He pursed his lips but gave a smile and a nod. “See that you do.”
“Shall we?” Liza looked between us.
Instead of sitting beside me in the carriage like she usually did, she sat on Charlie’s bench. After we’d arrived at the masquerade, she took both our arms in the same fashion, separating us again. Charlie looked amused, but I grew frustrated at her obvious attempt to separate Charlie and me.
What harm did she see in our friendship? Perhaps I was imagining things. Perhaps Liza simply felt excluded.
I mulled over these thoughts, which weighed so heavily in my mind that I did not look up until we were already at the building.
Women roamed the terrace dressed in Grecian and Egyptian costumes, and the men wore domino robes, or false beards and beast-like masks, all while sipping their drinks and laughing boisterously with their company.
“There’s a pretty one,” one man said pointedly as we passed.
For a moment, I thought Charlie might lose all sense and hurl himself at the man, but Liza tugged us both forward until we found the ballroom. A small orchestra played the waltz, and couples danced together in the center of the room.
“Thank heavens we missed the waltz,” Liza said.
Charlie looked at me with an apologetic gaze. “Scandalous, to be sure.”
Then a man in a domino mask and cloak approached us, bowing. “Good evening, friends. This set is almost through. Might I have the pleasure of the next with”—his gaze landed on Liza—“you,ma cherie?”
Liza cast me a worried look, but to decline would mean she’d have to sit out the entire evening, so she nodded her acceptance. “Do not leave this room,” she ordered us in a whisper as the domino led her out to the dance floor.
Charlie and I were an arm’s-length apart, and neither of us knew quite what to say with Liza gone. She’d worked hard to keep us separated since we’d left Teague House, and all I knew was I had not liked it one bit.
“Her strings are wound much too tightly this evening,” I teased. “We must find a way to help her relax.”
Charlie laughed. “I think I have one more nefarious notion up my sleeve. But for now, could I tempt you to dance with me?”
I took his hand in answer and let him lead me to our spot for the dance. We were of the minority who’d forgone a full costume, wearing only our evening dress clothes and simple masks. Others had dressed to the nines and were, if I were wagering a guess, completely unrecognizable.
Music filled the room once more, and Charlie and I danced ourselves silly. My stomach ached from laughter as we flew around the room, meeting in passing and exchanging jokes in between. I did not have to tell him that I thought the gentleman beside me looked more like a rat than a horse for him to guess my thoughts and laugh alongside me.
Breathless, Charlie asked for another set, and I happily agreed.
Our conversation flowed, even as interrupted as it was, and when the second set came to an end, I found I did not wish to leave the ballroom.
My wish came true when I saw Liza take the hand of a handsome-looking gentleman dressed in expensive wool in lieu of a costume. She waved us off with a happier smile than she’d had when dancing with the domino.
Charlie left me near the wall to fetch some drinks.
“You are a saint,” I said when he returned. I took a long, unladylike gulp.
He grinned, gulping down his own. “I’d ask you to dance again, but others might wonder about my intentions, and I do not think you wish to be a part of that type of scandal.”
I bit my lip. “Three sets with the same partner is not as scandalous as four.”
“Still, Liza would not like it.”
“Liza seems quite distracted, Charlie.”
He clearly was trying to hold back his smile, as though he did not want me to see how happy the idea made him. He held out his hand.
Another round of dancing, and my feet were killing me. Empty seats in the corner offered a welcome respite, and Charlie gave me his handkerchief to dab my face with. Then he stood and perused the room for Liza. We found her with a lemonade in her hand, laughing happily with the same well-dressed gentleman she’d been dancing with in full view of the party.
“What shall we do with that girl?” I asked, shaking my head like an old mama.
“Marry her off,” Charlie said. He crossed his leg and tilted his head toward mine. “But what shall we do with ourselves? Shall I ask one of those potentially handsome women to dance the next set?”
