I laughed, my weariness contributing to my delirium. “How could she think that forcing us to be locked in this room for the night would make you propose to me?”
He propped his head up on one elbow. “Had I thought the answer would be favorable, perhaps it would have worked.” Before I could process his words, he reached for the hand that I had left hanging off the sofa. He pressed a soft kiss to the back of my fingers before rolling over, hiding his face from view. “Goodnight, Anne.”
My head was light for a moment, my stomach twisting. I rolled over until I faced the inside of the sofa. My pulse raced past my ears. I almost forgot to respond.
“Goodnight,” I squeaked. I scowled at the dark fabric in front of me, tucking my hands close to my chest. My thoughts spun. I squeezed my eyes shut in an effort to banish the warm sensation that tingled throughout my every limb. Had Alexander just declared his feelings for me? His words hadn’t been straightforward, but that didn’t matter.
I had been practicing riddles, and that was an easy one.
I lay in silence for several minutes. I could hear Alexander’s light breathing. He wasn’t asleep either. I held perfectly still until the weight of my body made my hands and wrists numb. As restless as I was, I didn’t dare move. There was a taut rope connecting me to Alexander, and if I shifted, even the slightest bit, I feared he would somehow feel it. I wanted to break the tension, but I didn’t know how. The only thing that could break it was dawn, but it was still hours away.
Alexander shifted on the floor. “On second thought,” he whispered, “the pugilist might make a more comfortable pillow.”
I could name many occasions in my life when I had hidden away in the privacy of my bedchamber, burrowed under my blankets, and cried until I fell asleep. I had never fallen asleep laughing before, but that was the last thing I remembered before my consciousness finally drifted away.
I rubbed my eyes before opening them. I blinked fast, taking in my surroundings. The hexagon room was bright, the rooftop window letting in enough light to blind me. I covered my face with both hands before sitting up. The events of the night before came crashing back into my mind. I checked the floor beside the sofa.
Alexander was gone.
I smoothed my hands over my sleep-tousled hair as I scrutinized the rest of the room. The three rabbits in the case, one with charred fur on its face, reminded me of the reason I had been there at all. My hand flew to my chest, and I withdrew the tiny key from my bodice. So it hadn’t been a dream. I had found the key, and Alexander had been trapped in the room with me overnight. But where was he now? How late was it?
I pinched my cheeks to give them a little color before testing the doorknob. It was unlocked. Why hadn’t Alexander awoken me?
I slipped into the corridor, making my way down to my bedchamber. I would need Jane to help make me presentable. Just as I approached the door, Victoria and Octavia rounded the corner.
“Ah, Lady Daventry! Are you on your way to breakfast?” Victoria’s wide eyes flitted over me from head to toe. A crease formed in her brow.
“Is it breakfast already?” I brushed a limp curl from my forehead. I could only imagine how ragged I must have looked. How had I slept so long on that stiff sofa?
“Yes.” Victoria exchanged a look with her sister, who observed me with a smug smile.
“Were you up late, my lady?” Octavia narrowed her eyes at me. “What were you doing?”
I immediately understood the nature of their suspicions, so I decided the truth would be best. “I was searching for clues that might lead me to Lady Tottenham’s prize.”
Octavia’s nostrils flared. “I doubt that prize even exists.”
“Did you find clues?” Victoria asked.
I swallowed, closing my fist tighter around the key in my palm. “Oh, only something small.”
“What did you find?” Octavia stepped closer to me with an eager look.
“It would not be a competition if I told you.” I shrugged, taking hold the doorknob.
“You wore that gown yesterday, did you not?” Victoria’s searching gaze made me shift on my feet.
“Yes. I fell asleep in the study.” I flashed a quick smile. “I lost track of time.” I didn’t want to lead them to the hexagon room. Even though I did have the key, the final pieces of the clue could have still been in that room. “I will see you at breakfast.”
Before they could question me further, I hurried into my bedchamber and closed the door. I called Jane to help me change into a pale yellow morning dress and arrange my hair as quickly as possible, then rushed down to the breakfast room. I wiped the perspiration from my hairline as I made my way to the sideboard. I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to find Alexander at one of the tables.
The crowd was sparse, and he wasn’t among them. Mrs. Pike’s voice snapped my attention away from the other guests.
“Good morning, Lady Daventry.” Her voice was raspy before she cleared her throat. She cast a nervous glance at the door.
“Good morning.” I put a smile on my face, though my insides wriggled with nervousness. Her stare was relentless. “Where is Lady Tottenham?”
“She wasn’t feeling well this morning.” She paused. “But she isn’t the only one who won’t be joining us for breakfast.”
