Lucas glared at his friend’s retreat, then turned back to his brandy. What was going so well earlier had certainly gone to hell in a handbasket in a hurry. But he knew that he had questions.
And Lady Liliah Durary had the answers.
Chapter Seven
Liliah woke up with a pounding headache. After her adventure, sleep had been elusive and fitful. Each time she’d surrender to slumber, she’d be haunted by the face of Luc.
Drat. How she wished she knew his full name. It sounded less real to have such limited information. But in her fitful sleep, she had come to accept two important facts.
First, Luc was somehow involved in the management of the secretive club. Second, she needed to see him again.
Execution of the second act would be far more difficult. Sneaking into the club wasn’t going to work a second time. If only she knew more about Luc. With a start, she sat up in bed, a grin spreading across her lips. Meyer. He would know! She wouldn’t have to give him all the details either, just enough to gain the much needed information. From there, she could ascertain her next step.
As she rose from bed and rang for her maid, the thought that Luc would seekherout filtered through her mind. Yet she dismissed it quickly. Why would he? While she assumed he was at least marginally attracted to her, she didn’t delude herself into thinking he had any real connection to her. But, sadly, that was exactly what she needed. An escape, an encounter, and Luc would be a prime candidate to fulfill those needs.
And after her experience last night, those were, indeed, needs.
Sarah knocked gently, and entered at Liliah’s welcome. Her hazel eyes carefully studied her mistress. “How are you this morning, my lady?”
Liliah smiled at Sarah’s gentle inquiry. “Well enough for the late night we had.”
Sarah nodded understandingly. She had waited up for her mistress and helped her quickly disrobe after the escapade. Yet Liliah was careful to not confide all the details of her excursion to her dear maid, lest Sarah be questioned by the duke. Less information was far more prudent for both of them.
“I already arranged for your hot chocolate to be brought up directly,” Sarah said, and stood by the vanity, waiting for her mistress.
Wordlessly, Liliah nodded. Sarah picked up a brush from the marble-topped vanity and started to unwind the plait in Liliah’s hair. Sighing contentedly, Liliah took a seat at the vanity and closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of her hair being brushed. As she opened her eyes, she glanced to the wardrobe, considering what she wished to wear for the morning. Sarah made short work of coiffing her hair and was offering options for Liliah’s day gown. After she selected a gown of soft green muslin, her hot chocolate arrived. Soon Liliah dismissed Sarah and strode to her desk. Sending a missive to Meyer was not a wise idea; it could be used against them by their fathers, since only betrothed couples could exchange letters. The duke and earl would leap at the opportunity to move their impending betrothal along quicker.Drat.
Liliah worried her lip, then thought over her schedule for the day. The Lyman rout was tonight, and Meyer was sure to attend. The issue was her impatience in waiting that long to speak with him.
Yet there was nothing for it, she must be patient.
And hopefully that patience would pay off in the end.
* * *
That evening as her father ignored her presence in the carriage on the way to the Lyman rout, the imp in her was tempted to simply announce that she had been compromised. But the problem came from not knowing the real identity of the person who had compromised her. With her luck, her father would claim it was Meyer and then they’d all be worse off than before. Yet it would be a delight to see her father’s expression, knowing that his daughter had dared defy him in such a manner. A slow smile stretched her lips as she tried to keep it from showing. But her smile faded as she considered that her defiance would only serve to punish her sister, who hadn’t a rebellious bone in her body. Their father would tighten the leash on Samantha, who was already afraid to even whisper her thoughts into the world. No, Liliah needed to keep her secrets to herself.
The carriage rolled along the cobbled London streets quickly, and Liliah resigned herself to the silence in the carriage. Silence was preferable to scolding, and truly those were the only options.
They arrived fashionably late, and as soon as she alighted from the carriage, her father gave her a stern glare to serve as warning, made sure more than one matron was available to serve as a proper chaperone, then disappeared into the growing crowd. Relieved to be rid of him, Liliah strode down the hall of the Lyman estate to the open ballroom. The enchanting sound of the string quartet aided in raising her spirits as she took in the swirling sight of dancers gracefully performing the cotillion. Her gaze shifted across the room, taking note of who was in attendance. It was always at this point she wished her mother was still alive, feeding comments and insights into her ear as they entered a ballroom. But wishing didn’t erase the past, and her mother had died around four years ago from pneumonia.
Liliah straightened her shoulders, smoothing the soft silk of her sky-blue gown. As she strolled among the people milling about, she caught sight of Rebecca. A welcoming smile brightened her friend’s face as she spotted Liliah. Careful to meander around a footman carrying champagne, Liliah started toward Rebecca, meeting her halfway. “Late, as usual,” Rebecca teased, her sharp gaze sparkling with intellect.
“I enjoy sneaking in while others are otherwise engaged,” Liliah returned with a cheeky tone. “Have you seen Meyer? I have a question for him.” Liliah’s gaze shifted from her friend to the crowd behind her.
“Have you news?” Rebecca’s hopeful tone immediately put a damper on Liliah’s impatience.
As she met her friend’s expectant gaze, Liliah gave a slow shake of her head, her chest constricting when Rebecca’s countenance fell. Reaching out, she grasped Rebecca’s gloved hand and squeezed affectionately. “How I wish that I had the news you so long to hear, sweet friend. We shall continue to work toward that end.”
Rebecca nodded once, her shoulders straightening with determination. “Indeed. But if that is not what you wish to discuss, what is it that you have on your mind this evening?” Rebecca’s green eyes glinted with curiosity.
Liliah bit her lip and glanced away, feeling her face heat with a blush.
“You’re simply blooming with color! Tell me! What are you not telling me, and how in the heavens does Meyer know something of which I’m not aware?” Rebecca placed her hands on her hips as Liliah’s gaze flicked back to her friend.
“He’d have a fit if he only knew.” Liliah grinned widely, giggling under her breath. “He made a slight slip about some information and I took it upon myself to investigate. Apparently there are many venues that gently bred ladies are not allowed to attend,” she whispered conspiratorially.
Rebecca’s eyes grew wide. “What have you done, Liliah! And don’t you dare skip a single detail.” Rebecca tugged on her friend’s hand and led her toward the edge of the ballroom.
