Elara raised a brow, curious about why someone would go to such great lengths to host a party of such caliber and then not attend it. She would have to keep that in mind as she searched for clues that evening. Which, she decided, would be now.
“Caroline, I believe it is time for a refreshment,” Elara whispered into her cousin’s ear. “Would you not agree?”
Caroline turned to her and winked.
“Of course, allow me to fetch them for you,” Caroline offered, untangling her arm from Elara’s.
This had been their signal.
Elara slowly made her way to the left staircase, watching her cousin approach the large array of refreshment tables at the opposite end of the room, staying as close to the wall and out of sight as possible. Just as Elara reached the bottom step of the marble staircase, Caroline, so very ‘clumsily,’ pulled a champagne glass from the middle of the pyramid they were arranged in, sending them all crashing to the ground.
All eyes turned to Caroline at once. Even the performers paused in their tricks to see what had happened, and that was when Elara made her move. Lifting her skirts, she raced up the stairs and rounded the second-floor corner. Her heart pounded as she pressed her back against the wall and prayed no one saw her ascend.
She waited a few moments, then peered cautiously around the corner. Relief flooded through her when she saw that all attention was still on Caroline. Knowing their plan had worked, Elara drew in a steadying breath and began her search. She was not sure exactly what she was looking for. She only had faith that she would know it when she saw it, but as she searched one boring guest room after another, her spirits sank.
Could the information about the Duke of Ashworth have been wrong? There is nothing of interest here!
Elara soon realized that the mansion’s first floor was filled only with guest rooms and linen closets. Thankfully, she found the servant’s staircase and, unnoticed yet again, moved up to thethird floor. That was until she heard the sound of two feminine voices coming from behind her.
“But I want to see!” one pleaded.
“Your task is to keep this wing clear, Rebecca, and you cannot do so if you are gawking at the entertainment!” another maid scolded.
A jolt of fear shot down Elara’s spine as the voices drew closer. Her blue eyes darted around the hall, spotted the nearest door to the right, and bolted for it. She silently sent up a prayer of gratitude when she found the door unlocked and pried it open just enough to slip her lithe body through, then pressed herself against the door and shut it as silently as possible.
Elara held her breath as she gripped the door handle, her ear pressed to the wood, eyes closed, straining to hear the voices. A moment passed, then two. Then she heard the two sets of footsteps approach, then fade.
I was almost caught.
Elara let out an audible sigh of relief and, for a moment, let herself relax against the door.
“Well, well. What a beautiful demoness,” a deep voice said from behind her, sending a tremor up her spine. “I wonder, little flame. What are you doing in my room?”
Chapter 2
Oh no! This cannot be good.
Her eyes snapped open as she not only heard but also felt the deep voice reverberate behind her. Slowly, she turned, keeping her hand on the door handle, and for the first time, took in the room she had sought refuge in. A low fire burned in the hearth a few feet away, and atop the white marble mantel, two taper candles sat, casting the dimmest light over the man seated before her.
Though she could make out his form, his features were otherwise cast in shadows, creating a dangerous aura about him that made Elara shiver.
“I am waiting,” that deep, husky voice stated.
“I... it was a mistake, Your... Your Grace,” Elara answered, her voice suddenly trembling as her hand turned the door handle. “I entered the wrong room. I bid you good evening.”
She assumed the man before her was the Duke of Ashworth himself. She did not wait for confirmation, though.
She turned quickly as she pulled the door open, but before it could move more than an inch, a sudden force from behind slammed it shut. Sweat erupted on Elara’s brow as she felt rather than saw the man’s close presence. Heat radiated from his large figure as if he were fire itself, and she did not need to turn around to know that his body was a mere inch away from her own.
“Not so soon, little demoness,” the man purred, sending another tremor down Elara’s spine. “First, you must tell me why you were so eager to find me that you came to my room.”
Elara drew in a trembling breath, catching the alluring scents of vetiver, juniper, and musk. The combination did strange things to her senses, nearly distracting her as she did her best to swallow the fear gathering in her throat.
How can I be so afraid of someone yet so enticed by his scent at the same time?
Slowly, she turned around. The first thing she noticed was that she had to crane her neck to meet green eyes behind a plain black eye mask. The mask accentuated his high cheekbones and well-defined yet plump lips, drawn into a straight line. A high-collared black shirt and jacket accentuated his sharp, clean jawline. His hair, which in the dim light she could only assume was either dark brown or black like hers, was cut short and styled in the latest side-part fashion.
Under any other circumstances, Elara wagered she would have found him handsome. However, his quickness to trap her between him and the door unnerved her, and she cared less about his looks than about his intentions.
