The Noble Spy: Regency Romance (London Season Matchmaker Book 2)
Author: Adams, Lucy
Date: 2019-05-05

The Noble Spy

London Season Matchmaker Book Two

Lucy Adams

© Copyright 2019 by Lucy Adams - All rights reserved.

In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document by either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited, and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Epilogue

Author’s Note

About the Author

Prologue

“Must you always take this long?”

Titania laughed lightly and whirled around to face her sister. “Come now, Merry!” she exclaimed, her eyes bright. “It is the first ball of the Season, and I must ensure that I look my very best.” She let her gaze brush over Merry’s gown and coiffure, taking in the usual dull color of gown and the unimaginative chignon. “You may not care for such things, my dear sister, but I do.”

“As well I know,” Merry muttered, running one hand over the front of her gown a trifle self-consciously. “I am quite certain that you will look wonderful in whatever gown you choose, Titania. Although you must hurry, for else we shall all be late and you know that Mama will not be pleased.”

At the mention of their mother, Lady Whitehaven, Titania allowed her smile to fade somewhat, her exuberance dampening down. Their mother, widow to the late Marquess of Whitehaven, would not be pleased if Titania was the reason for their late arrival at the first ball of the Season. A small stab of guilt washed over her as she saw Merry’s arched eyebrow and realized that she must be the only one of the sisters not yet prepared.

Not that she was about to let Merry know that she felt such a way.

“You are very kind to compliment me so,” she said, with a grin that stretched wide across her face. “But I must think of what the gentlemen of the beau monde will think when they see me. Would they prefer me in a light green? Or perhaps something softer and more delicate?”

Merry made an impatient noise in the back of her throat.

“The green, I think,” Titania said hastily, turning away from her sister. “For it shall match my eyes.”

“That is wise, since you will find nothing to match your hair,” Merry said stiffly, as the door opened behind them and a maid walked into the room, followed by Catherine, another of one of their sisters.

“Do hurry up, Titania,” Catherine said at once, rolling her eyes as she came to stand by Merry. “As you can see, both myself and Merry are already prepared.”

Titania huffed and sat down in the chair in front of the dressing table, looking at her reflection and wondering if she should add any other small adornments. Catherine, she knew, did not care for her appearance in any way whatsoever, and whilst she looked presentable this evening, she had not gone to any great lengths to improve her appearance. “I must have something else,” she murmured aloud, as the maid began to prepare the gown for Titania to wear. “Something that will truly capture their attention.”

Merry shook her head and let out a long, pained sigh. “You will capture the gentlemen’s attention simply by being present, Titania,” she said firmly. “For I am certain that you will be the only redhaired young lady in London.”

“If not, only one of the few,” Catherine added, as though this would encourage Merry to step away from the mirror. “Come now, Titania. Just step into your gown so that we may depart.”

“Wait!” Titania twisted back in her chair, her eyes alight. “There are those beautiful mother of pearl butterflies in the garden, are there not?”

Her two sisters stared back at her in astonishment, their mouths falling open as they took in what she had said.

“I must fetch them,” Titania said hurriedly, getting to her feet and making her way to the door. “I will not be a moment.”

“You cannot, Titania!” Catherine exclaimed, grasping her arm. “Those butterflies are adornments for the garden only. They are not to be worn as adornments!”

Titania, who had a strong will and was, therefore, quite determined that she should do whatever she pleased, tugged her arm from her sister’s staying hand. “But they will be quite perfect,” she insisted. “And, from what I recall, they somehow tie to the stem of the plant, which means they must be able to fix themselves to my hair in some fashion.”

“There is not time for this nonsense, Titania,” Merry groaned, throwing up her hands in exasperation. “You are not even in your gown as yet and–”

“I do not want to dirty it,” Titania interrupted, grasping a thin dressing gown and throwing it over herself, tying it at the waist. “Now, do stop fussing. I know very well that Dinah and Mama are not yet prepared—else Dinah would be here also.” She caught the way her sisters exchanged a glance and felt a sense of triumph from deep within her. Most likely, Dinah, her cousin, was having to be persuaded to attend the ball by their mother, given that she had no interest in the Season whatsoever and often found a good many things utterly unfavorable. “Just wait for a few minutes longer, and then I shall be quite prepared.” She did not wait to hear her sisters’ protests, quite sure they would be flung around her ears should she hesitate for even a moment and so, instead, she slipped from the room.

* * *

Walking along the hallway towards the staircase, Titania grew a trifle frustrated that she had not thought to bring a candle. The house was fairly gloomy, given that the family was to be out, and as such, she was finding it difficult to walk quickly and with precision. Seeing the drawing room, she stepped inside with the hope of finding a candle within.

The room was well lit, for the family would be meeting there before leaving for the ball, and, with relief, Titania saw a single candlestick on the mantlepiece. Reaching for it, she sighed heavily to herself as she wandered to the window, wondering what was making her heart so heavy. It could not be that it was the beginning of the Season surely, for that knowledge brought great joy with it. Was it because she, out of all of her sisters, found the idea of returning to the Season to be one of excitement and joy? Merry, Catherine, and Dinah, her cousin, did not seem to care particularly much for all that was to occur and certainly did not give it as much of an interest as she.

“They shall have to show an interest soon enough,” Titania muttered to herself. “It is 1815 after all, and they will not have a good many years left until they are thought of as spinsters by the ton.” Unfortunately, Titania realized, this would not be a particularly painful thought to someone such as Merry or even Catherine. They both stated that they did not care for the Season nor for the gentlemen that were within in. This was not something Titania could understand, for why would one not wish to converse, dance, and even be courted by an eligible gentleman?

Her eyes caught something outside in the gloom, her breath catching in her throat as she saw a figure running along the street, only to lash out furiously at another. The cry from the second man seemed to make its way through the window and directly towards her, crying out for help as the first man continued his attack.

Before she knew what she was doing, Titania was outside. Her heart was in her throat as she hurried towards the first man, meaning to shout aloud at him so as to frighten him into ceasing his terrible attack – only for her gaze to catch sight of a blade as it flashed in the moonlight.

Her breath caught and a faint trembling seized her. Whatever was she doing? This was utterly, utterly foolish! She ought not to be out of doors on her own, especially not when a man was now standing across from her, his knife held in front of him as he looked down at the fallen man at his feet.

“You.”

Titania jerked violently, going cold all over as she realized just what had occurred. The man with the knife had obviously spotted her, and now, to her horror, was beginning to advance towards her. A scream lodged in her throat as she stumbled back, aware that she had no weapon, no way to protect herself.

The only thing she could do was to return to the house before he could catch her. She had only taken a few steps once she had reached the bottom of the stone steps but, for whatever reason, the house now seemed to be much further away. Titania turned and attempted to run to the steps, her feet feeling heavy and weighted as she tried to run. The sound of running footsteps behind her made her scream aloud, the sound echoing through the gloom as her heart beat wildly with fear.

“You there!”

Something grabbed at her, and Titania screamed again, twisting this way and that so that she might escape from her captor. The man’s hand was tight on her waist, the sound of tearing fabric her only hope that she might be able to escape from him.

“You shouldn’t have been watching,” the man said in a low, dark voice, as he let go of her dressing gown but instead reached to grasp her arm, swinging her about to face him. Titania’s eyes flared wide with fear, taking in the man’s small, narrowed eyes, his cheeks thick with stubble and the dark grin that was now spreading across his face. “Not that I think I can rid the world of someone as pretty as you.” He pulled her closer, the knife flashing dangerously in hand. Titania stilled, her eyes on the blade, her hands pressed hard against the man’s chest as though she could push him from her by sheer force of will.

“I might just have to take you with me,” the man grated, his face close to hers as he loomed over her. “A pretty thing like you could bring a man all sorts of good.”

Titania closed her eyes tight, fighting the wave of fear that crashed over her. “No,” she whispered, trying to find some sort of strength within herself. “No, I will not go with you.” Beginning to struggle, she let her hands scrabble at his chest. “Let me go!” Her voice began to grow stronger as she fought to get away from him, her eyes fixed on the knife that was held tightly in the man’s other hand. “Let me go, I say!”

As she grasped about his neck, something snapped from it and into her hands, and Titania grasped a hold of it tightly. With a snarl, the man threw her back, only to raise the knife high as he stood over her. “You had better watch your mouth,” he stated, as Titania took a few steps back, only to find herself pressed against the railings that separated one house from the other. “No more of this fighting. You come along with me, or it will be all the worse for you.”

Titania’s heart was pounding so painfully that she could not find her voice. Her breath was coming in short, shallow gasps as she tried to think of what she might do in order to escape from this murderer – only for a shadow to spring at the man and knock him to the ground.

A fight ensued before Titania’s eyes, her hands now clinging tightly to the iron railings as she attempted to keep herself upright. Her legs were weak, her mind scrambling to make sense of what she had seen and what had occurred. This man, this shadowy stranger, had leapt at the murderer without consideration, she thought, and now was fighting for his life. The murderer’s knife was being jabbed in each and every direction as he struggled to his feet, whilst the shadowy stranger continued to lash out at the murderer any way he could.

“This is not wise,” the stranger said, as the murderer thrust the blade out wildly again. “You know that you will be caught.”

“I shall not.”

The murderer thrust his blade towards the stranger once more, missing completely, before turning around on his heel and running away into the dark. Titania’s body shook with relief, and she began to sink to the ground, her legs no longer able to hold her up. The pavement was cold and hard beneath her, but she did not notice it, her whole body shaking furiously.

“Do not say a word to anyone about what you have seen.”

Her vision was blurred as she looked up to see this mysterious gentleman, her savior, bending over her. She could not quite make him out but wanted to cling to him as though he were the only one she needed at this very moment.

“You must give me your word,” he stated firmly, looking deeply into her eyes. “You must promise you shall not say anything.”

“No,” Titania promised, trying to reach out to him but finding that she could not. “I shall not.” Her eyes grew heavy, her mind beginning to slow as she leaned back against the iron railings. She did not have the strength to say more, it seemed, for she was being pulled towards a rich, welcoming darkness that wanted to pull her into its embrace.

Something lifted her, something took her away from the cold hardness of the pavement, and Titania leaned her head into the softness. She did not know what it was nor could she make herself awaken from the beginnings of unconsciousness to discover it. All she could do was lean into it and allow the welcoming darkness to take her.

Chapter One

“What is it you have discovered, then?”

Edward—Viscount Carroway—cleared his throat and looked directly at the gentleman in front of him.

“I have, I confess, been unable to prevent the death of Stirling,” he said, allowing a trace of bitterness to enter his voice. “It was most unfortunate.”

The man in front of him shook his head and sighed. “It is unfortunate indeed,” he muttered sadly, shaking his head. “Stirling was a great asset to this force, and I shall be sorry to lose him from our ranks.” He looked back at Edward; his grey eyes now severe. “Might I ask how it occurred?”

Edward held back a long sigh and considered what it was he was going to say. The lieutenant before him was both a friend and a man of authority for, together, they had set up this particular group of men, and thus far, they had seen excellent results from their endeavors.

At least, until earlier that evening.

“I have had my suspicions that, for some time, Stirling has been meeting with a French spy, Lieutenant,” Edward began carefully. “I shared such concerns with you for, if that was the case, then I was gravely worried about Stirling’s loyalty. Now, it seems, we shall never know the truth.”

Lieutenant James shook his head and cleared his throat gruffly. He was some years older than Edward, with thinning grey hair and an overly large moustache that hid his mouth almost completely at times. His eyes were fixed upon Edward’s and held a good deal of steel within them, which left Edward in little doubt that the man was displeased with what had occurred. And the shame of that began to grow within him.

“Tell me precisely what occurred,” the lieutenant said, his voice firm. “You were following Stirling, I believe.”

“I was,” Edward agreed. “I wanted to discover whom he was meeting and, thereafter, could question precisely what it was he was doing and why. I did not expect him to run from his meeting and certainly did not expect his companion to go after him!” He sighed and rubbed at his forehead, remembering how he had been taken completely by surprise and how the shock of what he had seen had brought him to a sudden, forceful stop.

“You found Stirling dead already, I presume,” the lieutenant asked, his voice a little softer now as he took in Edward’s expression. “I know he was an acquaintance of yours, Carroway, so it must have been a rather difficult thing to come across.”

Edward swallowed but, with practiced effort, thrust aside his feelings and nodded. “Yes, it was,” he admitted honestly, looking at the lieutenant with clear eyes. “But I was then caught by the fact that the murderer was now attacking a young woman.”

Lieutenant James’s eyes flared with surprise. “Indeed?”

