Victoria froze, stunned. Cressida? Edward?
What on earth was going on?
“I imagine a wedding date will be announced any day now,” another of the women said with a shrug. “I do not imagine the girl’s mother will want them to wait very long.”
Victoria’s blood ran cold in her veins. People thought that Edward and Cressida were going to be married. What nonsense! How had such a ridiculous rumour started?
Though she did not believe the gossip, she felt a tingle of worry in the back of her mind. Turning from the group of women, she made her way further into the crowd, looking this way and that for Edward. She needed to find him. Needed him to reassure her that everything was all right.
Suddenly, she noticed a cluster of young ladies laughing and causing a small commotion up ahead toward the edge of the crowd. Victoria froze when she spotted Cressida at the centre of the group, a wide smile on her uncovered face. Of course, she was not wearing a mask. Her vanity would hardly allow such a thing.
She was speaking loudly enough that Victoria could hear her as she said, “Oh, yes! Edward and I are thrilled. Thank you all for your well-wishes.”
Victoria blinked, shocked. The gall of the woman! Soaking up the attention of a complete lie. However, even as she told herself once more that there was no truth behind the rumour, Victoria felt a fissure of doubt. She shook it away, chiding herself for letting it sneak into her mind. Turning away from Cressida and her gaggle of chicks, she continued to look for Edward. She just needed to find him and his mere presence would reassure her of their commitment to each other.
Suddenly, the crowd parted ahead of her, and there was Edward. She momentarily lost her breath at the sight of him. Even with his mask on, she recognized him. She would recognize him anywhere. He looked so handsome in his coat and tails with his black domino. Like Cressida, he was surrounded by people. It did not surprise her that he was the centre of attention.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” an older man told him, shaking Edward’s hand.
Edward gave him a strained smile and nodded. “Thank you. That is kind of you.”
Victoria furrowed her brow in confusion. He was accepting their well-wishes?
What…what was going on? She did not want to believe the rumours…knew they were ridiculous. And yet…
Suddenly, as if he could sense her gaze on him, Edward suddenly looked up and their eyes locked. Victoria knew she should look away from him and not draw attention to herself yet, but she simply could not tear her eyes from him. He stared back at her, and his expression slowly changed to one of confusion. With a furrowed brow, he began to make his way toward her.
Startled, Victoria turned and began walking away from him. She was not so sure she wanted to go through with her plan anymore. The evening felt ruined. The gossip upset her, but also Edward’s apparent reaction to it. She needed to think before she spoke to him again. Needed to get her thoughts in order and feel less overwhelmed before she did anything else.
She wished she had not come to this ball after all.
She spotted an open doorway up ahead that did not have many people around it. Victoria hurried toward it and stepped out into an empty corridor. Instantly, she could breathe easier. She looked around, looking for a way outside, when she heard footsteps hurrying up behind her.
“Victoria!”
Instinct had her stopping and turning, and Victoria flinched.
You fool, she silently chided herself.
Edward stood, appearing stunned. Victoria released a long breath, knowing there was no point in trying to deny her identity. She had already given herself away.
“Edward,” she murmured, reaching up to reluctantly remove her mask. “This is not how I wished for this to happen.”
He shook his head and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Victoria opened her mouth to answer, but he continued speaking, not giving her an opportunity to respond.
“What do you think you are doing?” he snapped. “I did not think you were capable of deceit, Victoria!”
Blinking, she furrowed her brow and murmured, “Deceit? Edward, what…?”
“Why are you pretending to be someone you are not?” he demanded to know.
Shocked, Victoria took an involuntary step back as though he had struck her. Edward did not stop his tirade, however.
“I do not know where you came up with this idea,” he scolded her. “Do you know what could happen to you if someone were to discover who you really were? The scandal you would cause?”
Victoria felt her heart sink. She could not think of anything to say and decided she did not wish to. He was treating her like a child. Like a fool and had not even bothered to give her a chance to explain herself. Was he really so much more concerned about her causing a scandal than he was about hurting her?
