Chapter 23
Miss Alexandra Gilmore appears to know why Lady Natalie Reeves left the soiree early. Our dear Miss Gilmore should know that we do not hide names in The Londoner. As we have yet to receive more news about the Masked Rogue, we shall have to make London wait until tomorrow to read what we learned from Miss Gilmore.
Hannah found Natalie doing some sewing in the conservatory. She had wanted a change of scenery to clear her head further and had elected to sit in this room.
"Have you noticed how awfully quiet the Masked Rogue has become lately?" Her cousin pursed her lips in contemplation. “Do you think he has left us to live in France with his Comtesse? I don’t have anything to write with him gone.”
"He is quiet, Hannah," Natalie responded, rummaging through the basket of sewing items. “And I do not think he is in France.”
"You sound certain.”
“I do not know,” Natalie sighed.
“It is utterly unlike him to go days without causing mischief about town," Hannah insisted.
"Perhaps he is being careful these days because of excessively inquisitive writers like you," Natalie mentioned.
"George is not helping matters either," Hannah slumped petulantly into a nearby chair.
"George?" Natalie looked up. "What business has George got to do with the Masked Rogue or your articles?"
"He is refusing to take the suggestion and challenge the Masked Rogue after his victory against Amsthorne," Hannah grumbled. "If only brother would agree to the game, I could use him to find out the Rogue's identity." Hannah looked askance at Natalie as she said that, and she was sure the question was deliberate. She did not want George to help her find the Rogue because she already knew.
George was too bothered to think of anything else, and Natalie was certain a game with the Rogue was the last thing on his mind. She wanted to tell her that George’s heart was ill because of their problems, but she was afraid. Returning to Hannah’s argument, George had already played and won against the Rogue, Natalie thought with a little smile.
"What is that smile on your face, Natalie?" Hannah moved to the edge of her seat and squinted.
“I hope you are not in want of spectacles, too,” Natalie teased.
“Certainly not!”
"Then can I not smile without it being suspect simply because you're starved of news of the Rogue, Hannah?" Natalie found the thimble she was looking for and stared momentarily at her calloused fingers. They used to be very soft, and she longed to have them back in that state.
"Iamstarved!" Hannah gave a melodramatic cry just as the butler walked in, bearing an invitation. She ran to him. “Who is it from this time?”
They were all trying to convince themselves that nothing in their life had changed after Oliver’s offer, but they could deny it today and tomorrow, but not for too long.
"Another invitation from Amsthorne?" Hannah asked as she opened the invitation. "Oh, dinner with just our family!" She laughed, and her eyes gleamed. “I told you that the Duke fancies you, Natalie. Why else would he send a dinner invitation? Such an intimate one, too?"
Natalie’s stomach clenched.
"I think it is from Phoebe. She is our good friend, and naturally, she would invite us to dinner. Do you know how far the manor is from the city and how lonely she could become?” Natalie made all of these points to tell herself that the invitation was not from Jasper. She longed to see him again, but she was also conflicted about him and his place in Oliver’s twisted schemes. Especially after the dance.
Color slowly crept to her neck and face, and she looked away from Hannah before she began to suspect anything. Could it truly be? That warmth reached her heart at the thought of Jasper wanting her beyond his desire.
"And you are fond of him, too!" Hannah exclaimed the instant she caught the color on her face.
"Do not be silly, Hannah!" Natalie dismissed.
"That sounds like you saying,do not tell me the truth, Hannah," her cousin giggled impishly.
Natalie laughed, and every part of her fluttered. She allowed herself to push her doubts about Jasper away. He had been kind to her, and she had changed her mind about revenge. Her enemy now was Oliver.
Every excited shiver or knot of anticipation Natalie felt vanished the instant they were shown into the manor’s drawing room, and she saw Oliver seated at the pianoforte, playing.
“Oh, you have arrived!” A delighted Phoebe approached them, and Natalie was forced to smile. George stood rigidly beside her while Hannah’s face grew pale.
Thankfully, Phoebe did not notice, and she turned to Oliver as she walked to where they stood, an assured smile now on his face.
