“It’s all right,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Have you heard anything about your student? You were so worried last time I saw you.”
Phoebe shook her head. “I went to her flat yesterday, but no one has seen her. It’s like she simply vanished.”
Freddie’s brow furrowed with worry and she clasped Phoebe’s hand. “That’s awful.”
“Something else happened while I was there,” Phoebe added. “But you can’t tell anyone.”
She gave a solemn nod. “I swear.”
As Phoebe relayed the events of yesterday, Freddie’s eyes grew wider and wider. But when she got to the part about the duke showing up, Freddie’s mouth actually dropped open.
“Will Margrave went down to Bow Street torescueyou?”
Phoebe shook her head at her sister’s incredulous tone. “I didn’t really give him much choice. And you know how loyal he is to Alex.”
Freddie didn’t look convinced. “He could have sent someone, Phoebe. I mean, the manisa duke.”
She ignored her sister’s pointed look. Time to change the subject away from Will. “I wish I knew who owned the building. Something just doesn’t feel right. The maintenance man was so outraged that I was evenaskingabout Alice. But why would he care?”
“Well, why don’t you ask Will? He owns all sorts of properties around London. If anyone can find out I’m sure he can.” Then her sister’s eyes took on a gleam that usually signaled trouble. “Come with me to the Wrenhew ball tonight! You can ask him there.”
Phoebe’s heart beat noticeably faster at the thought of seeing Will again, and so soon, but she would rather return to Bow Street than a London ballroom.
“I have school in the morning.”
“Then don’t stay long,” Freddie tossed off, as if an early wake time was the only thing preventing Phoebe from attending the kind of event most people spent weeks preparing for.
But rather than admit to feeling woefully out of place, Phoebe simply crossed her arms. “I thought the fashionable set don’t show their faces until past midnight anyway.”
“Yes, but Will is only going because he’s courting Lady Gwendolyn Fairbanks. He’ll get his two dances in and then leave as soon as he can,” Freddie added.
Phoebe’s mouth had gone strangely dry. “I… I don’t think I know her,” she said, managing to sound bored.
“She’s Lord Fairbanks’s eldest daughter. A little too fond of herself I think, but she is very popular. Not that Will has any real competition, being a duke and all. Lord Fairbanks would probably cart Gwen over to St. George’s this second if Will proposed.”
Of course. The daughter of an earl was perfect for him. “Naturally.”
Freddie didn’t seem to notice Phoebe’s dry tone and suddenly grasped her sister’s hand again. “Ohdocome with me tonight. I promise we won’t stay very late. Just long enough for you to talk to Will.”
Phoebe couldn’t deny that Freddie had a point. And a part of her was awfully curious to see the future Duchess of Ellis, though she quickly buried the pang in her chest that followed the thought. It felt distressingly close to envy andthatwas absurd.
“I have a gown you can wear,” Freddie continued. “It’s neverquite fit me right, anyway. And Lucy can do your hair. She’ll probably find it easy after battling with mine every day.” Freddie gestured to the absolute mass of curls neatly pinned at the nape of her neck. As usual, a few strands had sprung loose around her temples, but they only made her look more fetching.
Though she had already made up her mind, Phoebe had a reputation to uphold so she let out a heavy sigh. “Very well. If you think the duke can help, I can’t really say no.”
Freddie grinned as she looped her arm through Phoebe’s. “My thoughts exactly.”
Five
It was barely past nine, but the Wrenhews’ ballroom was already a crush. Will stood at the edge of the dance floor and scanned the sea of too familiar faces chattering away about nothing of consequence and discreetly checked his pocket watch yet again. He had already danced once with Lady Gwendolyn Fairbanks. Now he needed to stand here for three more turns until he could claim his second and get the hell out of here, where a mountain of paperwork and a glass of single malt awaited him at home. Will shoved the watch back into his breast pocket. Best not to ruminate onwhyhe was more interested in spending the evening locked in his study with inanimate objects rather than his soon-to-be-betrothed. Luckily, a distraction approached.
“Fairbanks, good evening.”
The earl came beside him. “You and my daughter make a handsome pair.”
“Any man is improved in her presence.”
The earl chuckled and absently ran a hand down his short salt-and-pepper beard. Though he must be well into his fifties, he still garnered his share of flirtatious looks from matrons and maids alike. Every now and then there was a whisper about his days as one of London’s most dissolute young gentlemen, but Will wasn’tthe kind to listen to rumors. Besides, former libertine or not, Lord Fairbanks had gone on to marry the beautiful daughter of a duke and was a well-respected member of society.