“She was fighting back, certainly,” Edward added, recalling how the young woman had been clawing and scratching at the man in order to get away from him. “I believe that the murderer was, in his own way, enjoying the fact that she was struggling so.” He shook his head in disgust, feeling it rise up within him. “I attempted to pull him from her and, in doing so, knocked him to the ground. However, when he rose, he had the knife still within his hand and used it to defend himself.”

“I see,” the lieutenant murmured. “And then he ran from you?”

“Yes,” Edward said, nodding. “The cowardice within him could not be hidden. He ran from me. I was forced to ensure that the lady was quite well before I could go after him. I feared that she was close to fainting, and, in fact, she gave herself up to unconsciousness before the end of our conversation.”

The lieutenant allowed a faint trace of alarm to cross his features. “Then she may speak of what she has seen.”

“No, I do not think that she will,” Edward said hastily. “I had her promise that she would not breathe a word of what she saw to anyone, and before she fainted, she did agree.”

A snort of derision met this. “But you cannot be sure, Carroway! A young lady of quality may very well speak of such an incident!”

Edward hesitated. He was, he reflected, being quite foolish to believe that the lady would remain silent and that she would keep her promise, but for whatever reason, he found himself trusting her. “My instincts say, Lieutenant, that she can be trusted.”

The gentleman eyed him suspiciously. “Even though she fainted soon after speaking to you?” he said carefully, as though to point out to Edward just how ridiculous he was being. “At the very least, please tell me that you know her name?”

“No,” Edward murmured, a slight flush going up his cheeks. “I did not discover it for, as I said, she fainted.”

“And you left her in the street?”

Edward closed his eyes and held back his initial sharp retort. “No, I did not,” he replied evenly, opening his eyes again. “I carried her to the door of the house from whence she had come. I gently placed her down upon the threshold, rapped sharply—and rather loudly, I might add—before scurrying from the place and keeping watch some distance away. She was found almost at once and seemed to recover herself slightly by the time her family appeared.” He winced, recalling the commotion. “There was something of an uproar, I confess, but they managed to have her in the house within a few moments. From what I could hear, they had been due to attend a ball but….” He trailed off and shrugged. It was obvious that the family would not have chosen to attend the ball any longer after finding the young lady in such a state of disarray. What she would say to them by way of excusing how they had found her on the doorstep in a heap, he was not at all sure, but again came that same certainty that she would not be indiscreet. It was imperative that no one knew of the death, for then questions might be asked about who the fellow was, and then they might discover the organization that Lieutenant James and he had set up.

“It is all rather unfortunate,” Lieutenant James murmured, shaking his head. “Although….” He trailed off and studied Edward a little more closely, looking at him as though he had seen him in a new light. “Perhaps that title of yours might become useful at this juncture.”

Edward frowned. “I do not like to use my title, as well you know,” he grated.

“But it may be useful,” Lieutenant James replied mildly. “It could help you ensure that this particular young lady does, in fact, remain silent about what she saw.”

Edward gritted his teeth and thought hard, trying to find a way to reject the idea entirely. His title meant nothing to him, for it had been bestowed upon him without his knowledge, well before he had been old enough to understand. There were a good many rumors about Edward floating around London, which was why he was particularly keen to avoid the company of society. He did not want to be “Lord Carroway”—especially when he had no family to speak of. He had been tugged from the arms of the orphanage one day, at the tender age of seven years old, and had been sent to Eton. Much to his surprise, someone had informed him that he was now the Viscount of Carroway, and not simply Edward Yardley, as he had always believed. A small estate was his, as well as a small fortune. It had been quite unbelievable for a young lad of seven, and it had taken him a good many years to believe he was truly as he was called. It had not been until much later, when he had left Eton and had been able to do as he pleased, that he had been afforded the opportunity to search for the truth of his birth.

The documents purporting to give him his title had been sent to various solicitors, but none had found any particular fault with them. The small manor house and grounds he had been given, along with his new title, were in dire need of repair, and whilst he had been able to set the place to rights, Edward had found no joy in the opportunities then afforded him. To look after one’s estate, to grow one’s fortune, to find a wife and produce an heir was not something that he considered to be of any interest whatsoever. In fact, he had shunned it completely, choosing instead to go into the army and to leave a steward behind at his estate, who now looked after the house, the grounds, and the few tenants that lived and worked there.

It had been due to his interest in the army that he had first caught the eye of Lieutenant James. Of course, he had not been promoted to Lieutenant at the time, although he had still been Edward’s superior. A friendship of sorts had been struck up, and it was this that had brought about the new endeavour into protecting England from the spies and the criminals that infiltrated these parts. What worried Edward most were those who came from France, with the deliberate intention of finding out all they could of England’s weaknesses before returning home with the information. This was why he did not wish to use his title nor his connections with the ton in order to ensure that one young lady, as lovely as she was, remained silent. There was too much to do otherwise.

“You need not take a good deal of time over it,” Lieutenant James continued, when silence had crept between them for some moments. “You shall simply have to attend a few balls and the like and ensure that the lady is quite well and does not have the tendency for gossip.” He hesitated and looked a little more keenly into Edward’s face. “She did not make out your face, did she?”

“I do not think so,” Edward muttered, passing a hand over his eyes and realizing that he had very little choice but to do what the lieutenant suggested. It was, he supposed, a wise decision and certainly would ensure that the lady was both well and would remain silent about what she had witnessed. If, in mixing with the ton, he heard rumors and whispers about the man that had been murdered on a quiet London street, then he would know that she had not managed to remain quiet as she had promised.

“I am aware that you seek Ravel,” Lieutenant James said quietly. “He is still on your mind, is he not?”

Closing his eyes tightly for a moment, Edward gave him a jerky nod. One particular spy, going by the name of Ravel, had eluded Edward for many months, to the point that Edward almost believed him to be gone from England’s shores, if he were not dead. The man had come to their attention when he had been discovered stealing documents of vital importance from a peer of the realm who was involved in the war effort. Had he not eluded them, then Edward would have been able to capture him and discover what he knew, but the man was like a mouse, hiding and scurrying away without even the slightest sound. Whilst he had seen glimpses of him in London and whilst there had been reports of his movements in town, no one had ever managed to capture him. It was a very painful point, for Edward continued to feel that he had failed in his duties since he could not find Ravel and, therefore, was not ensuring that England’s shores were safe.

“I do not know where he could be,” Edward muttered, raking one hand through his thick, dark hair. “Surely such a man could not still be walking the London streets when not only I, but also many others, are searching for him?”

The lieutenant lifted one shoulder. “He is an excellent spy, Carroway. We must believe him to still be within England if we are to protect our King and our country. I know you wish to seek him out, but you must first ensure that this young lady is not telling her story to all and sundry! It is for her own protection as well as for our own.”

Edward nodded glumly, his gaze now fixed to the floor. “I understand,” he admitted, a trifle frustrated. “I shall do as you suggest.”

“We will find him, Carroway, never you fear,” the lieutenant said firmly, placing one hand on Edward’s shoulder. “But leave Ravel for the time being. Let us ensure that the murderer of Stirling is found and caught, before we think of him again. Even if Stirling had begun to turn against us, we have a responsibility to discover what was done to him and why.”

“Indeed,” Edward murmured, not liking to think of his friend turning his back on England and instead looking towards France. “I shall do so.”

“And I do not think that seeing this young lady again will be an unpleasant task,” the lieutenant finished with a grin. “After all, from your description of her, she seems quite tolerable.”

Edward swallowed hard, not wanting the lieutenant to see just how much he had been affected by the lady. Even now, when he recalled looking down into her face and seeing her eyes look back at him, hazy and unclear, his whole body jolted quietly. Her hair had been pinned carefully away from her face, with a few tendrils around her temples, and he had found himself wanting to brush his fingers through it so that he might feel its softness. It had been a very strange moment, for while he had been urgent in his need to seek assurances from her that she would not say to anyone what she had seen, he had also felt himself overwhelmed by the beauty of her. Given that he had not felt a single flicker of emotion for any other creature such as she before, it had been quite a remarkable moment.

“I shall take if from your silence that you agree it will be a pleasant task,” the lieutenant chuckled, lightening the atmosphere somewhat. “Very good, Carroway, very good. Then I wish you well with your foray back into society.”

“I can hardly wait,” Edward muttered, his voice dripping with irony as he left the lieutenant and walked from the room.

Chapter Two

Titania was, for the first time, ready and prepared long before her two sisters. Her cousin was, from what the maid had said, being cajoled by Lady Whitehaven, as she had been before, which meant that there was still some time before they quit the house to make their way to Lord Mitchell’s ball.

It was to be their grand entrance back into society, and Titania found herself almost anxious with the anticipation of walking into the ballroom and seeing the crowd, hearing the music, and watching couples take to the floor. Of course, this had been meant to be their second ball of the Season, but ever since her fainting fit outside the house some four days ago, her mother had insisted that she rest. Titania had tried to protest but had not garnered the support of her sisters nor of her cousin, since they were all quite glad that they would not have endure the London Season for some days yet. That had been most frustrating, for there had almost been a look of delight in Merry and Catherine’s eyes as they had steadfastly agreed with their mother that Titania should rest and that they, as a family, should remain at home until Titania was strong enough to return.

Frustrated, Titania shook her head to herself and rose from her chair by the fire to wander to the drawing room window. A slight shiver caught her as she recalled what she had seen the last time she had looked out at this particular scene, remembering the horror that had washed over her as she saw the man falling to the ground, enduring such a vicious attack that she had not known what to do other than attempt to prevent it in some way.

It had been quite ridiculous to run from the house in her underthings and covered only with a dressing gown. Now that she reflected upon it, Titania realized just how foolish she had been, for it had been as though she had run directly into the welcoming arms of danger. The man with the knife had advanced upon her without hesitation, and she had found herself deeply afraid that he would cut her heart from her chest. Yes, she had found the courage to fight against him in an attempt to prevent him from doing what he had said, but had it not been for her rescuer, then Titania had very little idea of what might have occurred. Would she have been held somewhere at the murderer’s leisure? Or would she too have been found the following morning, lying dead on the street?

She closed her eyes tightly as another shudder ran through her. It did not bear thinking about.

Opening her eyes, Titania let out a long breath and thought about what she had discovered when she had awoken. Her hand had been held tightly in a fist, even when she had struggled with unconsciousness, as though she knew she would need to hold onto whatever it was that was within. Once she had been left alone, she had opened her hand and had stared down at the small vial, with the remains of a cord tied to it. Had the murderer been wearing this about his neck? Was it of some importance to him? Would it somehow lead her to discover who the murderer was? All sorts of questions had plagued her mind, and she had been unable to prevent herself from thinking of the situation for a good many hours, wondering whom she might tell of this small vial. Of course, given that she had made a promise to the stranger who had saved her from the murderer, she had quickly realized that the only person she could share this item with was that man himself – although she had very little idea as to whom he was. Her eyes had been so blurred with fatigue, fright, and relief that she had struggled to make out his features and could only recall a pair of eyes searching her own features, as though desperate to discover some secret she held deep within her.

“It seems we are ready at last.”

Titania turned quickly, thrusting away the last of her thoughts as she greeted her mother. “Then Dinah is to attend with us?”

“She is.” Lady Whitehaven’s lips were pulled tight, her expression dark as she beckoned to Titania. “Your sisters are prepared and ready. Come now, we must go. I intend to have a little enjoyment this evening, even if your cousin is determined to make certain that I do nothing but cajole and argue with her!”

Titania, who wished that her sisters and cousin could find some enjoyment from the Season and that they would look forward to such events, sighed her agreement and took her mother’s arm. “I do not understand it, Mama.”

“Nor do I,” Lady Whitehaven said, with earnest. “Have they not seen the joy on your sister Eliza’s face, now that she is wed and settled?” She shook her head, walking along the corridor towards the front of the house. “I am aware that Eliza’s courtship was not particularly easy, but it brought about a very satisfactory ending, did it not?”

“It did,” Titania agreed, smiling to herself as she remembered how joyous Eliza had been when she had informed them all that she was now engaged to Lord Avondale. “One that I hope that I, too, can find for myself.”

“I am quite certain you shall,” Lady Whitehaven said with alacrity. “For you, at the very least, will capture the attention of some of the finest gentlemen in all of London, simply by your smiles and your willingness to engage in conversation. They will see you as open and willing to accept their interest – which is more than I can say for your sisters.” She arched one eyebrow as they reached the carriage, where Merry, Catherine, and Dinah were already waiting. None of them bore any smiles but instead appeared to be quite put out about going to one of the most wonderful balls of the Season. Titania could not help but laugh at their dull expressions, rolling her eyes at Merry as they approached the carriage.

