“It is curiosity that is keeping them here, not the enjoyment of a ball,” Aidan said caustically.
“Poor Ellinbourne and Ann, to have their betrothal ball so ruined in this way,” said Gwinnie.
Aidan shrugged. “The ball is more for the family than for Ann and Ellinbourne. Primarily Ellinbourne’s side of the family. He has a cavalcade of relations here.”
“Yes, they are a lively bunch, and so nice. Our families will get along quite well, except maybe for Ellinbourne’s youngest sister, the widowed Marchioness of Darkford,” Gwinnie said, thinking of the woman she met that night who wore dark gray to a ball.
“Yes,” Aidan said, “but she is scarcely out of her widow’s weeds.”
“You know, there remain rumors as to her husband’s death. They say he was into occult practices.”
“I’m impressed with Ellinbourne’s sense of responsibility for his family. I believe he will take care of his sister,” Aidan reassured her.
Gwinnie sighed. “I agree. It is just so sad to see an almost haunted melancholy in her eyes. Before I came up here, Lake was doing his best to jolly her, not that Lake is the jolliest of fellows at formal functions,” she said ruefully.
The door opened behind them. Merlin came out, his glasses off, as he cleaned their thick lenses. He put his glasses back on and looked from Aidan to Gwinnie.
“I take it Grandmother sent you?” Merlin said to Gwinnie.
“Of course.”
Merlin drew in a deep breath before he spoke. “It was a small caliber pistol into his upper shoulder. The bullet broke this bone here,” he said, pointing to the spot on his own chest.
“His collarbone.”
“Yes. We call it the clavicle bone. It appears a bone fragment nicked an artery, which is why there was so much blood. Luckily for him, Lady Blessingame put pressure down in the right place to slow that bleeding.”
“Is he awake? Can I speak with him?”
“Not right now. I gave him more of the Tincture of Opium, so he should sleep through the night.”
“Did he see who shot at him?”
Merlin shook his head. “Aunt Catherine asked him that. Said he came outside to get some air and take a pinch of snuff. Heard someone call his name, turned, and was shot but he didn’t see who did it.”
“Male or female?”
Merlin shook his head again. “Aunt Catherine did not ask him that. People are still here?”
“Yes. Ghouls, like the characters in Lake’s books,” Aidan said.
“Shows you, Lake does not stray far from human nature in his gothic novels,” Gwinnie said. “They are staying to hear what happens with Uncle. When I came downstairs, there wasn’t much dancing, just some of the youngest guests. Everyone else is standing around gossiping and speculating.”
“Then I should go upstairs and make an announcement as to Candelstone’s condition,” Aidan said.
“I’ll go with you,” Gwinnie said.
“Coming, Merlin?”
He shook his head. “I need to clean up.”
Nowlton nodded and walked purposefully toward the stairway, Gwinnie behind him, hurrying to catch up.
“I’ll tell the musicians to stop playing,” she said breathlessly.
He nodded.
Gwinnie ran ahead, threading her way through the milling crowd of guests. Aidan stopped at the entrance. When people saw him, they stopped talking. Ellinbourne and Ann came up beside him, followed by the Dowager Duchess, the Duke, and Lord Lakehurst.
