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“Yes!” Mariah glanced around. “Quiet, you ninny.”

Joan laughed. “And you, such a good girl,” she whispered in glee. “Alone with a strange man in the dark, and you didn’t even learn his name!”

“I did not mean to be alone with him.” Mariah gave up searching. The terrace was deserted, the garden seemed empty. Anyone still outside wanted to remain outside. She sank onto a nearby bench, half annoyed and half disappointed. Joan immediately sat next to her, alive with excitement.

“So how did it happen?”

“I went out on the balcony for some fresh air—I went alone, and thought I would be alone,” she added at Joan’s wicked smile. “He was out there already, and very impertinent.”

“Mmm, a saucy fellow,” said Joan with delight. “Are you in love with him?”

“No!” Mariah looked at her incredulously. “How could I be? I don’t even know his proper name or what he looks like.”

“But he’s tall,” Joan said. “And has a nice voice.”

Mariah smiled. “Yes.”

“Why do you suppose he was out there? Hiding from someone? Waiting for someone? Planning to steal the silver? Oh, perhaps he’s a very scandalous person and was trying to avoid a duel!”

“I don’t think my mother invited anyone scandalous.”

Joan made a face. “I was afraid of that.”

Mariah got to her feet. Joan could tease and laugh all she wanted, but Mariah knew—somehow—that Harry had not been on the balcony to avoid a duel or to steal the silver. “But then—you’ll never believe it, Joan—he climbed down the side of the house!”

Her cousin’s mouth opened in surprise. “What do you mean, climbed down the side of the house? How?”

“The ivy.” He wouldn’t try to climb back up the wall and sneak into the house, would he? She hadn’t thought of it, but if he could go down the ivy, why couldn’t he go up? Mariah took a few steps toward the path leading toward the balcony. Perhaps if she ran around now, she could catch him trying it.

“The ivy!” Joan was saying. “Oh, Mariah, just like Romeo!”

“Yes, only it was to get away from me,” she grumbled.

“Show me.” Joan hurried over. “Let’s see how far he must have climbed. This is so romantic. A mystery suitor! I knew you would have a flock of gentlemen at your feet, but I never dreamed you’d find someone so exciting, and at your very first ball, too! While I have had two full Seasons and never met anyone nearly so interesting.”

“You’re too particular,” said Mariah.

Joan shrugged cheerfully. “You’re right. I am too particular. But let’s go see the ivy—quickly, before my mother comes looking for me.”

Mariah glanced back at the ballroom doors. Her mother would soon come looking for her, too. “All right. But hurry!” They picked up their skirts and ran across the terrace, down the steps, and along the gravel path. Mariah scanned the walls, squinting against the deep shadows that cloaked the house.

“There.” She pointed at the balcony. From below it didn’t look so very far, actually; perhaps Harry’s descent hadn’t been quite as daring as she’d thought. The English ivy that crawled up vast swathes of stone was particularly thick near the balcony, and when she leaned out and tugged a thick stalk, it felt as sturdy as a tree.

“All that way down.” Joan sounded very impressed. “Just to get away from you. What on earth did you say to him?”

“Nothing!” Mariah protested. “I—I might have been a bit abrupt at the beginning...”

Joan sighed. “Well, it’s still a lovely story. You didn’t by any chance share one perfect kiss, did you?”

Mariah choked on her laughter. “Joan, you’re really intolerable.”

“I know.” She linked her arm through Mariah’s. “Let’s go back before my intolerable curiosity lands us in the suds. Perhaps we can discover him inside.”

Mariah turned to go with her, but cast one last thoughtful glance back at the ivy, innocently rustling in the breeze. Joan might laugh it off as a smashing good tale, but her determination to track down the wretched, infuriating, intriguing man hadn’t faltered. No, indeed, not in the least.

* * *

Harry took great care to keep his distance from Lady Mariah the rest of the evening. After making his rounds of the garden and examining the gates in the high wall that ran around it, he turned back toward the house. There were only guests out in the grounds, and he was powerless to do anything about them unless they drew a weapon. The gates were secure, so he went back to the ball.