Alyssia nodded. “Your looks haven’t changed all that much. It’s not like it’s beentwentyyears.”
“Oh?” Bishop smiled at his wife. “Will I be unrecognizable eight years from now?”
“Perhaps.”
He chuckled. “I’m not all that worried. They can put me under questioning if they must. It’s not like I’m an imposter who knows nothing.”
“It might be best to end this as soon as possible, old chap. While your uncle is distracting the masses, he might be moving in the dark. I have no doubt his men are searching wildly for your whereabouts. Perhaps even your wife.”
Bishop nodded.
“What doesthatmean?” Lady Annabelle asked.
“Merely that my marriage announcement coincides with his return,” said Alyssia. “His uncle might have put them together.”
“Oh,” Lady Annabelle murmured.
“But you don’t have to worry,” Alyssia continued. “We are perfectly safe at the moment.”
“What about doing some spy work?” Lady Annabelle suggested.
Knox groaned.
“Spywork?” Alyssia asked, intrigued, and it was Bishop’s turn to almost groan.
Her friend nodded. “The Fennville masquerade ball. I believe the Countess of Fennville is friends with the faux Duchess of Winterbourne. We are bound to hear some things, plus, it’s amasquerade.”
Alyssia met his gaze. “It could be fun.”
Bishop wasn’t so sure. However, it might be prudent to glimpse what they could be up against peerage-wise. He didn’t care. He’d endured years in the shadows, but she had been forced into them. Alyssia deserved to step into her title without any—or much—scrutiny. And after today, if the masquerade gave her even a fragmentof purpose and enjoyment, he would see it done. Still, the idea of her stepping into that pretentious den of vipers made his blood prickle. Masks or not, the risk was great.
“When is the masquerade? We’ll need to procure invitations.”
“The day after tomorrow,” Lady Annabelle said.
“I’ll handle that,” Knox said. “You can attend with me as friends from the country.”
“Would that not be suspicious?” Alyssia asked.
Bishop looked to his friend.
“Dare’s friends, then,” Knox corrected. “He’ll be only too eager to offer a hand.”
“Very well. Though not perfect, it should mask the scent a bit.”
“You mean theEarl of Dare?” Lady Annabelle asked. “The infamous rake who just married the infamous flirt?”
Bishop shrugged.
“The very one,” Knoxley said.
“Well, I never,” the lady said. “I always wanted to meet him, but Lance would never allow me to get close.”
“I’m surprised your brother didn’t get wind of today’s caller,” Alyssia said. “He is rather scarily well-informed.”
“He has his own spies.” The girl grinned. “But even spies must pause to take a rest.”
“I shall have to return home to retrieve more belongings,” Alyssia said.
