Page 11 of The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna

Had he discovered her to be the woman who’d exposed him? Certainly not. No one knew who was behind the Mayfair Confidential column in the London Daily Gazette. They’d been extremely careful with the entire activity. They’d only delivered under cover of night—Luci having taken over the duty of bringing Ophelia’s final column to the Gazette building while Edith was occupied with preparing for her wedding.

Blessedly, Edith and Torrington arrived at that moment, and Luci slipped her arm through Ophelia’s and motioned for the couple to follow them.

The terrace doors lay open and only a short distance away. Luci practically dragged Ophelia toward them, skirting lords and ladies as they went until the fresh night air surrounded them.

Luci turned, keeping Ophelia at her side and hoping Lord Torrington would block her from view.

“Did you hear who arrived only moments ago?” Ophelia said a bit enthusiastically for Luci’s liking.

“Who?” Edith made to look back into the ballroom to search the crowd.

“Do not look,” Luci hissed. “He is coming this way, and he is certainly angry!”

“I can only imagine what trouble you ladies are embroiled in now.” Triston scrutinized Luci and Ophelia, seeming to forget that his own bride-to-be was just as entangled as they were. “However, this night belongs to Edith and me, and I will not have anything distracting me from her beauty and our future happiness.”

With a grand flourish, he twirled Edith back toward the ballroom, his hand firmly at the small of her back.

The action gave Luci a clear line of sight into the space.

Which meant Montrose was also able to see her. And he was stalking her way, unaware of the people who leapt out of his way or the people who stared in his wake.

“Ophelia,” Luci whispered, unable to remove her eyes from the man. “I need you to cause a distraction.”

“Me?” she squeaked. “I do not—“

“Yes, you. Only long enough for me to hide in the garden.”

“But, why ever would you—“

“There is no time.” Luci pushed the auburn-haired woman toward the terrace door. “I will keep out of sight by the cherub fountain. Come and get me when he leaves.”

Luci didn’t wait to see if Ophelia did as she demanded. She grasped the skirts of her midnight-blue gown and hurried down the stairs into the Shaftesbury’s gardens. The paths were unlit, keeping other guests from exploring the natural wonders, but Luci knew the area well. She and her friends had enjoyed spring and summer picnics between the many rose bushes and gardenia plants during their youths. They’d learned to play lawn bowls and the game of graces on the expanse of green bordering the gardens.

Even by moonlight, Luci had no trouble finding her way.

The moment she stepped onto the lawn-covered path leading around the statue she sought, her delicate, black slippers soaked up the evening dew. Her footwear was ruined, and her stockings would likely be stained beyond repair. It mattered naught.

Luci ducked behind the fountain, a towering monstrosity of curiously entwined, nude cherubs. They’d inspected the piece at great length in their childhoods, Edith being the first to notice that two of the three angels were not fashioned properly. They had an extra attachment below their extended bellies.

They dared to question Lady Shaftesbury about the oddity only once—the woman’s face flaring scarlet before declaring the question was not fit for young girls to ask.

Kneeling behind the statue, Luci no longer cared about ruining her gown. She needs must remain out of sight and undiscovered. Montrose must certainly be upset about her besting him with a foil. There was no other reason he could be here. Could there? Edith would never invite a man they’d exposed; which left only the possibility that he’d stormed into Lady Edith betrothal ball without invitation—specifically to find Luci.

Chapter 5

Roderick had gained entrance to Lord Torrington and Lady Edith’s betrothal ball without incident. No household in the beau monde would dare turn away a duke, invited or not. He hadn’t bothered to stop long enough to remove his jacket and hand it to the footman. His purpose and course were clear: he would find Lady Lucianna and make her admit her part in his ruination.

Then what?

The woman was not capable of setting things to rights; she could not fix his broken relationship with Lady Daphne, nor could she restore his family’s missing fortune. Lady Lucianna was not in possession of the information Roderick sought.

Nevertheless, he was certain he would find peace with this current situation once he confronted the woman responsible.

And she had to be in this very room.

Sure enough, Roderick spotted Lady Lucianna on the terrace of the Shaftesbury’s townhouse. The terror in her widened stare told him she knew exactly why he had come. He continued across the ballroom. If he cut directly through the dancing couples, he paid no mind. His sights were set on one thing…and one thing only.

Vengeance.