His fingers squeezed hers, the biggest sign of physical affection he could give, given they were the center of everyone’s attention. “I love you for who you are, Fiona McTavish. I wouldn’t want to be married to a different version of you.”
His hand, warm and steady on her back, felt like their entire relationship captured in a single touch. It did not push her in any direction or force her to follow his lead, as she had presumed the duke would. It was simply there to provide a calm, grounded point amid the twirling. It was Edward, the man she loved. The man she was leaving.
William’s laughing was loud enough to be heard over the orchestra and the general hubbub of the room. Snippets of conversation reached them.
“—andthenshe said, ‘Come back when yer wearin’ yer kilt and I’ll toss yer caber for free—’” The rest of the sentence was unintelligible, thank God.
Fiona’s ears flushed red with embarrassment. Edward did not need to fake the irate look he sent in Will’s direction. “I’m going to kill him.”
Fi was tempted to agree. “He is getting the job done, though.” Around them, the crowd held a mix of expressions—astonished, aghast, appalled. Guests were most definitely looking from Fiona and Edward to Finley and William, just to see how the duke would react.
It had worked. There was no way Luella would be able to convince anyone that Fiona had been swanning around town masquerading as a man and staying in the duke’s residence unchaperoned.
There was still the issue of his mother but otherwise, the threat had been quashed. There was only one part of the scheme left to go. Fiona and Charlotte would meet so Fiona could change into Finley’s clothes. She would approach Lord Chester with the patent and ask that he make the deal with her.
In a small sitting room off the hallway, door guarded from unexpected visitors by Edward, Fiona got to work on the buttons that secured Charlotte’s dress.
“Wasn’t that brilliant?” Char gushed, using her fingers to fix the curls that had been crushed under the wig. “I swear, that was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
The words were a direct echo of William’s just a few nights prior. What was it with the Stirling siblings and their penchant for intrigue?
“I will consider it brilliant only when we’re all home an’ curled up with a hot milk, with no one the wiser of our games.” She did up the last of the buttons and stepped back.
“Spoilsport,” Charlotte said as she turned. “Spin.” Charlotte made short work of the buttons down the back of Fiona’s dress, and she unlaced the stays that were highlighting Fiona’s more feminine features. Fiona slipped out of both, handing the items to Charlotte to fold and place in the satchel Will had brought with him to the ball.
Fi was already wearing men’s stockings beneath her dress. She pulled on the breeches Charlotte had worn, the shirt, the waistcoat, and the dress coat. They had opted for the fastest, most simple knot possible for the cravat.
“There,” Charlotte said, adjusting Fiona’s wig as Fi wiped the kohl from her eyes with Edward’s handkerchief. “There are no pins, Will forgot them, so don’t bow to Lord Chester when you see him, or all of this will be for naught.”
“Nae bowing. Got it.”
Charlotte cupped Fiona’s face in her hands. “It will all be well, sister. In ten years’ time when we’re old and frightfully dull, we’ll look back at tonight and remember how interesting we used to be.”
Sister.Tears sprung to Fiona’s eyes and she turned her attention to the buckles of her slippers so Charlotte couldn’t see them. “I’d be happy to be a little lessinteresting,” Fiona said. And God, was that the truth. She was going to miss Charlotte and Will, but she was also looking forward to quiet nights back home.
“I will spread the word that Fiona is unwell and has retired for the evening. Everyone will assume you were too mortified at being left alone on the dance floor to continue. Then I’ll meet you at the carriage.”
Before Charlotte could leave, Fiona grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly. She was not fond of good-byes and she planned on leaving first thing in the morning, as soon as she and Edward had finished with the magistrate. This may well be the last moment they had alone together.
“Thank ye, Char, for everything. You are an intelligent, kind, and brilliant young woman. Don’t let society force you into a box in which ye dunnae belong.”
Charlotte cocked her head, her expression slightly confused. “I won’t, Fi. Never you worry.” She kissed her on the cheek. “Good luck with Lord Chester.”
Chapter 31
As the three Stirling siblings walked back into the ballroom, all eyes turned to look at them.
“Remember, you’re irate with me,” William murmured. He yelped as Charlotte stepped on his foot.
“That’s not difficult,” Edward replied. The two of them would have words. But not here. Right now he was focused on tying off loose ends and getting them all out before anything could go wrong.
Charlotte put a hand on his arm. “As much as I’m loath to interrupt this episode of brotherly affection, should we be concerned?” Charlotte nodded toward the balcony doors, where their mother was watching them with a gleeful look on her face. “She should be livid, not grinning like a child who just broke into the sweet jar.”
The duchess gave Edward a smug, satisfied smile. The kind of smile that sent shivers to his core. “She’s plotting something.”
“Clearly,” Char said. “But what?”
Destroy Fiona. Manipulate Edward into marriage. They were his mother’s two focuses of late. But that gave him no firm picture of what she was intending to do in this moment.
