A half-hour after Vincent had left, she complained of a headache to her father, and, just as she figured, he excused her to go to her room. Her maid helped her into her nightgown, and Ellie released her for the night. The minute the door was closed, Ellie sprang into action, dressing as quickly as she could in the boy’s breeches and man’s shirt that she’d taken from one of the servants’ rooms.
Her body trembled with excitement as she carefully walked down the servants’ stairs. Thankfully, the staff was still kept busy with the party. Augusta would have every single servant on hand just in case she needed something, knowing her.
Ellie reached the kitchen and paused again. Peeking inside the room, she prayed nobody would see her. So far, everything she and Vincent tried to do had failed miserably. She couldnotallow this special night to be ruined as well.
Voices echoed from the hall outside the kitchen, but none of the servants occupied the kitchen at this moment. She darted across the room, taking large steps, until she reached another door. This door led to yet another hall, but thankfully, it was only used by the servants.
Cautiously, she slipped out of the kitchen and into the corridor before rushing to the nearest door. No voices were heard from this section of the house, which made her breathe a little easier.
Outside, the bright moon lit her way toward the stables. She stuffed her long hair up into the boy’s cap on her head. Her hands shook as she hastily saddled her horse and mounted. She urged Pegasus slowly out of the structure until she was far enough away before gently digging her heels into the animal’s belly to push Pegasus into a run. Finally, she was on her way toward Vincent’s estate.
Images danced in her head, which she wanted to keep in order to fantasize what tonight might be like. Thiswasgoing to happen between her and Vincent. It would go exactly as she’d dreamed about the night before…plus more. It was those other things she’d only heard about from lovers that had her heart pounding with anticipation.
The moon was high in a cloudless sky this evening, and the gentle wind on her face was refreshing. Several times, the cap tried to fly off her head, but she quickly adjusted it. Nobody could know she was a woman—the duke’s daughter, no less. If anyone discovered who she was, that would cause a scandal quicker than what she and Vincent planned on doing tonight.
As she rode closer to his manor, she saw the place was dark. But as she stopped her horse and hopped down, she could see through the front windows. A few flickering candles lit the way. She hooked the reins around a post and, on unsteady legs, walked slowly up the front porch. Her heart hammered against her chest so forcefully that she feared she may swoon before even seeing him. Although she was nervous, she wasn’t scared. She trusted Vincent to be gentle and understanding.
She stood at the front door, wringing her hands. Should she knock? Or had he unlocked the front door? Ellie shrugged and reached for the knob. The door opened soundlessly, and she breathed a sigh of relief. As she stepped into the entrance hall, voices drifted from a different direction.
Ellie inhaled sharply.We are not alone!
She licked her dry lips and took quiet steps farther into the house. Immediately, she detected Vincent’s voice…and a woman’s. Her throat tightened. Were his sisters here when he hadn’t planned on them being home? Oh dear. If they saw Ellie—
At that moment, a woman’s laugh danced through the air. Ice stiffened Ellie’s limbs, and she froze. This wasnotVincent’s sisters. The husky tone was too mature. Too sultry.
Fear gripped her stomach and twisted.No!She wouldn’t believe Vincent had another woman here—not when he was expecting her. Then again, Ellie was earlier than she’d told him. When they’d talked about this evening, she told him two hours after he left. So, she was a good hour early.
Her head pounded with uncertainty, and she couldn’t stop her feet from moving her toward the voices. At first, she couldn’t decipher the words because they bounced against the walls in an echo. Finally, silhouettes of two people in each other’s arms materialized through the shadows.
Vincent’s hands rested on the woman’s shoulders while her arms were hooked around his waist. The woman’s voluptuous body was pressed intimately against Vincent.
The woman laughed again as she twisted a lock of Vincent’s hair around her finger. “Now, Vincent…you cannot tell me that slip of a girl will make you happy. But youknowI’ll be able to accomplish that on a daily—and nightly—basis.”
“Candace, I beg you, please—”
“No need to beg yet, my dear, sensual man. Wait until we get to the bedroom.”
Disgust lurched in Ellie’s throat, and she slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from retching. They hadn’t heard—or seen—her yet, and she’d make sure they didn’t.
Carefully, she stepped back away from the intimate scene. Tears filled her eyes as her heart crumbled. The pain throbbing in her head kept her from hearing any more. The only sound now was the breaking of her heart and her soul dying.
Her vision blurred, but she found the door and left, closing it softly. It wasn’t until she reached her horse that she released the sobs building up in her throat. Thankfully, Pegasus knew the way home, because she couldn’t lead the animal in the right direction if her life depended on it.
Something deep within her argued with her decision to flee. Her conscience told her to turn the horse around and return to the manor. She needed to call Vincent out for his deceit. But her pride wouldn’t allow it, winning the argument. She would look like a blubbering fool if she faced Vincent now, and she didn’t want to appear so weak-minded in front of him.
Why had she believed him? She’d trusted him. His eyes had told her he’d wanted tonight with her. Unless that was all a lie, too. If he didn’t care for her, why had he led her on? But then, she’d forgotten that he was a rogue. He knew how to twist women’s hearts into his web of deceit in order to get what he wanted.
She wiped the tears pouring from her eyes. Apparently, now that he was wealthy, he didn’t need her money…which meant he didn’t needher. Unfortunately, her father would still force them to wed, and especially now because of the announcement he’d made earlier. If she didn’t marry Vincent now,shewould be ruined.
The horse made it to the stable, and she jumped down. She didn’t have time to remove the saddle or brush him, and she prayed one of the servants would see to it sometime tonight. It was a struggle to lift each leg as she walked out of the stable and headed for the servants’ door.
Ripping the boy’s cap off her head, she let her hair tumble down around her shoulders and back. Her appearance didn’t matter now. Everything she’d done tonight was all for naught.
“Eleanor? Is that you?”
The man’s question startled her, and she jumped. Fear of a different kind rushed through her body.I’m caught!
A man walked out of the shadow of the towering oak tree. At first, she couldn’t see him through the tears blurring her vision, but his voice seemed oddly familiar. She cleared her throat, hoping it didn’t sound as if she’d been crying. “What are you doing out here? Why are you not inside at the party?”