“Do try and appear to be enjoying yourself this evening, Merry,” she chided, as they climbed into the carriage. “There may be a particular gentleman who catches your eye, might there not?”

“I hardly think so,” Merry replied with a sigh. “I shall make no attempt to catch their eye either.”

Shaking her head, Titania sat back in her seat and allowed herself a long, heavy sigh. It was going to be the most wonderful evening, just as long as her sisters did not make matters difficult for her with their bored expressions and lack of interest in anything other than returning home.

* * *

“It is very good to meet you, Miss Wells.”

Titania blushed furiously, unable to help herself. The Earl of Huckleby was charming, handsome, and apparently more than a little interested in making her acquaintance. She had seen his eyes resting on her with interest as she had danced with another gentleman, but given that they had not been introduced, he had not been able to approach her. Now, however, he had discovered an acquaintance who knew Titania well and was, therefore, able to make introductions.

“I must ask, Miss Wells, whether or not you have a spot remaining on your dance card,” Lord Huckleby said, with a slight twinkle in his dark brown eyes. “I know that I will probably find myself rather unfortunate in this, for it is already a good hour into the ball and most gentlemen of wisdom will have sought you out in order to claim a dance with you.”

Titania felt her cheeks burn all the more, smiling up at Lord Huckleby with something akin to admiration. The way he spoke to her, with such a confident yet hopeful air made her think well of him, even though they had not long been introduced. It was clear that he had no hesitation in seeking out what it was he wanted. She thought him more than a little handsome, for his dark brown eyes seemed to glow at the edges as he looked at her, a smile on his lips. His brown hair was neat, his clothing of the highest fashion. With broad shoulders, a strong back, and a firm jaw, he carried himself with all the dignity that befitted his title.

“I believe that you may find yourself lucky this evening, Lord Huckleby,” she replied, surprised to find herself a little breathless. “I have but one dance remaining.” She held out her card to him and felt her breath catch as he took it from her, looking at it carefully.

“But it is the waltz, Miss Wells!” he exclaimed, looking at her with surprise. “Are you truthfully stating that none of the gentlemen of your acquaintance have, as yet, chosen this particular dance?” He shook his head, tutting, as though they were more than foolish. “That will not do. I must take it, Miss Wells, if you would be willing to dance with me?”

“I would be glad to step onto the floor with you, Lord Huckleby,” she replied, honestly. “And the waltz is one of my favorite dances, I confess.”

He grinned at her; his dark eyes alight. “I am looking forward to it already, Miss Wells.”

“As am I,” she murmured, aware that her sister Merry, who was standing next to her, was showing not even the slightest interest in any of the gentlemen around them. She had been introduced to Lord Huckleby also but had said nothing more than a brief ‘good evening’. It was not a behavior nor an attitude that Titania could understand. She noticed her sister’s gaze becoming fixed and, following her, looked across the room to see a gentleman standing in the shadows, not looking at anyone in particular and certainly not speaking to another soul.

Titania grinned. “You think he is similar to you, do you not?” she said pointedly, jerking her head in the fellow’s direction. “I do not know who he is, I confess it, else I would introduce you!”

Merry sighed heavily, as though Titania was being quite ridiculous. “Do not be idiotic, Titania. I do not wish to be introduced to that particular gentleman.”

Lord Huckleby, who had been listening to this exchange with interest, now glanced behind him. “Ho!” he exclaimed, turning back to Merry and Titania. “Are you speaking of the fellow who is standing as though attempting to hide himself from everyone whilst remaining in sight?”

Titania, who thought this a very expressive way of putting it, nodded fervently. “He must be rather tall, given that I can see him quite clearly through the crowd,” she said slowly, nudging Merry. “But he is not engaging with anyone in any way. I confess I am quite intrigued!”

Lord Huckleby chuckled. “Then I must hope that I am not to be wiped from your dance card, Miss Wells!” he replied, as she smiled at him. “But I fear that once I tell you of him, you will not think him so intriguing any longer.”

“Oh?” Titania murmured, attempting to appear not as interested as she now was. “Is there something wrong?”

Lord Huckleby leaned a little closer, as if he wanted to speak in quieter tones, and even Merry was caught by his words.

“That is Viscount Carroway,” he said softly. “No one knows how he came by his title, estate, nor his fortune, for the rumor is that he was taken from an orphanage and sent to Eton by a mysterious benefactor.”

Titania blinked in surprise. “Is that so?” she murmured, astonished to hear that a gentleman such as this would have any standing in society whatsoever. “But he is titled, as you say?”

Lord Huckleby nodded. “Oh, the papers are quite correct. Most people believe that someone purchased that particular title for him and ensured that he received the correct training and education suitable for a gentleman.”

“But why would someone do such a thing?” Titania asked, knowing that her sister would remain utterly silent and would not ask a single question. “Out of some sort of loyalty?”

A grin spread across Lord Huckleby’s handsome face, his eyes glinting. “You have a quick wit indeed, Miss Wells!” he exclaimed. “That is precisely the belief. Some say that he is the illegitimate son of a duke, who—in his guilt—could not allow the child to remain in the orphanage. Therefore, he did all of this so that his son would grow up to have something of a title, although nothing close to a dukedom!” He chuckled and shook his head. “It may all be rumor, of course, but there must be a truth hidden within it somewhere, I think.”

Next to her, Merry let out a short sigh, as though everything Lord Huckleby had said was to be easily and quickly dismissed. Titania did not feel her interest die away however, clinging to each part of the story and finding herself filling with more and more questions.

“He is known to be something of a rascal when he chooses it,” Lord Huckleby finished, stepping back. “But he will not do anything such as converse with ladies of the ton, nor dance with them as he ought. In fact, he stays away from society a good deal, which is why it is rather astonishing to see him present here today.” He shrugged. “Mayhap he has decided to seek out another rich young widow for his own purposes.”

Titania’s stomach dropped to her toes at this, suddenly finding herself quite disgusted with this Lord Carroway. To be a rake was one thing, but to attempt to prey on young widows was quite another. Some of them, she was aware, would be more than a little eager to accept his attentions, whilst others would wish to remain as far from him as possible. “Surely he would not make himself so obvious and apparent as to do so here,” she commented quietly, glancing at Merry who had turned her face away in disgust. “That cannot be the case.”

Lord Huckleby lifted one eyebrow and Titania felt herself blush all over again.

“Not that I disbelieve you, of course,” she said quickly, as though she knew that he could be trusted—even after such a short acquaintance. “It just seems particularly brazen.”

“Mayhap that is the sort of gentleman he is,” Lord Huckleby suggested, with another glance in the direction of Lord Carroway. “I will say, in order to clarify my remarks, that such comments and suggestions about the fellow are nothing more than rumor. They may very well be wrong, but as I see him standing there, as I see him plotting and considering – and with the knowledge that I have about how he keeps himself from the ton, I must believe that there is something to the rumors that surround him.”

Titania nodded, finding that, even though she was a little disgusted that a gentleman should so eagerly be pursuing a widow for his own pleasures, she was somewhat intrigued by the gentleman. Her mind was whirling with questions, making her wonder which of the rumors and the whispers being spoken about Lord Carroway might be true and which might be entirely false.

“I look forward to our waltz later this evening, Miss Wells,” Lord Huckleby said with a short bow. “But now I am called to Miss Stone’s side for the cotillion. Do excuse me.”

“But of course,” Titania murmured, bobbing a quick curtsy and letting her eyes continue to follow Lord Huckleby as he walked away from them in search of his dance partner. She sighed contentedly, thinking that Lord Huckleby was both handsome, rich, and titled and should she be able to secure his courtship, then she would be indeed the luckiest young lady in all of London!

“You are being studied, Titania.”

Pulled from her thoughts, she glanced up at her sister to see her looking back at the gentleman they now knew to be Lord Carroway. Titania looked over also, only to catch Lord Carroway’s gaze and see him studying her with a deep intensity that, as the moments went on, continued to make her a little unsettled. For whatever reason, she could not look away from him.

And then, much to her surprise, Lord Carroway smiled, dropped his hands to his sides and, with a small inclination of his head towards her, turned away. Titania felt a ripple run down her spine as she watched him move away, surprised at his strange behavior. She did not know him and certainly had never been introduced to him, so why had he done such a thing?

“You have not managed to capture him then.”

Merry’s voice held a slight mocking tone.

“He has not come towards you and sought a dance,” she continued, as Titania glanced up at her sharply. “That must be very difficult for you when you are so eager to garner as much attention as possible.”

Titania lifted her chin, a spike of anger coursing through her. “I must try and help my sisters in any way I can,” she told Merry, seeing her sister frown. “For how else are you to be introduced to anyone?” And, so saying, she turned on her heel and moved away from Merry, suddenly finding the atmosphere to be a little cloying. Yes, she was looking forward to her dance with Lord Huckleby, but the strange exchange with Lord Carroway had unsettled her somewhat.

Determined that she would not allow him to spoil what was left of the evening, Titania soon found herself caught up in another gentleman’s arms as they took to the floor for the quadrille. It did not matter to her whether or not Lord Carroway paid her any attention, she told herself, smiling up into the face of one Lord Brinkley. She had Lord Huckleby’s attention and that, indeed, would be more than enough to satisfy her.

Chapter Three

“I did not expect you to attend this evening.”

Lieutenant James chuckled dryly as Edward approached. “But do you not know that Lord Mitchell and I did, at one time, fight alongside one another?” He chuckled, looking steadily back at Edward. “Upon the death of his brother, he was forced to return and take up the title and the responsibilities and the like, whereas I must continue on with my chosen profession.” He shrugged. “Although that does not mean that, upon occasion, I cannot enjoy an evening such as this!” He looked all about him, as though he had not seen as much grandeur and splendor as this before. “I was glad to be invited—for it meant that I would have the opportunity to speak to you about certain matters.”

“Oh?” Edward was surprised, having thought that his specific duties were simply to ensure that the young lady who had seen the murder and fought off the murderer would do as she had promised and remain silent about the matter. “What is it that could not wait until two days hence, when we were next due to meet?”

A glint appeared in Lieutenant James’s eye, and he leaned a little closer, speaking with a confidential air. “It is to do with Ravel, Carroway.”

A snake wriggled up Edward’s spine upon hearing this news.

“One of the other men in our particular service has been able to…shall we say, converse with another gentleman who works for the French,” Lieutenant James continued, looking at Edward steadily. “The information was extricated somewhat slowly, but it appears that Ravel is here solely to attempt to bring some sort of disaster to the royal family.”

“To the prince regent?” Edward stated, his eyes flaring with surprise. “I am well aware that the king himself is unwell, so what further trouble does Ravel intend to bring?”

Lieutenant James hesitated, his eyes darting away. “I cannot say that I know specifically,” he replied quietly, looking back at Edward. “But the country is already troubled by the loss of the king and the ruling of his son, and I can imagine that any further difficulties might weaken England somewhat. If trouble comes to the royal family, then men will be taken away from the fighting and sent to all manner of places within the kingdom, so that they might protect the royal family and prevent any further incidents. The strength of England could well be weakened.”

“Therefore, we must be more than careful,” Edward murmured, his mind suddenly alive with interest. “And we must find Ravel.”

“We must,” the lieutenant agreed. “But how we are to find such a man when we do not even know his face? It is, as you well know, rather difficult.”

Edward bit his lip and nodded, looking away from his lieutenant and out across the crowded floor. Ravel might be here in person and Edward would never know. Whilst he had been chasing the fellow throughout London for many months, the truth was that Edward had never clearly seen his face. Ravel was, from what he could recall, tall with dark hair – and that was all he knew of him. Aside from which, whenever Edward was close to capturing him, whenever Edward was only a fraction too late to place his hands on Ravel and take him to the lieutenant, the man had always left a small token behind

A button.

It would always be the same. A large, brown button would be left behind somewhere for Edward to find. And, should he turn it over to the back, he would find a tiny initialed ‘R’ waiting there for him, mocking him that he had not, as yet, been able to capture the illusive French spy.

“I am quite certain that he will appear as English as you or I,” he began, but the lieutenant held up one hand.

“Are you quite certain, Carroway, that this man Ravel is French?”

Edward frowned, blinking slowly, as he tried to take in what the lieutenant meant. “Are you questioning whether or not I know the truth about the spy we call Ravel?” he asked, lines burrowing into his brow.

“I am,” the lieutenant said, a trifle more loudly now as the music from the orchestra began to waft across the room. “What is it that you know of him, precisely?”

Pausing, Edward dredged up every last little bit of information he could recall. “The man known as ‘Ravel’ has been spoken of by many of the spies we have already captured,” he said firmly, seeing the lieutenant nod. “He is spoken of as being the greatest spy in all of France – except that he is now here in England. Where Ravel leads, the other spies will follow.”

