Vincent sighed. “Allow me to be of service to you. Let me see you home safely, all right?”
Sebastian was already shaking his head. “I will be fine. Please, stay, and have fun at my masquerade. Lord Spencer urges you to, all right? Besides, your mask is too decorative to be discarded so early in the evening.”
Vincent crooked a half-smile at him, laughing quietly. “I am not one of your ladies to seduce, old friend. Your tricks will not work on me.”
“Nevertheless, I will see myself home. Stay, Vincent. I spent a great deal of money on this particular ball, so I would like to know that at least one person enjoyed it.” He clapped Vincent on the back, nodding, as if his friend had already agreed.
Vincent paused, wanting to disagree, no doubt, but Sebastian just patted his shoulder and moved on.
“I will see myself home,” he repeated. “Thank you for being concerned. I will send word to you tomorrow.”
“Make sure you do,” Vincent said firmly. Sebastian nodded and returned to the stone staircase and ballroom, careful not to trip.
The weakness was considerably less than before, but it still tried to knock him sideways. He kept himself composed enough to smile and nod his way through the ballroom and then out to the hallway of his secret townhouse that he used for these balls.
When he found one of his staff, he forced himself not to grasp onto the man to steady himself.
“Your Grace?” the valet asked, knowing Sebastian’s true identity; they were all paid extensively to keep such secrets. Even though Sebastian was still wearing his mask, the valet knew when to address the duke properly.
“I am well,” he assured him. “Just… ensure my guests remain entertained while I return home. Also, do see that the place is scrubbed clean as soon as everybody leaves. I fear a quantity of the drinks was tainted and…”
He paused before claiming outright that one of the people had deliberately slipped something into the wine.
“Once all my guests have safely left the grounds, have word sent round.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Sebastian nodded again as a small hiccup tickled the back of his throat. He forced himself to take deep, even breaths, then he moved toward the spot where his own carriage was parked outside.
One might think it would be difficult to slip out of a ball like this one undetected, but Sebastian had no qualms about leaving early. His staff had never once failed to help him maintain his veil of secrecy.
Sebastian marveled at their precision as he lurched toward his carriage. He knew it by the golden lining along the wheels. Surely, if any other members of thetonhad spotted the coach, they would have recognized the family crest painted on the door as his.
But Sebastian’s staff was careful.
They did not park his carriage in the stables or leave it out in the open where anyone might spot the gilded exterior or the plush interior seats. Just as he advised, they crept through the shadows and waited for him in the most secluded locations.
It took Sebastian several minutes to make his way into the carriage itself, landing hard onto the bench. He slammed his fist against the roof. His driver knew it was him, and his journey began.
The motion of the carriage made his head spin harder, and he groaned, pressing a hand to his temple again. But his thoughts unraveled, and, looser than usual, went back to the fox-masked lady from earlier. Alluring and embarrassed in her feelings.
Thisbe.
The recollection brought a brief smile to his lips. Even though he had not been given her real name nor could he say with any certainty the color of her eyes, he did know one thing about this mysterious young woman.
The pendant is silver and engraved with my grandfather’s name. His Christian name, which was not widely spoken of. He—he guided me a great deal, so that is why I am conflicted.
He recalled how her shadow had moved in the light when she clutched the necklace as she spoke.
Does she know she held that pendant like a lifeline when she had grown too embarrassed?
He squeezed his eyes closed and tried to envision the pendant on its own when she had not been grasping it.
Because the lattice had kept them entirely separate, Sebastian admitted to himself that he might not have even noticed the necklace if the lady herself had not mentioned it.
He scoffed.
I was so eager to persuade her to tell me about her arousal that I did not dare ask her name.
