“You’reveryarrogant.”
“Hardly.” John gave her a wicked smile. “We’re four unmarried, young noblemen. The society mamas can’t help themselves. And the other reason you can’t object is that it will help us find Mary Forster.”
“How?”
“The ladies of the neighborhood may have been reluctant to tell you what they know about Mary, given that you are her niece. At a masquerade, we could eavesdrop and figure out more. It is in fact imperative for us to attend,” he said, kissing her behind her ear and pressing his firm body into hers. “Absolutely necessary.”
“You really think they would discuss it so openly?”
“It’s possible. And we are somewhat desperate.”
True, she thought. Since the failure of the other day, Catherine and John had tracked down a few servants who had worked at Forster House and still resided in the area. Unfortunately, they hadn’t known anything about Mary Forster or her whereabouts.
She supposed he was right. They needed to try every avenue that didn’t provoke suspicion.
And the masqueradedidsound rather diverting.
*
The next twodays passed in a flurry of preparation for the ball, particularly for Henrietta.
“It’s always an absolutecrush,” Henrietta chattered at breakfast the morning of the masquerade.
“How would you know?” Tremberley retorted. “You’ve never been.”
Everyone else laughed, even Catherine, though she felt slightly guilty at her amusement at her little charge’s expense.
Henrietta blushed and looked somewhat abashed, but not as much as she probably should have.
“You all went a few years ago, when you were in Edington for the grouse hunting. That’s what you said when you returned.”
“Very well, Lady Henrietta,” Tremberley said. “If I said it, it must be true.”
“Youdidn’t say it,” Henrietta corrected. “It was Leith. He had spilled punch down his front and he said some bounder hit him with his elbow because it was such a crush.”
“That wasmewith the elbow,” Montaigne exclaimed, flexing the crook of his arm in Leith’s direction. “Bounder! I’ll do it again, if you’re not careful, Leith.”
“I’m terrified,” Leith said, deadpan, from behind his newspaper.
Catherine had come to adore John’s friends. Montaigne was sunny and thoughtful, with an easygoing disposition. He was always ready to come to the aid of another or smooth over a gaffe made by someone else. Leith appeared cold on the outside, but really his frosty exterior was a thin front for the considerate, careful man within. And Tremberley, John’s best friend of all, was comical and nosy, but he also had a melancholy side. His face held knowledge, pain, which Catherine recognized, and it reminded her that he, too, had been an orphan for most of his life.
She was grateful for how they all cared for John. And that they did not object to their engagement. Their acceptance made it feel real.
Meanwhile, Henrietta was in ecstasy that she would be permitted to wear one of her ball gowns early. Her new dress from Mrs. Warburton had arrived only that morning. She was so happy about her gown that it made Catherine a little depressed that she only had her faded black muslin to wear. Lady Warburton had only had the time to rush Henrietta’s first evening dress.
But then, after breakfast, Catherine went back to her bedchamber and found a beautiful dusky-red gown. A matching mask and a note lay beside it on the bed.
She picked up the note.
For my perfect Catherine, who has made me happier than any man—especially me—deserves. John.
She traced the words of the note with her fingertips, blinking back tears.Damn it, why does he always have to be so kind?He made it so hard to not be completely, stupidly besotted, with him.
*
The evening cameand it was time to depart for the Langley affair.
John knew that taking Catherine to the ball was a risk, but he couldn’t resist. He couldn’t marry her yet, but she still deserved to experience society, even if she was technically doing so as Henrietta’s chaperone.