“So you think him the sort of man to lead a group of spies, instead of being led by one,” the lieutenant said, his own eyes holding a glint of steel. It was clear to Edward that Lieutenant James despised Ravel and his intentions towards the royal family. “He is the one who will come up with the plan instead of allowing it to be led by another.”

“That is precisely it,” Edward agreed. “He mocks us by leaving this button of his for us to find. Right when we think we have him, he eludes us. On two occasions, I believe I have seen him, but it was in the midst of a crowd and I could not get to him.” Even now, the memories goaded him. “I will not let him get to the prince regent.” His frown lifted, as he glanced at the lieutenant. “This man that was captured. Are you quite certain that he can tell us nothing more?”

“He is dead,” the lieutenant said bluntly. “So I fear he has nothing more he can tell us.”

Edward smirked ruefully. “Then we must put all of our efforts into seeking out this fellow,” he said, seeing the lieutenant nod. “I will do as you have asked and ensure that I discover the young lady’s name and attempt to make sure that she is not a gossip nor a lover of the rumor mill. I have not, as yet, heard any whispers about a murder nor about a lady out in her night things.” He arched an eyebrow as the lieutenant shot him a quick glance. “I have begun to consider that it is in the young lady’s interests to remain silent about the incident,” he continued swiftly. “For she will not wish her reputation to be smudged, and revealing that she was out of doors, alone and unchaperoned, would surely raise questions over her character. Therefore, I have no reason to believe that she will say a word.”

The lieutenant nodded but fixed Edward with his gaze. “You must, at the very least, discover her name,” he said firmly. “That way, we will know if it is from her that any rumor stems.”

“Of course,” Edward agreed, thinking that he would not find it too difficult to recognize the young lady again. Even in the gloom of that night, he had well been able to make out her features. “I shall go and do so now. She is certain to be here, being a young lady of the ton, for this evening’s ball is a highlight of the beginning of the Season.”

The lieutenant cleared his throat and nodded, turning away to allow Edward the space to move about the guests. He looked from left to right as he moved slowly through the room, not once stopping to talk to anyone or so much as greet them. His eyes roved from one face to the next, his ears catching the trills of laughter that came from various directions. There were a great number of guests here, and to try and find one face in amongst the crowd would be a more difficult task than he had first imagined.

Perhaps you ought to remain still.

The thought was a good one and so, ensuring that he was not standing in the middle of the floor so that he would not be caught up by dancing couples, Edward remained perfectly still and let his eyes travel from left to right. It was a fairly good vantage point, being near the center of the room but to the back of it, and since he was tall, it allowed him to take in more than a shorter gentleman might have been able to.

No one caught his attention. The music started as another dance began to take place and Edward focused his mind on looking at each and every young lady in the dance. None of them were the lady in question.

A trifle frustrated, Edward let out a long breath of frustration and wondered if there was an easier way to go about this task. He could not think of anything other than returning to the street where he had first come upon the lady. That would not, however, give him the name of the lady who resided within, not unless he wished to rap loudly on the door and demand that he be told the names of all who lived there. Most likely, he would be thrown from the house! No, he could not even imagine doing such a thing.

Sighing heavily to himself, Edward heard the loud voice of one Lord Huckleby coming towards him. Groaning inwardly, he allowed his gaze to travel towards the gentleman, seeing him bowing to two ladies. The first had dark hair and the second had a cascading pile of reddish bronze curls running down her back. He could not easily make out their faces and found himself turning his eyes away from Lord Huckleby. He did not much care for the fellow, although he considered the man to be an acquaintance. The gentleman was loud and a little brash for Edward’s liking, as though he fully intended to make as much use of his title, fortune, and wit as he could. Every young lady of the ton was eager for his attentions, it seemed, and he was more than happy to share them. The way the beau monde hung onto his every word was deeply frustrating for Edward, thinking that Lord Huckleby was everything Edward despised about London society.

Turning his head, Edward fixed his gaze elsewhere and forced his mind back to his current task. He meant to find the young lady from that evening some days ago. That was all he need do. He did not need to consider Lord Huckleby nor his own dislike for the ton. All he needed to do was find her.

However, for whatever reason, Edward found himself almost desperate to glance back in that particular direction. He had no reason to do so, particularly when he disliked the fellow so, but perhaps it came from an urge to see what young ladies the man had caught this time, or perhaps a jealousy that Lord Huckleby could manage to garner so much attention without so much as batting an eye. Regardless, Edward turned his head to satisfy his own curiosity, only to see the redhaired young lady’s profile come into view.

Something jolted within him. Something that told him that this young lady was the one he was seeking.

Turn your head a little more, he whispered inwardly, urging her silently to turn around so that he might see her face. Show me whether or not I have found the answer to my searching.

He saw the other young lady say something to the redheaded one and, after a moment, she turned to face him.

Edward’s heart forgot how to beat. He stood there, frozen in place, staring into the face of one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever laid eyes on. It was, of course, the young lady he had seen that night, the young lady he had been forced to lay down on the doorstep and hurry away from, but he had not remembered her to be so overwhelmingly lovely. Her oval face was alive with interest, her eyes fixed on his – and Edward found himself longing to know what color her eyes were. Her lips were slightly parted, as though she was surprised by his gaze, and a faint bloom of color was rising in her cheeks.

He could barely breathe at the sight of her.

At least you know what you must do now, he told himself. You must discover her name, and no doubt, a good many gentlemen will wish to become acquainted with a beauty such as she.

The urge to go to her and to introduce himself – as improper as it was – overtook him, and it took some considerable effort for Edward to throw it aside. He could not do such a thing, he knew, and from her appearance, it did not seem as though she remembered him. That was good, he supposed, and whilst he knew that he should make every effort to remain distant from her, he found that his heart wished for quite the opposite.

A warning sounded in his mind as she turned a little more towards him. Knowing that he could not linger, Edward allowed himself one moment more before dropping his hands to his sides, a smile spreading across his face as he took her in. And then, without warning, he turned away and walked through the crowd, losing her from his sight.

Wandering through the crowd, Edward allowed himself to consider the beautiful redhaired young lady once more. She was quite extraordinarily beautiful and, given that he had witnessed her attempting to fight off the murderer that night, he knew that she had a good deal of strength and mettle within her.

“Quite the young lady,” he murmured to himself, still a little taken aback with the strength of his own reaction upon seeing her. The way his heart had quickened, the way his spirits had flung themselves to the stars was more than a little astonishing, since he had never experienced such a thing before.

“I am indeed a lucky fellow this evening.”

Edward frowned as the voice of Lord Huckleby came near to him as he continued to pick his way across the ballroom.

“You are not lucky, old boy; you are handsome, titled, and wealthy,” said one of Lord Huckleby’s companions. “Just whose attention have you captured this time?”

Edward slowed his steps and turned his head, seeing Lord Huckleby standing just to Edward’s left. He did not see Edward.

“I am to dance with Miss Titania Wells this evening,” he said, with a broad grin. “That delightful young lady caught my eye the moment I set foot in this place, and it has been my intention to seek her out for a dance this evening – and, you shall be glad to know that I have succeeded!”

His friend let out a bark of laughter. “As though such a thing could ever be in question!” he said, shaking his head. “She is quite delightful, I will concur with you there. See how the gentlemen of the ton seek her out?”

Lord Huckleby nodded, his smile fading somewhat. “The prettiest daughter of the late Marquess of Whitehaven is no small prize, I confess it,” he murmured, sending a flurry of anger down Edward’s spine – although quite why he felt that way, he did not know. “But I am certain that I have secured her interest.”

Edward stepped away, not needing to hear anything more. He had discovered the name of the young lady—and that was all he needed for now. He did not need to wonder why he felt so irate over Lord Huckleby’s words, nor did he need to question the gentleman’s motives. It was not as though he himself were seeking a bride! He had more than enough to keep him occupied without feeling the urge to secure a wife for himself. Yes, he was drawn to Miss Wells, and yes, she was markedly beautiful, but that was as far as he would allow his fascination to go. He could not let her continue to dog at his mind, not when he had Ravel to consider.

“Miss Wells,” he murmured to himself, the name rolling around his mouth for a moment. “Miss Titania Wells.” A sense of satisfaction crept over him as he made his way to the door. There was no need to linger here, not any longer. He had discovered the name of his lady—and, for the time being, that was all he needed to do. Finally, he could return home and take himself away from the society that he disliked so very much. This evening’s endeavors were over.

Chapter Four

“I hardly think you have anything to complain about, Titania.”

Titania stiffened. “I am not complaining, Dinah.”

Her cousin sniffed and looked away. “It sounds as though you are, Titania, and does the Bible not clearly tell us that we are meant to be grateful for all that we have been given?”

Closing her eyes for a moment, Titania drew in a steadying breath, so that she would not send a harsh jibe back to her cousin. She knew full well that Dinah was extremely pious and believed that Titania was wrong in almost everything that she did. This included the fact that Titania had attempted to – and had been very successful in – garnering the attention of as many gentlemen as she could earlier that evening.

“As I have said, Dinah,” Titania said, controlling herself with an effort. “I am not complaining about last evening. I am simply stating that I found it most unusual that one gentleman in particular, to whom I am not acquainted, simply looked at me, smiled, and then walked away. That is all.”

Merry, who was sitting idly in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, her foot bouncing in a most unladylike manner, let out a small snort of disbelief. “I hardly think that you need to consider such a thing as that, Titania,” she said, with a slight sigh. “After all, you were practically a diamond of the first water this evening! Almost every gentleman present came to seek you out.”

Titania rolled her eyes at this, knowing that Merry was exaggerating, and made no attempt to hide her irritation. “You are teasing me, but I will not pretend that I did not like the attention I received, Merry. I am quite certain that I saw you watching a few gentlemen with interest also, even though you claim that you have no desire to engage yourself in things such as dancing and conversing with titled gentlemen.” She arched one eyebrow and saw Merry flush. “Why do you not avail yourself to them? Why not show that you are, in fact, quite interesting and willing to be courted? I am certain that you would not then return home in such an unsuccessful manner.”

Merry’s flush deepened, her eyes flashing angrily. “I was not unsuccessful,” she stated, grasping the arms of the chair and leaning towards Titania in her anger. “I enjoyed this evening as best as I could, whilst ensuring that you did not make a fool of yourself by being so obviously overeager with almost every gentleman that approached you!” She narrowed her eyes, fixing Titania with her furious gaze. “This may come as something of a surprise to you, Titania, but I do not wish to be as you are. I do not wish to throw myself at whatever gentleman so much as looks at me, and I certainly do not wish to fill my head with questions over why one particular gentleman did not show me the interest I feel I deserve!”

So saying, she got to her feet and, without another word, flung the door open and strode from the room. The sound of her footsteps hurrying along the corridor echoed up towards Titania, leaving her feeling a sudden sense of guilt.

“I think I, too, shall retire.”

Titania, who had forgotten that Dinah was present, jumped in surprise.

“I find that your company is a little lacking,” Dinah continued, with a small sniff. “To complain about one gentleman ignoring you does indeed show a sense of arrogance and selfishness that does not behoove you, Titania. Good evening.”

Titania turned and walked to the window as Dinah left the room, her hands curling into fists as she fought against her own anger and frustration. It did not make sense in her own mind either, she realized, for to be considering the inattention from Lord Carroway instead of being delighted with the many dances and conversations she had enjoyed with others certainly did not make a great deal of sense. However, for whatever reason, she could not remove the very strange behavior of Lord Carroway from her mind. Why had he smiled at her in such a manner? Why had he then turned his head and left, choosing not to approach her or seek an introduction from another? It had been very odd, and she should have thrown it from her mind almost at once, but—for whatever reason—she had been quite unable to do so. And now she had upset Merry and allowed Dinah’s sharp words to sting at her heart. It was all quite wearying.

“I should perhaps retire also,” she murmured, turning away from the window and letting her gaze flick around the room. She was the only one still awake, it seemed, for her mother and Catherine had retired the very moment they had set foot in the house, and now Dinah and Merry were gone also. As tired as she was, Titania did not feel settled enough to retire, for her mind was still alive with questions and thoughts that would not give her any peace whatsoever.

Her eyes strayed to the letter that had been discarded on the table nearby. It was a letter from her brother, Grayson, who was now the new Lord Whitehaven. She had only given it a cursory glance when it had arrived earlier that day and had let her sisters read it first. Perhaps she should do so now, in the hope that her mind would quieten.

Sighing heavily, Titania meandered towards the table and picked up the letter, practically falling into a chair by the fire. Sitting slumped, one leg crossed over the other, and with the certainty that no one would arrive and find her as such, Titania began to read.

