“Thank you, Lady Wharton,” Poppy demurred. But she hadn’t come to exchange compliments. She steeled her spine and found her bravery. “I am hoping you can help me locate one of your guests.”
“I will be happy to try.”
Thank heavens. Poppy breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve been looking for Captain Galbraith.”
At that, the countess frowned a bit. “Captain Galbraith?”
“CaptainAlecGalbraith,” Poppy clarified.
“Yes, yes, Ravensdale’s brother.” Then Lady Wharton shook her head. “I am sorry, Miss Elstone, but you are mistaken. Captain Galbraith is not in attendance this evening.”
“Not in attendance?” Poppy echoed softly as her heart sank in her chest. Goodness. She’d planned for a month and had hoped with all her being to see him tonight at this ball… After all, she’d never crossed his path in London during the Season. If he wasn’t to be here, then how would she ever—
“…thought it would be uncomfortable for them to both be here,” Lady Wharton continued confidentially.
It was clear Poppy had missed something the lady had said. Was it important? “I beg your pardon?”
“That is, Ravensdaleisin want of a wife, you see,” the countess added under her breath. “I have never heard the same about his brother, so a decision between the two of them was an easy one for me to make.”
Alec’s brother was there? Was that what the lady was saying? Out of curiosity, Poppy scanned the crowd once more, but she did not notice anyone who resembled Alec. Even if she had, what good would it do her? If Lady Wharton hadn’t invited Alec because Ravensdale would be present, then meeting Alec’s brother would not aid Poppy in the least.
Goodness, she wanted to be nearly anywhere else in the world in that moment. Poppy feigned a smile for the hostess, complimented her on such a lovely gathering, and then started directly toward the pair of doors that led to the balcony. Fresh air might do her some good or at least give her a safe place to be miserable and alone, even if just for a bit.
The full moon lit the elegant gardens below, and Poppy decided to lose herself amongst the Whartons’ manicured hedges and pretty flowers. She followed along the edge of the balcony until she found a set of stairs that led to the garden.
It was quiet in the gardens, though Poppy could still hear muted music from the ballroom in the distance. Her mind was solely focused, however, on the situation at hand. She supposed she could send a missive to Daniel. She hadn’t wanted to involve her cousin in this regard. How did one say, ‘I’m in love with your friend but have no way to reach him. Oh, and does he ever ask about me?’ Oh, she’d die of mortification.
Still, Daniel might be the only course open to her. So if—
For a moment, something above her blocked out the beams of the moon. Poppy looked up to find a large falcon in the sky. It was a magnificent creature. She’d never seen one so big or with such radiant scarlet plumage.
The great bird circled, and then glided gracefully down to the garden, transforming in the process into an elegant older woman adorned in a shimmery red gown. Her hair, dark as the night, contrasted with her alabaster skin. She was striking. She was stunning. Her light grey eyes seemed to flicker withsomething…Calculation, perhaps.
Poppy shook her head to keep from gawking at the woman. Still, she could not help herself and muttered, “That was amazing.” She had, after all, never seen anything like that in her nineteen years.
The woman in scarlet narrowed her eyes perceptibly. “Youare looking for my son.”
The slightest scent of oleander drifted on the wind.
CHAPTER12
The ballroomnearly crackled with magic. Alec closed his eyes for a moment, soaking in the feeling that washed over him. It was nearly intoxicating after so many years away from all things magical. His fingers nearly tingled as though they expected to conjure a ball of fire. Foolish old reflexes. That was not why he was here, but it was exhilarating just the same. If—
“Alec?”
Alec snapped his eyes open at the sound of his brother’s voice.
His earlier exuberance instantly turned to ice in his veins.
“You look well.” Rhys, the ill-suited Marquess of Ravensdale, smiled as though this encounter with his brother was a happy happenstance. “What are you doing here?”
Of course, the man did want a way out of debt and saw Alec as the answer to his financial woes. Alec snorted at his brother’s disingenuousness. “Do not feign surprise for my benefit, Rhys.”
His brother frowned and shook his head just slightly in apparent confusion. “I beg your pardon?”
Honestly, did Rhys’ innocent act fool others? It had been many years since Alec had seen it first-hand, but he remembered it well. “I look well, do I?” he asked. “Better than you expected after my encounter with Mother last night? Or did you hope she’d killed me?”
Rhys blanched. “I beg your pardon?”
