The silence lingered. Through the latticed panel between them Phoebe swore she saw the lift of a grinning mouth beneath a mask, just on one side, tantalizing and torturous for she did not get to see his full face.
All she saw was a curtain of auburn hair that hung over his face as he bent over the book.
But, even in the light, the stranger with the beautiful voice would still be unknown to her.
“I see,” he murmured, “and how hearing this sort of blunt content read aloud make you feel?”
Phoebe breathed an embarrassed laugh. Heavens, why did her face flush so hot even when she couldn’t be seen?
“Do tell,” the man purred when she did not answer straight away. “A hesitant answer is the best sort, I believe. It means there is truth to be weighed, a truth to be found within a potential lie.”
“I will not lie,” she countered, laughing breathlessly again. “I am merely embarrassed.”
“And that is also one of the best headspaces for answers. Embarrassment can be overwhelmingly honest, so let yourself be honest with me. We cannot see one another clearly, so where is the harm? I do not know your name, nor do you know mine, so there is no shame, no judgement, and no eyes on you.”
He was correct, and that made Phoebe bold, but she still muttered, “It is improper… the way the book has made me feel. Heavens, the book itself, is improp?—”
“As I said,” he interrupted, confident but gentle, as if he regretted interrupting her, but still wished to make his point, “there is no place here for propriety. There is a reason we keepto the shadows, even as guests. There is a reason nobody knows Lord Spencer’s true identity, either.”
“I see,” she murmured.
“There is profound respect here, certainly, but not… not judgement. There are ladies and gentlemen of thetonwho rule over the rest of us with an iron fist. But those people are not invited to soirees hosted by Lord Spencer.”
“Here,” he continued, “we can simply strip away our worries and be ourselves. Even though we must respect one another’s anonymity, I find it oddly liberating to sit in this room with you, a stranger, and have a conversation like this one. Are you not having fun, my lady? You may be yourself here without worrying that I should ever venture to know your true identity.”
Phoebe bit her lip, falling silent as she considered his very logical point. She could shed her insecurities, for nobody would know it was the youngest Tripleton sister beneath the fox mask. She was merely Miss Vanessa Delamere.
Or perhaps, she did not even have to be that fictional creation.
There were plenty of people, present company included, who had not been introduced to her yet. And she did not need to pretend or adopt a fake name in this room.
Her companion did not care who she was without the fox mask. He did not ask anything of her except to share her honest thoughts.
He wished to hear her express herself.
But what do I want?
Phoebe knew why she had come tonight—truly. She had been scared when Genevieve had gifted her the red gown. She grew even more terrified throughout the journey to Lord Spencer’s home. With all those feelings swirling inside her mind, no one would have blamed Phoebe for staying at home.
But that is not why I came here.
She had been too frightened to admit as much before when Genevieve prompted her, but now, sitting alone in a room with a man, listening to him implore her to tell him her honest opinion, Phoebe recognized that she had given herself this one night of indulgence after a lifetime of grueling, awful treatment. She knew not what would happen once she left this place, but for tonight, she longed to embrace the boundless possibilities.
“I’m here to be fearless,” she whispered to herself.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” she quickly answered.
“Then I shall ask again,” he said. “How did the passage make you feel?”
Phoebe swallowed hard, trying to find the words. “Curious,” she finally said. “But that curiosity led me to a place of embarrassment.” She giggled lightly. “At some points, I almost felt guilty. It was as if I had walked in on the scene itself and stood there watching the couple.”
“Hmm… Interesting. What happened to you while you were watching the couple? How did their passion make you feel physically? What did it stir within your body?”
Phoebe took a stilted inhale, realizing what he meant.
“I… I cannot say.”