Grayson was continuing on at the estate and with all his many duties and responsibilities. He wrote of some of them, stating that the improvements to the tenant’s homes were taking more time than he had thought, but aside from that, all seemed to be going well. The crops would give them a good yield, he believed, and thus, he was quite content. This did not interest Titania very much, and she was about to set the letter aside and make her way to bed when a word or two caught her eye.

‘You must be on your guard, my dear sisters,’ Grayson had written. ‘I have some acquaintances in London who have informed me that there are some of those dastardly French amongst you all. You must be on your guard.”

Despite the warning, Titania felt a sudden thrill of excitement run down her spine. Spies? In the midst of London? Of course, surely none of them would be titled gentlemen, which meant that she had no particular need to concern herself, but she would have to ensure that she remained vigilant when walking through the London streets or the like. Not that she thought they would care much for her, given that she had no connection whatsoever to the army or any gravitas as regarded matters of state! A small smile crossed her lips as she continued to read Grayson’s letter, glad that her brother was showing such concern for his sisters, cousin and mama, even though they would not be in any particular danger.

The letter finished with a few words of encouragement, with Grayson stating that he hoped that they would all have an enjoyable Season and that Merry and Catherine would do their utmost to please their mother. This, Titania knew, was a gentle reminder to her sisters that they needed to show even a smidgen of delight at being amongst society and that they needed to grasp one or two opportunities, even if they did not truly wish to. There was no concern for her, of course, for Grayson knew all too well that Titania was already eager to take part in society and was hopeful of finding a suitor.

At this thought, Titania found her mind returning, once more, to Lord Carroway. Closing her eyes in frustration, she rose to her feet and threw the letter back down upon the table, irritated that, once again, she had allowed her thoughts to return to him when her initial desire had been to wipe him from her memory altogether. She did not want to think of him, did not want to let her mind fill with questions over him again. Perhaps her sisters were correct to state that she was behaving poorly by complaining. After all, she had received a good deal of attention from some wonderful gentlemen, including Lord Huckleby! If he were to court her, if he were to take a true interest in her, then she would have no need to consider Lord Carroway nor any other gentleman, for he would more than satisfy her every hope. If she were to be his bride, then she would be content for the rest of her days!

“So why, then, do I consider the one gentleman who did not come to seek me out?” she murmured aloud, getting to her feet and wandering to the window. Looking out into the darkness, she let her mind travel back over the letter her brother had written, feeling a twinge of excitement over the idea that someone, somewhere, was a spy for the French. She could barely imagine what they might look like, wondering if they would skulk about in the shadows or walk through London with their hat pulled so low that it would be more than difficult for anyone to see their face.

Or, it could be that Grayson was simply over exaggerating and had—as she was in danger of doing at this very moment—allowed his imaginings to run free without any thought of holding them back.

Smiling to herself, Titania let out a long breath and told herself that she need not be so foolish. There was no danger of such things as spies, not amongst the beau monde. All she needed to concentrate on was the Season and all the many wonderful occasions she would soon be attending.

As she was just about to turn away from the window so that she might retire, Titania suddenly caught sight of something. Her eyes narrowed, her breath catching as she stared out into the darkness, not quite certain what it was she had seen. There had been something there, yes, something she was certain she had seen moving, but as yet, she could not say what it was. Frowning, she wrapped her arms about her waist and looked again, feeling nervousness climb into her stomach and begin to rest there. Perhaps she had been mistaken. Perhaps there was no one present at all and her mind was simply working much too quickly for her own good.

And then, she saw it again. A figure stepping back from the house, looking up at it with his hands at their hips. In the darkness, she could not make out his face nor anything about the person, but the person’s study of the house and, mayhap, of her, gave her a terrible fright. Her skin began to crawl as the figure drew close to the house, leaving Titania afraid that, somehow, in some way, this person might make it inside. She had no particular idea of what the person’s intentions were, nor did she know what it was he sought, but the fear that he would somehow manage to make it inside caught at her heart.

Looking over her shoulder, Titania hurried towards the fire and began to put it out as best she could so that very little of the fire’s glow remained. The hot coals still burned red and orange, but no flames reached up with long, yellow fingers. Sweat beaded on Titania’s forehead as she put out each and every candle, save one, her fingers trembling as she put the dampener on top of each flame. It was as though the man outside was still watching her, as though his gaze could reach her even as she hurried about the room. Sweat trickled down her spine as she edged back to the window, looking out cautiously and half expecting to see the man’s face appear at the window.

A gasp emitted from her chest as she saw the man step back again from the house, turning his head to look at another figure who was approaching. And then, without any warning, he turned and fled – and the second figure pursued him at once. They were gone in a moment, nothing more than two shadows eaten up by the darkness.

Titania let out a breath of relief and sagged against the wall, knowing that, for whatever reason, the house was safe and secure. The first man was now being pursued by the second and surely that would be enough to deter him from returning and attempting to gain entry into the house a second time? Come the morning, Titania would ensure that she informed the butler about what she had seen, just in case a footman or two could be spared to stand watch overnight. For the time being, she would retire to bed and make sure to lock herself in carefully, hoping that such measures would help her mind to settle and allow her to rest.

Picking up the only remaining candle, Titania made her way slowly along the dark hallway to her bedchamber, trying not to jump at any shadows or tiny sounds that came from the resting house. All the same, she could not help but hurry, her footsteps quickening as she climbed the staircase to her bedchamber.

Thank you, she thought to herself, remembering the second figure and how he had chased after the first. I do not know your name nor what you were doing within this vicinity, but I thank you for what you have done this night.

Just as she climbed into bed, Titania was caught by an idea, her eyes widening slightly as she stared into the darkness. The man who had chased away the first this night – could it have been the very same man who had come to her aid the night she had seen the murder? A sudden chill ran over her, and she clutched at the bedsheets, feeling suddenly afraid. Who was that fellow? And why was he so often by her house? Swallowing hard and feeling her fear linger on, Titania threw herself down into her bed and pulled the covers up, right over her head, so that she was enveloped in the blankets. Curling herself up, she closed her eyes and tried to breathe calmly, allowing the sense of safety to wash over her. There was nothing to concern herself with, she reminded herself quietly. She was quite safe within the house. The door was locked, the front of the house bolted and secure. No one would be forcing their way inside tonight.

But why would they wish to enter in the first place? she asked herself, biting her lip for a moment. What if they are coming after me because of what I have seen?

It was an unpleasant thought, and despite her attempts to calm her spirits and quieten her heart, it took Titania many hours before she was able to fall into a deep yet restless sleep, where her dreams were filled with spies with ill intentions and of dark, shadowy figures that crept nearby, their eyes fixed upon her and their hearts filled with malice and discontent.

Chapter Five

It was quite ridiculous, Edward knew, but he could not get Miss Titania Wells from his mind. He had left the ball early, having thanked his host, but now found himself wandering through the London streets in the early hours of the morning, feeling quite lost in many ways. He ought to have returned home at once, ought to have ensured that he rested and ensured that he was fully prepared for tomorrow and what would come with it, but his mind would not allow him to do so.

It was, he told himself, simply because he could not be certain that Miss Wells would remain silent about what she had seen, given that he did not know a single thing about her character other than the fact that gentlemen seemed to seek her out. She had appeared quite eager to be known amongst them, for her smile had been always ready and her delight at being approached had been more than evident. He had not gone near to her, despite the urge to do so, but that did not mean that he had been able to set her aside from his mind in an easy fashion.

“You look rather discontented.”

Edward jumped in surprise, turning around to see a tall, thin gentleman walking towards him.

“And you have rather lost your touch, if you did not hear me approach,” the man continued, with a small smile. “Are you intending to go into Whites or are you just wandering around outside it?”

Edward grimaced, glancing over his shoulder to see that, yes, he was outside Whites, just as Baron Smallwood had said.

“Good evening, Smallwood,” he murmured, looking back at the baron. “I fear that you have caught me lost in thought this evening.” He managed a quick smile, knowing that the baron was also involved in all that Edward did. “I should be more on my guard however,” he agreed, feeling a sting of rebuke in his chest. “Ravel could be anywhere.”

The baron nodded slowly, his gaze a little more severe. “Indeed, he could be. I did hear what had occurred with Stirling. I am truly sorry.”

Edward nodded and looked away, glad that the darkness hid his true expression. “I shall miss him, I will confess it,” he admitted. “But if he was involved with Ravel and had lost his integrity and loyalty, then I cannot be sorry for what occurred.”

The baron cleared his throat. “We cannot know the truth,” he said quietly. “Stirling ran from his meeting with this particular spy, I understand?”

“He did.”

“Then mayhap his ‘companion’ had realized the truth,” the baron suggested. “Mayhap he realized that Stirling was not the gentleman he said he was. Mayhap he saw that Stirling was loyal to the crown and, as such, wanted to take his life from him.”

A flicker of interest caught in Edward’s mind. “That may be true.”

“The spy Stirling met still lives, I believe,” Baron Smallwood finished, lifting one eyebrow as Edward nodded. “And you do not know where he has gone?”

Rubbing his forehead, Edward gave the baron a jerky nod, aware of just how frustrating this statement was. “Indeed. He made to attack a young lady who had come from her house and witnessed the death of Stirling.” He swallowed hard, recalling how he had seen Stirling lying there on the ground. “She fought back at him, and I was able to protect her.”

The baron nodded again, his brow furrowing. “I should hope that the spy will not return to that house then,” he said slowly, sending a wave of fright through Edward. “If she has witnessed something severe, if she has seen his face, then surely he may wish to pursue her again to prevent her from speaking a single word.”

Edward considered this for a long moment, not wanting to jump to any quick judgements. “It was dark,” he said, frowning. “I did not think that the young lady had a good look at the murderer’s face, but now that you have mentioned it…” He trailed off, suddenly feeling a strong sense of urgency to return to Miss Wells’ home. “The lieutenant and I have been so concerned over the question as to whether or not she will speak of what she saw to anyone that we have quite forgotten to consider her safety.”

“Then I should consider it at once,” the baron replied quickly. “The house may be quite safe and the like, but if she were to step out alone, as she did before, then…” He trailed off, leaving the rest of his words unspoken, and Edward felt a jolt of fear capture his heart.

“I must go.”

He did not even hesitate, did not reach out to shake the Baron’s hand, but immediately began to hurry off into the darkness, realizing just how much he and the lieutenant had failed Miss Wells in their lack of consideration for her safety. They had been much too concerned with the belief that she might speak of what she had witnessed to others and had not once thought that the spy that had killed Stirling might return to end her life also.

* * *

It took Edward some time to reach the house given that there were no hackneys about and he had not had time to return home and call for his carriage. The house, at least, was sitting quietly with no evidence of anything untoward. Letting out a long, slow breath, Edward put his hands on his knees and dragged in air, trying to quiet his breathing and bring strength back to his limbs. Mayhap there was nothing to concern himself with. Mayhap he had allowed his fright to take much too great a hold of him. There was clearly nothing wrong at the present.

A light flickered in one of the windows, the drapes still pulled back. The young ladies might still be awake, having spent most of the evening at the ball, although he felt certain that they would retire soon. Perhaps he would remain here until the light faded or the drapes were closed, simply so that he might allow his heart to settle somewhat. In the meantime, he would wander along the street slowly, just to ensure that no one else was watching the house or had any nefarious intentions for the Wells family.

The darkness and the early hour made for a very quiet walk. Trying to make as little noise as possible, Edward walked slowly down the street, aware that most of the houses were fully encased in darkness. The residents were obviously already abed, just as he ought to be, and the silence that surrounded him brought his mind a good deal of peace. There was no one else about. No one else sneaking quietly towards the Wells family’s townhouse. Satisfied, Edward turned around and made his way back, thinking that he would allow himself one final glance at the house before returning home. He would address this matter to the lieutenant come the morrow and mayhap something could be done to ensure that the safety of Lady Whitehaven and her daughters was maintained.

His eyes narrowed suddenly as the sound of footsteps met his ears. His heart began to race as he moved slowly forward, seeing the Wells family’s townhouse on one side of the street and a small, shadowy figure on the other. A quick glance towards the house showed a young lady standing by the window, although he could not make her features out. The gentle glow from behind her told him that there was a fire burning in the fireplace, which made her presence in the window all the more apparent.

Suddenly, she disappeared. The glow from the window began to lessen, as though the young lady was aware that the light from the fire and from the candles made her presence within the house much too obvious. Had she seen the other man waiting outside the house?

