“We can’t risk being caught together.”
Why did he have to be so persistent?
She scanned the crowd for something to save her from this uncomfortable discussion, and found the perfect thing. A familiar, dark-haired young lady was sampling taffies at a stall near the edge of the crowd.
“Jane, you can’t—”
“Della!” she called, heedless of how rude it was to shout. With abelated glance to Eli, Jane slipped her arm free. “Excuse me. I’ll see you later.”
Then she fled to safety.
Della would know what to do. Jane clutched her hand so tightly that surprise illuminated her round face.
“You cannot imagine how happy I am to see you.”
“Is everything all right?”
“No,” Jane admitted, her tone low. Della’s sister was just a few steps down the promenade, and she was a notorious snoop. “I’ve done something terribly foolish, and I can’t take it back, and now this visit has become a torture. Youmustlet me come stay with you. I’ll give you all my winnings from the vingt-et-un club if you only rescue me.”
“What happened?”
“I can’t tell you here.”
Della shot an irritated glance over her shoulder to Annabelle, who was doing a passible impersonation of someone engrossed by the trinkets on display rather than straining to catch their every word. “Just whisper. She can’t hear us from over there.”
“I really can’t,” said Jane. She would’ve loved nothing more than to unburden herself to Della before the secret consumed her, but the risk was too great. If even one person should overhear how she’d compromised herself, it would be the end of her, at least socially.
“You can’t tell me something like this, and thennottell me something like this,” Della complained. “That’s teasing.”
“Very well.” Perhaps there was a way to convey the information discreetly. “The very foolish thing I’ve done is similar in principle, if not in precise details, to something you once did.”
Della’s brow scrunched up even further than it had been, until it resembled a folding fan.
“You know I love puzzles, but I’m afraid I need you to narrow it down a bit. I’ve done more foolish things than you have.”
With a nervous glance to either side, Jane whispered, “In a closet.”
“No.” In spite of this protest, Della looked as though someone had presented her with a thousand pounds. “Is the individual in question who I think it is? I’msoproud of you.”
“Of course it’s who you think. Who else could it be?” Jane’s face had gone completely red; she just knew it. She had to stop talking about Eli, or people would begin to stare. “Never mind that. I’ll tell you everything later. For now, you have to help me get out of the Lindens’ place.”
“Why on earth would you want to leave?” Della’s eyes clouded with worry as she added, “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No, of course not,” Jane assured her quickly. “I was willing. That’s the whole problem. I’ve been making some very rash decisions, and I’m worried I might continue to do so.”
Perhaps more frightening than the threat of discovery was the loss of her own good sense.
“Wonderful.” The joy had returned to Della’s face. Couldn’t she see that this was serious? “In that case, I’m afraid I can’t help you. My greatest wish is that you should stay exactly where you are, see this through, and tell me all about it afterward. You could use an adventure.”
“Adventure!” Jane repeated. “That’s a fine word for it. You’ll be sorry when I’m—” She cut herself off. She’d been about to sayWhen I’m ruined.But no. Surely she had more self-control than that.
Della’s eyebrows jumped so high they almost disappeared into her bonnet.
“Never mind,” Jane muttered. “Forget I asked you for help.”
“I shall,” Della agreed happily. “Though if it’s any consolation, I amdyingof envy.” Her eyes dancing with excitement, she mouthed,He’s gorgeous.
Jane rolled her eyes and turned away from her friend to look out at the crowd. “I shall never forgive you for abandoning me like this.”
