastly appealing. Grace wondered how they would perceive him if they witnessed his sharp teeth and black eyes.

Dragging himself away from the group, he sauntered over to them. "Evelyn," he said bowing gracefully over her hand. "And Mrs. Denton. How nice to see you again."

"Have you had any luck extracting information from that gaggle of gossiping geese?" Evelyn said with a chuckle.

Leo nodded. "All I had to do was mention Mrs. Denton's likeness to her sister and they couldn't wait to enlighten me as to the state of current events."

Grace couldn't hide her impatience. "What did they say? Do they know anything?"

"Oh, they think they know everything."

Evelyn touched her arm. "Remember, we must try to extract the truth from a whole host of vicious lies. Prepare yourself as it may be rather unpleasant."

"Let us walk out onto the terrace," Leo said. He nodded to the open doors and then followed them outside. "It's a bit breezy, but we won't stay out here too long."

"Well?" Grace asked turning to face him once noting they were alone. "Do not keep any of it from me. Tell me the worst."

"No one seemed to notice Caroline has not been about for a few days. When I mentioned it, someone said she'd probably gone abroad with a lover. Someone said she needs to hide from her creditors. Another said she probably has …" He stopped and cleared his throat. "Said she has syphilis."

Grace gulped. "They are all lies. Every single one of them. Who plans to go abroad and not take a single item with them?"

"I agree with Grace," Evelyn said. "None of it rings true."

Leo brushed his hand through his hair. His warm brown eyes held a hint of compassion. "Elliot asked me to speak to Lady Sudley, but apparently she is ill. Only Lord Sudley is in attendance this evening."

"Are you gossiping about me now, Leo?"

Grace would recognise Elliot's voice anywhere. She looked beyond Leo's shoulder as Elliot and Alexander came to join them.

"Your lemonade." His tone sounded rich and languid as he handed her the glass. He looked so dangerously exquisite in his black coat. Hearing what other's thought of Caroline had affected her mood and she wished they were alone so he could help her forget. Noticing the change in her, he narrowed his gaze. "Is everything alright?"

"We were discussing what I'd heard about Caroline Rosemond," Leo said. "I think we have established it is all lies. The only other conversation I was party to relates to her relationship with Mr. Henshaw."

Elliot straightened. "Lord Henshaw's son?"

Leo nodded. "The youngest one, Mark."

"Mark?" Grace gasped. It was the first credible piece of information they'd had. "Where does he live?"

All three gentlemen looked at her blankly.

"Wherever he lives," Leo began, "you won't find him there now. He's gone off on a grand tour." He shuffled uncomfortably on the spot. "Are you certain your sister didn't decide to follow him and in all the excitement simply neglected to tell you?"

Doubt flared.

"Caroline wouldn't do that to me." Grace's tone lacked the conviction her words implied. Caroline had always been flighty and self-absorbed.

Leo held his hands up in surrender. "I'm just saying, perhaps she was in love with him. Love has been the cause of many a selfish and scandalous act."

If Caroline was with child, perhaps Mr. Henshaw was the gentleman responsible for her condition. In those circumstances, she could imagine her sister acting thoughtlessly, desperately.

"Well, we can hardly knock on Lord Henshaw's door and ask him," Alexander offered. "Who else would know?"

Elliot's eyes grew wide, and he sucked in a breath. "It has just dawned on me. Mr. Henshaw has a sister. Lady Sudley is just a year older."

"I knew it," Grace cried feeling somewhat smug and was tempted to punch the air in triumph. "The lady knows far more than she led me to believe. But we can't ask her about it now as she's not here."

"You said Lord Sudley is here," Evelyn said. "He may know something. At the very least I'm sure he knows where his wife's brother lives."

Leo sighed. "I thought we had already established Mr. Henshaw is not at home and has gone abroad."

"Yes, but perhaps one of his servants knows something," Evelyn said with some frustration. "The question is which one of us will approach him?"

All heads turned to face Leo.

"Why me?" His hand flew to his chest as he took a step back. "I've done more than my fair share already. If it weren't for me, you'd all be none the wiser."

Elliot offered an arrogant smile. "Exactly. You've done marvellously up until now. No one will suspect you have any other motive other than enjoying the gossip."

Leo shook his head, but a smile played at the corners of his mouth. "If it were anyone else asking I'd tell them to go to the devil. I'll speak to Lord Sudley, but that's it. If I'm not careful, all the willing ladies will be taken and my evening will be utterly ruined. Then I'll have to spend the night trapped in the corner while the matrons reel off a list of the latest debutantes' accomplishments." He gave a small chuckle. "Do you know they spend hours perfecting getting in and out of a carriage? Apparently, one must alight in a modest and genteel manner if one has any hope of capturing a husband."

Alexander laughed. "Perhaps someone should tell them there are much better things to do in a carriage that boast a much greater success of seeing them quickly wed."

"We are straying from the topic," Elliot interjected, pulling out his watch. "Let us part ways and reconvene on the terrace in thirty minutes. That should give Leo enough time to converse with Lord Sudley."

Alexander groaned as he looked down at Evelyn. "Please tell me I do not need to speak to anyone."

She smiled back at him. "We'll wander around, and you can see if you can hear anything of interest."

With Leo offering a curt nod, the trio walked back into the ballroom, leaving Grace and Elliot alone on the terrace.

Grace stepped closer to him as the air around them sparked to life. "I'm amazed Leo was able to learn so much and in such a short space of time. Although he does have one of those warm, approachable faces that would encourage the most hardened criminal to confess his sins."

Elliot glanced over his shoulder and then ran the back of his fingers over her cheek, the strokes soft and tender. Desire flashed in his eyes or perhaps they simply acted as a mirror to her own.

"Leo can read a person's thoughts. He can sense things others cannot. We all can. It is a symptom of our affliction. He picks up threads of feelings and knows how to respond."