Edward held himself back as he watched the man. He was gazing at the house, his eyes fixed on the window above. Was he watching the young lady? Was that all that had captured his attention? Edward frowned, aware that the man was not swaying or stumbling, which meant that he was not in his cups and therefore, not at all out of his senses. He was here deliberately, although for what reason, Edward did not know.

Something moved in front of the window again, catching Edward’s attention for the moment. The other fellow chuckled darkly under his breath, before beginning to advance towards the house – and Edward moved immediately.

The yelp of surprise from the man echoed down the street. Edward had leapt at him, using surprise to aid his attempt at capturing the fellow. Grasping at his coat, Edward planted him a facer, looking down into the man’s features, and did his best to make him out, but in the darkness, he found he could not.

“You’ll not save her,” the man rasped, making Edward’s blood burn hot all in one moment. “You can’t. We need her.”

Fear burst in Edward’s chest, but he shoved it away. “Leave her be,” he snarled, grasping the man’s collar and tugging him upwards so that he might plant another fist into his face in the hope that he might be knocked unconscious. “She has done nothing to you.”

Unfortunately for Edward, the man was stronger than he had first realized. Ducking out of Edward’s approaching fist, he then grasped Edward’s collar and, without hesitating, slammed his forehead into Edward’s face.

Pain seared its way across the bridge of Edward’s nose, forcing him to let out a howl of pain, his fingers loosening on the fellow’s coat. The man took the opportunity to twist away and began to run from the scene, reminding Edward of what had happened before.

I shall not let you escape this time, Edward said to himself, setting aside his pain and hurrying after the man. He was quite convinced that this was the very same gentleman that had been here the first time, given his intentions towards Miss Wells and the fact that he knew she had witnessed the murder. He had to catch the man this time. He could not allow him to escape.

The sound of a horse whinnying and a loud shout echoed down the street as Edward ran as hard as he could, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps. He rounded the gentle corner, only to come across a carriage stopped dead in the middle of the road. The driver was sitting, frozen, in his seat, his eyes fixed on a man lying by the side of the carriage, his features illuminated by the lanterns that the carriage held.

From within the carriage, Edward could hear a gentleman muttering something entirely incomprehensible and, as he glanced inside, saw a gentleman trying to keep his eyes open, swaying from side to side as he fought to retain his seat.

“You are taking your master home,” he said quickly, looking up at the driver who gave him a tiny nod. “This fellow, he—”

“He just ran out,” the driver stammered, his face pale in the dim light. “I didn’t see him, sir. I didn’t mean to do this!”

Edward nodded and tried to reassure the driver. “It was not your fault,” he said firmly, hoping that the driver would feel encouraged by this and not allow himself to fill with guilt. “Come now, we must get the body to—”

Having presumed that the man was dead, it came as a surprise to Edward to hear him groaning aloud. Edward dropped to his knees at once, looking down into the man’s face and seeing his eyes flicker open.

“What is it you want with Miss Titania Wells?” he asked, aware that the man had very little time left on this earth, given that blood was trickling slowly from the side of his mouth and that each breath seemed to be a great labor. “What is it that you seek from her?”

Nothing but a rasping breath met his questions, sending frustration flurrying through Edward’s veins.

“Why do you pursue her?” he asked again, wanting to grasp the man’s collar and shake him hard until he answered, but choosing to refrain from doing so. “What is it that you want? Is it because she saw your face? Is that what you fear?”

The man laughed horribly, his chuckle rattling through him. “She has it,” he whispered, his face contorted as he closed his eyes. “Ravel must have it back.”

Edward opened his mouth to demand more answers from the fellow, to know precisely what it was he spoke of, only for the man’s mouth to stretch into a wide smile and then fade away to nothing, his eyes closing completely and his whole body going limp.

The sounds of his rasping breath faded to nothing. It was clear that he was dead.

Closing his eyes, Edward slumped as he settled his hands in his lap, his irritation growing steadily. He certainly did not know what it was that Miss Titania Wells had in her possession that this man had referred to, nor had he any particular idea of when she had taken this unknown item. He was suddenly afraid that Miss Wells was involved with the French.

“Is he….?”

The question from the driver forced Edward to look up, his sigh answering the question.

“I shall deal with this matter,” he reassured the driver, aware that the poor fellow was trembling visibly. “Take your master home and do not allow any guilt to capture your heart and mind, good sir. I have absolute certainty that there is nothing about this incident that sends any guilt to your shoulders.”

The driver nodded, although he did not look convinced. His hands were still tight on the reins as he turned towards the horses again, trying to find the strength to do as Edward had asked.

“Shall you inform his family, sir?” he asked, as Edward rose to his feet. The driver’s voice was quavering, his fear more than apparent. “You’ll tell whomever it is that he belongs to?”

Edward’s voice was hard. “This fellow was nothing more than a French spy, my good man. You have nothing to concern yourself about.”

The driver’s eyes widened as he turned his head to stare at Edward.

“I can assure you it is quite true,” Edward promised, putting both hands behind his back. “You have helped bring to justice both a spy and a murderer, even though it was quite unintentional, I know.” He gave the driver a tight smile. “Off with you now. Take your master home.”

The driver cleared his throat, his expression still one of astonishment. “Of course, sir,” he muttered, clearly now feeling a little better. “And thank you, sir.”

Edward nodded and waited until the driver and the carriage had disappeared from sight before returning his attention back to the body of the spy. He would have to ensure that the body was removed and buried somewhere quiet, but, thankfully, he knew precisely whom to call upon. This was not the first time he had been required to do such a thing and certainly it would not be the last time either. With a deep breath, he reached down and grasped the dead man’s arms, pulling him towards the shadows in the hope that he would find some quiet, dark nook in which to place him. Then, he could make arrangements for the body to be removed.

“Just what is it that you have, Miss Wells?” he muttered aloud, his body burning with fatigue as he pulled the spy across the cobbled streets. “Why were they seeking you?” Part of him feared that Miss Wells was involved with the French, that she was deliberately encouraging the French, but he was doing his utmost to dismiss the idea. Most likely, she had something in her possession that she did not realize the significance of. Had she known Stirling? Was there a connection there he did not yet realize?

Sighing heavily, Edward pushed the body into a small alleyway, knowing that he only had a few hours in which to have it removed. His mind was working hard, trying to make sense of what he had discovered from the spy and wondering at the connection to Miss Titania Wells.

One thing was quite certain now however—as much as he had told himself he had no need to strike up any form of acquaintance with Miss Wells, he would now have to do precisely that. He had to discover more about her, had to protect her in any way he could. There was no other choice but to call upon her and ensure that their acquaintance grew steadily until he could be certain that she was both protected and not connected to the French in any way.

“Tomorrow,” he muttered to himself, hurrying along the street from whence he had come. “I shall write to her the morrow.”

It could not come soon enough.

Chapter Six

“Good gracious, Titania! This is quite ridiculous!”

Titania hid a smile as her mother walked into the drawing room, knowing that Lady Whitehaven was not at all displeased with what she saw.

“It seems that you had a very successful evening last night,” Lady Whitehaven continued, looking all about her and seeing the many wonderful bouquets of flowers that were practically on every surface. “Just how many have you received?”

Titania made to answer, only for there to come a scratch at the door. Lady Whitehaven called for them to enter and the footman appeared with yet another bunch of flowers and a small note, which he handed to Titania.

“This would be number twelve, Mama,” Titania replied, with a quick smile as the footman looked about himself rather helplessly. “You might put them in my rooms. In fact, do such a thing for any further gifts that arrive.”

The footman nodded and retreated from the room, leaving Titania with the note to read. Breaking the seal, she beamed as she read the words from Lord Huckleby, overwhelmed with delight that he had chosen to send her flowers and write her a beautiful note such as this.

“It seems this one in particular has caught your attention,” Lady Whitehaven commented, with a twinkle in her eye. “Might I know the name of this gentleman?”

Titania shrugged, trying to pretend that it did not mean as much as her mother believed. “It is only from one Lord Huckleby,” she said with a quick smile. “The Earl of Huckleby, I mean.”

Lady Whitehaven’s smile grew steadily. “That is marvelous, Titania. I congratulate you on your success then, for if an earl is eager to call upon you, then I would consider it to have been something of a victory on your part!”

Titania blushed, just as the door opened to admit her sisters and cousin. Merry and Catherine exchanged a glance as they looked all about them, whilst Dinah did not so much as comment, hurrying to sit down in a seat by the fire and opening her book at its place.

Titania resisted the urge to roll her eyes, knowing that Dinah was deliberately ignoring the flowers and the like because, most likely, it was wrong in her eyes for Titania to be so fawned over.

“I see you have garnered as much attention as you hoped, Titania,” Merry said dryly, sitting down opposite Dinah. “Despite your dissatisfaction with last evening.”

Lady Whitehaven looked at Titania sharply. “Dissatisfaction?”

Titania shot her sisters a warning look before smiling up at her mother. “I have nothing to complain about, Mama, truly,” she said honestly. “You need not have any concerns. Although,” she continued, smiling brightly, “might you come to sit with me this afternoon for any callers who might come by?”

Lady Whitehaven nodded fervently, her concern over Titania’s supposed dissatisfaction disappearing in a moment. “But of course, my dear girl,” she answered, before sending a long look in the direction of Merry and Catherine. “And I should be glad to sit with you both also, should there be any callers for you.”

Catherine let out a snort, which she did not apologize for nor try to hide. “I hardly think that you should expect anyone for either myself or Merry, Mama,” she said firmly. “Although we will sit with Titania also, if that is pleasing to you?”

Titania knew she could not refuse. “Very well,” she stated, as Lady Whitehaven began to make her way to the door. “I should be glad of your company.” She did not mean this—for, most likely, her sister would look at each gentleman caller with sharp, unrelenting eyes in the hopes of finding something that they could exclaim over to Titania later. Not that she would care, Titania told herself, lifting her chin as she looked back into Catherine’s sardonic expression. They could say what they wished, but she would make up her own mind.

“Very good,” Lady Whitehaven called, opening the door and throwing a smile over her shoulder. “I have one or two things to do before I return for afternoon calls. Pray, do something with your hair, Merry. You look quite wild!”

Titania allowed herself a small smile, as Merry muttered something about her hair being more than suitable—although Titania noticed that she rose to ring for the maid. Apparently, her sisters were taking on their brother’s advice and attempting to show some sort of gratitude for their mother’s kindness in taking them to London. She waited in silence for some minutes as her sisters looked back at her, waiting for them to comment about something, but their quiet was interrupted by a knock at the door. The footman entered, yet again, but this time he held only a small silver tray with a single letter on it.

“Do you mean to say that one of your suitors has not sent you a bouquet but only written?” Catherine said in mock astonishment, as Titania took the letter from the footman. “Good gracious! I hope his suit will be turned down immediately.”

Titania looked back at her sister calmly, breaking open the seal as she did so. “I do wish you would not be so callous, Catherine,” she said honestly. “I know you do not care for the Season and the like, but surely you need not mock my success?”

These words seemed to have some effect on Catherine—for her sister lapsed into silence, her expression a little guilty as she looked away. Titania held Merry’s gaze for a moment or two, wondering if she would have something to add to Catherine’s mockery, but to her surprise, she said nothing.

Looking down at the letter, Titania’s brows rose in astonishment as she read, hardly able to believe that the very gentleman she had been unable to remove from her mind was now writing to her with such boldness. He stated that, whilst he knew they had not been formally introduced, he was eager to call upon her and sought to do so that very afternoon.

“You look surprised, Titania,” Merry commented, her voice holding no ridicule whatsoever, but instead, a faint trace of worry. “I do hope nothing is written within to concern you.”

Titania hesitated, looking up at her sister and wondering if she should share the contents of the letter with them. Merry, at the very least, knew of Lord Carroway and certainly would understand her hesitation.

“Come now, Titania,” Merry said, now sounding truly concerned. “This is the first time I have seen you hesitate in such a manner. Is it from a gentleman? Or does it hold news that has troubled you in some way?”

Seeing that Merry’s expression was no longer filled with disdain, Titania drew in a long breath and looked down at the letter again. “It is from Lord Carroway,” she said without hesitation. “He wishes to call upon me, even though we have not been introduced.”

“Then you absolutely cannot allow him to do so,” Merry said fervently. “You and he have not been introduced! It would be most improper.”

Titania tilted her head and regarded her sister, thinking quickly. “Which makes his request all the more intriguing, does it not?” she murmured, aware that Merry frowned almost at once upon hearing this. “You cannot pretend that what was said about him last evening has not captured your attention!”

Merry threw a glance towards Catherine, who was looking rather confused given that she did not know anything about what had occurred last evening. “I should not like to think that Lord Huckleby’s warnings have gone without you giving them due consideration, Titania,” she said slowly. “Surely you must know that a rake such as Lord Carroway should not be given even a moment of your time!”

