Nathan stood and stretched. “Well, I suppose I ought to get myself to bed. I’ll be setting out early tomorrow for London.”
“We will ride together. I have urgent business there as well.”
“Could the urgent business begin with a ‘C’?” Nathan slyly asked.
“Have my dealings with Miss Lockwood come to everybody’s attention?” Rook enquired wearily.
“Well,” replied Nathan, “after the mauling at the masquerade that she received from you, you couldn’t blame my curiosity. Never seen you so –” Rook’s head snapped upright, and his feet fell off the chaise.
“What did you say?”
“I said, I’ve never seen –”
“No, no, before that…the masquerade.”
“Oh, well. I went out for some fresh air and wandered to the grounds. Saw you by the steps of the sunken garden, with Clara Lockwoodrunning away from you, as though the hounds of hell were after her. She passed right by – didn’t see me – dishevelled hair and rumpled gown, you devil. She dropped her thread.”
Rook’s world upended.
Thread? What thread?” was all he could splutter.
“Miss Lockwood came as Ariadne. You know, the girl who helped Theseus find his way out of the labyrinth by giving him a thread and –”
“Yes, I do know the story, Nathan. I could hardly help it with my –”
“Oh, yes,” Nathan agreed sheepishly, “forgot for a moment, always calling you ‘Rook’. By the way, what a coincidence, don’t you thi –”
“Are you sure it was Clara?” he interjected firmly “It’s very important – everyone was in masks.”
“Very sure, Rook. We were actually introduced, by that strange aunt with the feathers. Did you also know that the aunt and Dill have formed…a ‘friendship’?”
“What? God, Nathan. Why haven’t we talked the entire party?”
“My misery only sought its own company, although, it is amazing what you learn, when you stay drinking in the background.”
Rook shook his head and then laughed out loud. If only he had talked to Nathan previously! If he hadn’t been such a selfish bounder and tried to help Hestia earlier, he suspected his problem of what to do with lovely Clara Lockwood would have been resolved a lot sooner…and much more agreeably.
A deep sense of satisfaction settled throughout his bones. Clara and his masquerade woman were one and the same. His dullard head might not have realised it, but obviously his heart and body had. It all made sense: the same passion, the same sensations, the same woman.
Jack entered the study to find Nathan and Rook both standing and grinning ear to ear.
“Where are we going?” he enquired. “Billiards?”
“Bed,” they both said simultaneously.
Jack’s jaw dropped. “But, I’ve brought the Laphroaig. You can’t.”
Rook laughed at the sulky expression on his friend’s face. “It’s Clara, Jack. It’s been Clara all along. My masquerade woman.”
The pout cleared, and Jack broke into a broad smile. “Knew it! I just knew it. How did you find out?”
“Nathan saw her at the masquerade. In fact, ask Nathan anything. He knows all that went on.”
“Hmm.” Jack thought for a moment. “Was Lady Minkworthintimatewith Lord Farnborough? And secondly, does Clara have problems with her right hand?” Both men looked expectantly at Nathan, who grinned.
“How much is it worth?”
“Nightcap of this good stuff I’m holding.”
