“Are you all right, Miss Wingfield?”
Her breathing had turned shallow, and her eyes had taken on a faraway look. Moonlight shone off her golden hair, bathing her in an ethereal glow. Once again, she reminded him of a cherub, but her usual light-hearted, sunny expression was missing. Her eyes were huge and mysterious in the darkness, and Raphe thought perhaps she looked less like an angel and more like one of the legendary fair folk he’d heard spoken of in hushed whispers. Miss Wingfield’s expression was so tortured and faraway in that moment that she did not look as if she was of their world.
Finally, she realised that he’d asked her a question and she forced a smile which did not reach her eyes.
“Yes, I’m quite all right. Thank you, but I think I should see what is taking Lord Edward so long with that glass of water for Lady Catherine.”
Miss Wingfield curtsied and fled the terrace, leaving Raphe staring at her retreating back, wondering just what he’d missed. As Miss Wingfield hurried inside, Gabriel joined Raphe on the terrace, tapping his cane thoughtfully against his boot as the two of them regarded Catherine. They exchanged a wordless glance, both wondering just what their sister was up to, and why Miss Wingfield had looked so terribly distressed.
* * *
THISTLEWAYTE HOUSE, LONDON, NOVEMBER 1812
“I must say, you are even more distracted than usual today, Eliza, and that is an impressive achievement.” Matilda’s voice was gently teasing, and her eyes were kind, but Eliza couldn’t help sighing. She’d slept so poorly after everything that had transpired in the garden at the Duncan Ball the night before.
Not only had she borne witness to what would surely be a scandal if she failed to be discrete, but she now found herself in a position where she was keeping a life-altering secret from the Duke of Elkington about his sister, and that felt like quite a precarious position to be in, especially with how cold he had been to her these past months.
“Something… strange happened at the Ball last night, and I do not know how to feel about it at all.”
“What do you mean, strange?”
“Well… I stumbled upon a secret, and I’ve been placed in a very distressing position. There are several parties whose happiness depends deeply upon my keeping the secret I have discovered, and several other parties who would surely never forgive me for doing so. I simply have no idea what on Earth I should do.”
Matilda gasped and shot up from where she’d been sitting, idly picking badly done stitches out of her embroidery, her eyes blazing with curiosity, now.
“What secret? Whose secret?”
Eliza gave a pained groan, shaking her head.
“You are my dearest friend in the world, Matilda, but I dare not even risk telling you. Lives far beyond my own stand to be affected.”
“Then what you have discovered was most certainly not only a secret, but a scandal as well.” Lady Matilda pouted, but only for the briefest of moments. “I would be wounded if I did not know you to be deeply honourable and kind. I know that you are trying to do what is best for everyone involved, but — knowing you — there is something that you may not have considered in all your ruminating on the matter thus far.”
Eliza’s brow furrowed as she looked over at her friend.
“And what might that be?”
“Your own happiness and well-being, of course. If I had to place bets, I would bet that you have considered how this secret which you discovered affects everything and everyone but you. Take some time to pause and consider that, before you make any decisions in this matter, my friend.”
Eliza opened her mouth, ready to argue that Matilda was being ridiculous, that of course she had considered her own happiness, but had she really? The words died on Eliza’s lips, and she shook her head, pressing her lips together instead.
“Let us speak of something else… anything else. I do not wish to think about that Ball again any time soon.”
In fact, never would be too soon.
“Well, in that case, let us focus on this infuriating riddle Grandfather left me instead.”
“Yes, let’s.”
The two of them sat down on the settee together, and Eliza sipped the cup of tea she’d almost forgotten was there as they read over the words.
You’ll need to twice be clever
To claim your promised treasure.
The first is small, the second tall
And yet they belong together.