“A rake?” Catherine repeated, sounding a little confused. “How do you know this, Merry?”

Titania quickly explained. “Lord Carroway was present last evening, and Lord Huckleby spoke to us of him. It was rather strange that, thereafter, Lord Carroway watched me, smiled, and then turned away.” She shook her head to herself, biting her lip for a moment. “He did not seek an introduction, and now he wishes to call upon me without explanation.”

Catherine frowned hard; her eyes fixed upon Titania. “And you are considering accepting his request?” she asked, sounding a little cautious. “Are you sure that is wise, Titania? You know that Mama will not be at all pleased if you encourage such a gentleman’s company.”

“They may be nothing but rumors!” Titania protested, suddenly finding herself more than eager to meet with Lord Carroway. In fact, she was suddenly filled with excitement at the prospect. “There may be a simple explanation for his lack of introduction at the ball. After all, I constantly found myself in conversation and certainly did not lack for dance partners. It may be that he was simply unable to do so.” Rising to her feet with a sense of determination filling her, she hurried across to the writing desk and immediately began to pen a response. “And I shall ask him to call upon me tomorrow, when you may both be present. I shall ensure that Mama is busy elsewhere, so she will have nothing to concern herself with.”

A small chuckle came from Catherine who, unlike Merry, seemed to be finding the prospect of such a thing to be rather mirthful.

“What if he is boring and staid then?” she asked, getting up and wandering about the room. “What if, as you have said, the rumors are nothing more than that, and you find him to be entirely boring?”

Titania couldn’t help but laugh, ignoring Merry’s dark stare. “I hardly think that I should care about that,” she stated, as Catherine chuckled again. “If he is dull, then I need not see him again. That is all.”

“And what if he makes improper advances towards you?” Merry asked, her voice filled with warning. “What then?”

Titania lifted her head with a sigh of exasperation escaping from her lips. “I hardly think it will come to that, Merry, given that both yourself and Catherine shall be present with me,” she stated, quite calmly.

Merry bit her lip, a line forming between her brows. “I do not understand why you are so very keen to be introduced to this gentleman in such an improper manner,” she stated, her gaze still fixed on Titania. “What is it about him that captures you so, particularly when you have such attentions from many other gentlemen, including Lord Huckleby?”

Titania could not immediately answer, finding that she did not have a ready explanation. Her hand remained poised above the paper, her eyes drifting away from her sister, and she considered her response. Merry and Catherine said nothing, waiting for her to speak, but still, Titania could not find an easy explanation. How could she tell them that there had been something in his eyes that had caught her attention? How could she say that she had been unable to forget him since he had smiled at her and then walked away? How could she state that her mind had been filed with thoughts of him all through the previous evening and then again this morning?

“My goodness,” Catherine murmured, catching Titania’s attention. “You are bewitched I think, Titania!”

“No, indeed,” Titania replied, swiftly, aware of the color that was rising in her cheeks as she tried to dismiss her sister’s words. “I am simply intrigued by him, that is all.”

Merry lifted an eyebrow but said nothing more, shaking her head as she looked away. Catherine laughed softly and wandered to the window, the discussion seemingly brought to a close. Titania ignored them both as best as she could and instead turned her hand to writing her letter to Lord Carroway. Yes, she wrote, she would be glad if he would call upon her tomorrow afternoon for a short visit. Perhaps then, Titania thought to herself, as she signed her name, she might be able to remove this strange curiosity about the man from her mind and, thereafter, focus on the particular attentions of Lord Huckleby, who was infinitely the best match for her should he choose to pursue her.

Sealing the letter, Titania smiled to herself as she rose to ring the bell. A small ball of excitement settled in her stomach as she waited for the footman to arrive to carry the letter from her and to Lord Carroway. Just what were his reasons for wishing to call upon her? And would she find herself disappointed should it become apparent that the rumors about him were quite true? Or was there something even more exciting about being on close acquaintance with someone considered to be a rake?

Swallowing hard, Titania smoothed her gown and tried to settle her mind. She would have a busy afternoon given that she was expecting a good many gentleman callers. It would be best if she forgot about Lord Carroway entirely until the morrow. For the moment, she had a good many other gentlemen to entertain.

Chapter Seven

“You are quite certain?”

Edward nodded as he looked up at Lieutenant James. “Indeed,” he said, firmly. “He stated very clearly that he was seeking out Miss Titania Wells, although he did not say for what reason. Ravel was mentioned however.”

The lieutenant frowned, rubbing his chin with two fingers as he considered. “Then Miss Wells may be involved in some way.”

“I cannot agree with you there,” Edward said quickly. “For if that were the case, then why did this man seek to have her done in the first evening I came upon him?” He saw the lieutenant frown and knew that he had made his point. “The first evening I found Miss Wells, she was fighting for her life against the very same man who died two nights ago. If she was involved in any way, if she truly is working for the French, then it makes no particular sense for him to attempt to kill her.”

Lieutenant James nodded slowly. “You are correct in that, I will agree.”

“Therefore, I believe we have made an error of judgment in not ensuring her safety,” Edward continued quickly, before the lieutenant could say anything more. “I have a man watching the house at the present and another will take over come the evening, but I believe that I must further my acquaintance with the lady in order to discover what it is that she knows or possesses that Ravel so eagerly seeks.” He felt himself alive with both anticipation and an eagerness to hurry to her side, knowing that his appointment with her was due within the hour. “It may be that she herself is entirely unaware of what she has in her possession that is of such great importance.”

The lieutenant sighed heavily and let his hands fall to his sides. “And still, we have no knowledge of who this ‘Ravel’ is, or of his plans as regards our royal family,” he stated, sounding exasperated. “If the king or the prince regent is in danger, then we must ensure that they are our very first priority.”

Edward nodded, fully aware of where his priorities needed to be. “I quite agree, Lieutenant. However, recall that the spy who died stated very clearly that Miss Wells was the one that Ravel was seeking. It may be that, whatever she has is required in order for him to do whatever he has planned against the prince regent.”

“Something that is required in order for his plans to take place,” the lieutenant murmured thoughtfully, his eyes a little more fixed now. “Yes, that does make sense, Carroway.” He nodded again, now looking much more decisive. “It is right that you should pursue this Miss Wells then. Seek out what it is she has in any way you can, although do your utmost to ensure you do not reveal yourself to her.”

“Of course, I shall not,” Edward replied, knowing that he would need to keep the truth of his duties to himself. It was best for society as a whole that those involved were not known to them. “I have already arranged to call upon her this afternoon.”

The lieutenant looked pleased. “Wonderful,” he boomed, slapping Edward on the shoulder. “Then you know what you must do going forward. If there is any news about Ravel from any other quarter, then I shall make sure to inform you at once.”

“I thank you,” Edward said, giving a slight bow towards the lieutenant. “I should go at once. I do not want to be late.”

The lieutenant nodded. “Good day to you then. Until later.”

* * *

Edward was a little surprised by just how nervous he was whilst being led towards the drawing room by the butler. Miss Titania Wells was within, and even that thought appeared to make him somewhat anxious. Was it because he was, despite himself, rather looking forward to seeing her again? Or did it stem from the realization that Miss Titania Wells might be in rather a difficult predicament without even being aware of it? He would have to ensure that he behaved as any normal gentleman might, whilst still attempting to find out what had occurred that evening when he had first come upon her. Mayhap she had overheard something or been given something by Stirling before he died, but now did not know what to do with such a thing. Of course, given that he had told her not to speak a word of what had occurred to anyone, she would therefore be doing precisely that, which might make matters all the more difficult for him. Nevertheless, he was determined to try.

Hearing his name announced, Edward stepped forward and walked directly into the drawing room, seeing not only Miss Titania Wells rising to greet him but also two other young ladies, whom he did not know. He presumed they were her relatives or other close acquaintances, and of her mother, there was no sign.

“Good afternoon, Miss Wells,” he said, somewhat awkwardly at the realization that he did not know how to address the other two ladies. “Thank you for your kind invitation to call upon you.”

Miss Titania Wells smiled sweetly, curtsying beautifully before lifting her eyes back to his. Edward swallowed hard, feeling his breath catch as he took in her beauty, finding himself quite overwhelmed by it.

“I know this is rather unorthodox,” he continued when she said nothing. “But I was unable to find anyone to make an introduction for me during the ball, and I found that I could not wait until the next one before coming to call upon you. You have a great deal of popularity, Miss Wells, and I am only one of many gentlemen seeking your company.”

Miss Wells nodded her approval, her green eyes seeming to glow with pleasure at his words. “You are most kind, Lord Carroway,” she said softly, her expression gentle and her voice soft. “Might I introduce you to my elder sisters? This is Miss Merry Wells and beside her, Miss Catherine Wells.”

He bowed at once. “It is my very great pleasure to meet you both.”

They did not say very much but murmured a few words before he was asked to sit down by Miss Titania Wells. He did so at once, realizing just how difficult it would be to seek the truth from her whilst her sisters were present. Of course, he could not have expected her to sit here alone with him, but he had hoped for a maid to be present instead of two older sisters.

“My mother is currently attending a small soiree with some of her dear friends,” Miss Titania said, as though he had been wondering where Lady Whitehaven was. “She will be sorry to have missed greeting you.”

He managed a small smile, knowing that Lady Whitehaven would be somewhat horrified that her daughter had entertained a gentleman who had not, thus far, been introduced. He quietly suspected that the lady had done such a thing without her knowledge, seeing the twinkle in her eye and believing that she had both a strong spirit and a determination to do as she pleased. It was not becoming for a lady of the ton to behave in such a fashion, but Edward found that he was warming to her almost at once.

“That is kind of you to say, Miss Wells,” he murmured, glancing across at the other two sisters and seeing that they remained steadfast in their gaze but did not say a word. “Did you enjoy the ball?”

She nodded eagerly. “It was quite wonderful,” she said, her eyes alight with contentment. “I truly loved every moment of it – although I confess that I feared you did not find much delight in the company nor the occasion, Lord Carroway!”

It took Edward a moment to realize what she meant. A flush crept up his neck as he tried to laugh, but the sound came out as a harsh groan instead.

“I confess that I am not always at ease within society, Miss Wells,” he admitted, with a good deal more truth than he had meant to share with her. “It has not often been my companion and certainly is not my friend. I do not miss it during the winter months, nor do I long for its return. In that regard, I believe we must be quite different.”

Miss Wells tipped her head and looked at him steadily, the smile fading from her lips as she did so. Mayhap she had never considered such a thing.

“There are some rumors about you, Lord Carroway,” she said slowly, as both her sisters gasped in horror at her blunt way of speaking. “Is that not so?”

Another curl of embarrassment swelled his chest. “I believe there are a good many rumors, yes,” he admitted quietly, looking back at her without flinching. “I think that the beau monde likes nothing better than pursuing such things and making a meal of whatever whispers and the like they can find.” His voice grew somewhat harsh, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke of his dislike of the ton.

“Then why do you attend balls and the like?” Miss Wells asked, her eyes now filled with curiosity and interest. “What makes you attend if you truly have no wish to be a part of the beau monde?”

Edward paused, knowing that he could not tell her the truth – for the truth was that he was only doing so because he had very little other choice. The truth was that he had no other way to ensure that Miss Wells was both safe and protected if he did not step in.

“I-I am a titled gentleman,” he said slowly, aware of the looks that were being shared between the sisters. “I must do as every gentleman must do.”

Miss Wells laughed softly, her eyes dancing. “Then you state that you call upon me solely for the purposes of attempting to secure my agreement to your courtship?” she asked, teasing.

Edward shook his head, wiping the smile from her face. “I must find a wife and secure the future of my title, Miss Wells,” he replied, aware that he was not speaking honestly to her and, for whatever reason, feeling a stab of guilt over it. “Therefore, it is to be expected that I should go about society, is it not?” He shrugged. “Even if I dislike the false smiles, the pretense, and the disguises that so many of the ton wear, I must still go about amongst them and attempt to discern the true beauty that is so often hidden away.”

Miss Wells blinked rapidly, no hint of a smile now clinging to her lips. It appeared as though he had shocked her with his blunt manner of speaking, and in what he had said, Edward knew there was a great deal of truth. He truly did despise the beau monde and found their falseness and flattery to be a matter of great disillusionment. It was why he was so very glad that he had been able to remove himself from it by throwing himself completely into working for King and country, albeit in a rather hidden manner.

“You speak very harshly, Lord Carroway,” Miss Wells said slowly, looking at him with something of a quizzical expression. Her head was tilted a little to the left, two spots of red now forming in her cheeks and her emerald eyes glittering as she watched him. “It sounds as though you find no enjoyment whatsoever in any part of society.” She arched one eyebrow, as if in silent challenge. “It sounds as though you simply go about your business out of duty rather than pleasure.”

