Dory swallowed another sip of tea, her bun still sitting on her plate untouched. “But why would he do so during your mother’s party?” Something didn’t make sense and her thoughts were running into each other. Had he indeed woken up and realized he loved her and then left on pretense to ride to her father and ask for her hand? Had he gone to his estate to tell his people to redesign a room for a new lady of the house? Or had he left because he was ashamed of what he had done with her last night? Or worse, he never wished to see her again because he was disappointed in the way she’d acted?
“That’s a good question.” Rose took a sip of tea. “I suggest after we finish here, we follow the clues. First, we’ll find out if Mother and he had yet another fight. If not, then we will subtly look for a letter, maybe in his room. We just can’t tell him we were in there. He would be sure to take revenge on me.” Though Rose appeared scared, her eyes twinkled with mischief.
Dory wished she could be as excited by the prospect of solving the mystery as her friend suggested, but a deep disappointment had settled in her belly. Why wouldn’t he have at least left a note?
“Now you’d best eat, as it looks like we have more to do today beyond practicing for the play.”
At Rose’s suggestion, Dory forced herself to take a bite of the brioche bun, but no flavor registered. All she kept seeing in her mind was the long look he’d given her before leaving. Had she misread it?
After Rose had eaten no fewer than five buns, and Dory had managed to finish one, Rose led the way on their hunt for clues. Since no one was yet about, Rose suggested her brother’s room was a good place to start. They waited until his valet left then sprinted across the hall.
Rose turned and locked the door once they were inside. “Just a precaution.”
Dory stood stock-still. Being in a gentleman’s bedroom was simply not done. Her reputation would be in ruins if she were caught. Even with those worrisome thoughts, she found herself drawn to the bed, not yet made. The room smelled of him and his subtle pine scent that made her miss him all the more and yet he was not gone but a few hours.
“I don’t see a note anywhere. Look by the fireplace, maybe on the mantel. I’ll check his dressing room.”
Dory walked to where a black, leather wingback chair sat before the fireplace and ran her fingers along the top of it.Of course, it would be black. Had he sat here last night and contemplated his future? She wished so, but she shouldn’t. He hadn’t said anything when he’d left. Hearing the dressing room door creak, she quickly moved to the mantel before examining the small, empty table next to the chair.
“Did you find anything?” Rose walked over studying the area, even looking under the chair.
“No. I don’t even see a book here.”
“In his dressing room, his valet has him half-packed, so he left in a hurry.” Rose sighed. “He’s rarely here anymore. He has his estate to tend to and his friends.”
Her friend’s wistfulness registered and Dory pushed away her own wishes. “You miss him.”
Rose sat in the chair. “I do. I know it’s silly, but he’s been a wonderful brother. I try to help him remember what it was like before Lady Belinda passed, but sometimes I feel it’s not enough. I worry about him, which is of no matter to him.”
“Oh, but I think it does matter. He speaks of you fondly.”
Rose smiled. “I know. I—”
The doorknob turned and they froze.
Grumbling on the other side made it clear the valet was back.
Rose’s eyes widened. “We have to leave. I’m sure he will get the housekeeper to open it.”
They both walked toward the door, the sound of voices in the hall making it clear they couldn’t escape yet, when Rose grabbed her hand and yanked her back. “That’s the housekeeper’s voice,” she whispered frantically. “We can’t let them know we’re in here.” She glanced at the room, as if there were somewhere they could hide, when Lady Enderly’s voice asking what was the problem came clearly through the door.
Dory’s heart stopped. She had to escape. She snapped her head to the door of the balcony and without a second thought strode to it.
Rose followed. “What are you doing?” Her voice, though soft, contained true fear.
Dory walked onto the balcony and looked toward her own. If Fen could make the trek in the night, she could do it in the daylight. “You can be caught in his bedroom. I can’t. I have to go.” She pointed past Lord and Lady Sommerset’s balcony to her own.
Rose’s eyes widened. “My brother used to do that, but it’s too dangerous. I can simply explain.”
Dory shook her head. “No. What you can do is go back in there and keep them occupied so I have time.”
Rose worried her bottom lip but finally nodded and went back in the room.
Convincing Rose to go inside was easier than convincing herself she could walk from balcony to balcony. She was far shorter than Fen and the space farther for her, but at the sound of the key in the door inside, she stepped onto the balustrade, her hand against the wall for balance. She just needed to focus on the next balustrade and not on the open space between them that was far too high to survive. That was all.
Voices inside the room told her she had to move. Lifting her skirts, she took the wide step onto the next balustrade but just as her other foot found purchase, she lost her balance and teetered for a moment, her breath leaving her before she fell forward onto the floor of the balcony.
Her heart pounded with relief. Sitting up, she brushed herself off and rose on shaky legs. She looked at her own balcony with yearning but was not sure she could bring herself to attempt another jump.