He inclined his head, aware that she was attempting to find out whether he considered calling upon her to be a duty instead of truly wishing to be in her company. It was a trifle arrogant, he supposed, but then again, he had obviously confused her with his strange declaration that London society was, to his mind, something of a scourge.

“There are, I suppose, some moments that can be enjoyed,” he admitted, allowing a small smile to curve the edges of his lips. “I will admit to that, Miss Wells.”

She seemed to soften slightly, her shoulders relaxing and her smile growing steadily.

“Good gracious, Titania!”

One of her sisters – Edward could not recall which one was which – frowned as she gestured to the empty table in front of them both.

“You have not yet rung for tea, Titania, and I am quite sure that Lord Carroway is in desperate need of sustenance now that you have questioned him in such a manner!”

Edward frowned, hearing the cattiness in the lady’s voice and finding himself quite displeased by it. He did not like to see the blush that rose in Miss Titania’s face, nor did he like the way her eyes clouded with shame. Opening her mouth to speak and to—most likely—apologize, Edward found himself on his feet before she could say a word, bowing low.

“Please, Miss Wells, do not concern yourself with a such a thing,” he found himself saying, his mind working quickly. “It is such a fine day, and I have heard that the gardens here are quite lovely.” He raised his head and kept her gaze, seeing the way her expression cleared. “If it would not be too much trouble, might I ask you to join me for a short stroll through them? I shall be on my way directly otherwise.”

Miss Wells blossomed in front of him. “I should be glad to, Lord Carroway,” she said at once, getting to her feet and shooting a quick glance in the direction of her sisters. “I shall have one of the maids accompany me, Merry—so you and Catherine will not be required.” She gave them both a sweet smile, and Edward found himself grinning inwardly, feeling quite proud that he had managed to extricate Miss Wells from both her sisters. He could not speak freely to her when they were present, but to walk with her in the gardens would allow him to do precisely that.

* * *

A few minutes later and Edward found himself walking through the small but pretty garden at the back of the townhouse, marveling at the fountain that lay in the middle of it. A good deal of work had gone into the garden, and he had to admit that he was truly enjoying it.

“You are quite an unusual gentleman, Lord Carroway,” Miss Wells said suddenly, surprising him completely. “You come to call upon me and then state that you dislike society greatly. Then, when it is time for you to take your leave, you rise to your feet and ask me to accompany you in the gardens instead.” She looked up at him as they walked along the paved path that led through the gardens, the maid trailing behind them. “Not that I find your company unpleasant, of course.”

“I thank you,” Edward replied, not certain what to make of this young lady. “You are most kind to say so.” His mind began to work quickly as he tried to think of what he might say to begin to discover what it was he needed to know from Miss Wells. It had sounded rather simple when he had first thought of it. He would simply call upon her, speak to her, and ask her some questions that would give him insight into why Ravel was pursuing her. However, now that he was in her company, he found his mind scrambling to think clearly, his eyes caught up with her beauty. It was both frustrating and utterly intoxicating.

Clearing his throat, he gave her a quick smile. “I have heard, Miss Wells, that you are never without company when in society,” he stated, not quite certain where he was attempting to go with his questions. “Does that bring you any particular difficulties?”

Miss Wells looked startled, then frowned. “If you are attempting to seek a compliment, Lord Carroway, then I fear you will go without.”

“A compliment?” he repeated, a trifle confused. “What do you mean?”

She shook her head in mock disbelief. “If you wish me to state that garnering a good deal of attention is difficult in that it keeps me from gentlemen such as yourself, then I fear you shall go without hearing it, Lord Carroway.” She tipped her head, stopped, and turned to face him a little more. “However, if you wish me to state that I have been in some sort of difficulty of late, then that is entirely another question.” She said nothing more but remained directly in front of him, her eyes sharp.

Edward cleared his throat, feeling a tingle of awareness run up his spine. There was something in Miss Wells’ eyes that had him a trifle afraid, as though he knew that she was aware there was more to his visit than he was admitting. That could not be true, however, for he was quite certain that she had not recognized his face the first time their eyes had met across the ballroom.

“I am sorry if you have found yourself in some difficulty,” he said slowly, looking at her steadily. “That is troubling to hear.”

Miss Wells arched one eyebrow, her eyes narrowing just a little. “And yet you will continue to pretend that you know nothing of what I speak, Lord Carroway,” she replied in a clear voice. “That is not particularly wise, given that you were both present and forced to come to my aid.”

A lump formed in his throat as she spoke, sweat beading on his forehead. He had not expected this. He had not expected Miss Wells to not only recognize him but to speak to him of it in such a direct manner.

“You say that you are Lord Carroway,” Miss Wells continued, her voice soft but her eyes sharp. “I will believe that, for it seems that much is not in doubt. However, you are more than just a titled gentleman, are you not?” Taking a step closer, she put one hand on his arm and looked up into his face. Edward felt his breath leave his body in a moment, her closeness overwhelming his senses. He wanted to speak, wanted to pretend that he had no understanding of what she was saying, and yet he found his mouth seemingly filled with dust, sand lodging in his throat. He could not say a single word.

“I think you have called upon me for reasons that you will not yet state,” Miss Wells said, her hand tightening just a little on his arm. “But I will not be lied to, Lord Carroway. If you wish to speak to me honestly, if you wish to tell me what it is that you seek, then you must tell me the truth about yourself.” Her lips thinned as she took another small step forward, her closeness making him catch his breath. “Who are you, truly, Lord Carroway? You are not just a titled gentleman, so what else is it that you are involved in? And why did you tell me that night to keep what I had seen entirely to myself, if you were to come prying only a few days later?”

Edward began to stammer, sweat trickling down his back as he struggled to know what to say and what to do. Miss Wells had caught him entirely off guard. Not for one moment had he considered that she would know him, that she would recognize him to be the gentleman who had saved her from the murderer some nights before. What should he do? Should he tell her all?

“Titania?”

Closing her eyes tightly, Miss Wells let out a long frustrated breath and then stepped back from Edward. Edward too let out a sigh, although his was one of relief. It seemed he would not have to summon an answer at this very moment.

“Allow me some time to consider what I must say, Miss Wells,” he said, his voice rasping somewhat as he bowed in her direction. “This has come as something of a surprise, but I will consider what you have said and what I must do.” His eyes strayed to the door from whence they had come, seeing one of her sisters beginning to advance. “Pray, maintain your silence, Miss Wells, for the time being.”

A scowl formed across her pretty face, her displeasure clear. “You shall not lie to me again, Lord Carroway. I will not have it.”

“I will not speak any more untruths to you,” he promised, lifting his head and looking at her straight in the eye. “I give you my word, such as it is.” He could not say more for Miss Wells’ sister arrived by then, and he was forced to take his leave of her.

“I was just taking my leave of your sister, Miss Wells,” he said, seeing the slightly dark look in the lady’s eye. “Good day to you.”

“Good day, Lord Carroway,” both the ladies replied as one. They curtsied beautifully, and Edward had no other choice but to hurry back towards the house, leaving the frustrated and clearly upset Miss Titania Wells behind.

Chapter Eight

“I do hope Lord Carroway will be here this evening.”

Even the mention of his name did not bring a smile to Titania’s face, aware that Merry’s comment was simply to try and get a reaction from her. Catherine, who had found them both in the garden when Lord Carroway had called upon her yesterday afternoon, had remained almost steadfastly silent about the gentleman, although her disapproval of Titania’s behavior had been quietly communicated through dark looks and an occasional mutter of condemnation as Titania and Merry had discussed the gentleman.

Not that Titania cared much for what her sisters thought. Catherine was attempting to ensure that Titania’s reputation remained entirely spotless, although Titania did not think that walking in her townhouse gardens with a gentleman and a maid alongside them both was in any way improper. In fact, it had been entirely necessary, given that she had been required to discover the truth about Lord Carroway and his presence at her home.

She had not recognized him immediately, that much was true. It was only as they spoke, only as they conversed, that she seemed to remember something about him. Studying him carefully, she had taken in his dark hair, his firm jaw and piercing blue eyes but still this awareness had nagged at her mind with such a fervency that her head had begun to ache. When Lord Carroway had suggested taking a short walk about the gardens, she had leapt at the chance to escape the stuffy drawing room and allow herself a little more freedom. She had hoped that the change would allow her mind to clear, to settle on whatever it was that she was trying to remember – and, in stepping out of doors with Lord Carroway, it had managed to do so.

It had come like a bolt of lightning that had lit up her entire self, making her stumble as she recalled his face leaning down over her as she had struggled against unconsciousness. The firmness of his voice had seeped into her memory as he had spoken to her, asking her if she had found any particular difficulty within society, and the sharpness of his eyes had caught her heart.

It had been a rather unorthodox question and that in itself had made her reconsider Lord Carroway again. What was it that he wished to know from her, she had asked herself, looking up into his face. She had therefore decided to be quite direct with him, stating clearly that she knew him to be something more than just a titled gentleman seeking to court her. That had drained the color from his face and, had not her sister interrupted them, Titania had been quite certain that Lord Carroway would have told her the truth.

Her heart quickened with an inexplicable excitement. It was a little frustrating that Lord Carroway had come to her under false pretenses and a trifle insulting that he had hoped she would not recall him and simply respond to his questions as any young lady might, but still, she could not help but feel a surge of exhilaration at the thought of seeing him again. He had stated that he would speak the truth to her, and it was this that filled Titania with a good deal of anticipation. What was the truth? And why did he seem so concerned for her? She knew full well that he had been chasing down the murderer that night and that it had been he who had told her not to say a word about what she had seen to another living soul, and that gave him a most mysterious appearance. What was it that he was involved in?

I am not in any danger from him, am I?

Her footsteps hesitated for a moment as she walked beside her sisters into the ballroom, making Catherine give her a strange look. Collecting herself, Titania held her chin a little higher, making sure her shoulders were straight and that she moved as gracefully as she could. No, she convinced herself, she was not in any danger from Lord Carroway. He had taken care of her that night she had fought the murderer. He had made her promise not to say a word but had then made sure that she had been brought back inside to her family. That was not the actions of a man who sought to harm her in some way.

And then, the memory of the man looking up at the house came back at her with force, making her gasp with fright.

“Titania, are you all right?”

Merry was by her side in a moment, her hand resting gently on Titania’s arm.

“I am quite well, I assure you,” Titania promised, trying to regain her composure as quickly as she could. “I just had a strange thought, and it took my breath away.”

Merry’s eyes remained concerned. “Do you wish to share it with me?” she asked, as they walked slowly into the pool of guests. “Is it troubling?”

Shaking her head, Titania looked at her sister and managed to smile. “It is nothing,” she promised, knowing that she could not share such a thing with her sister. “It is merely that I know I shall see Lord Carroway again this evening, and I fear that he may do the same as before.” It was nothing more than a lie, but it seemed to satisfy Merry, who gave Titania an understanding smile.

“If you fear that he will remain afar from you and will not seek to come near and ask you for a dance, then you must make sure to keep some of your dances unsecured,” Merry suggested, letting go of Titania’s hand. “Although I must say, I thought you would be much more taken with Lord Huckleby than Lord Carroway.”

Titania chuckled, ignoring the twisting nervousness in her stomach. “I consider them both equally,” she replied, making Merry laugh. “Neither has made any particular advances towards me as yet, and therefore, I allow myself to consider both equally. That is fair, is it not?”

“It is,” Merry agreed, as Catherine and Dinah stepped away from them, most likely seeking out the quietest corner of the ballroom where they might hide. Lady Whitehaven, who was already caught up conversing with her acquaintances, sighed heavily as she watched them leave, before turning to bestow a smile upon Titania and Merry. “And that will bring Mama some relief, given that the rest of her daughters and her niece have no particular interest in any gentleman.”

Titania frowned, seeing the slight smile on Merry’s face but hearing a twinge of sadness in her voice. What was it that troubled her so?

“It seems you are to be caught already, Titania,” Merry continued, jerking Titania back to the present and pulling her from her questioning thoughts. “Look. Here comes Lord Huckleby.”

Lord Huckleby was almost resplendent in his fine cut of clothes and the broad smile that seemed to light up his face. Titania found herself blushing at his compliments, as she tried to remember that her aim for this evening was to find and speak to Lord Carroway, but she was almost overwhelmed with the presence of Lord Huckleby.

“I would like to dance with you this evening, Miss Wells,” Lord Huckleby boomed, reaching for her dance card and pulling it towards him without so much as asking her if she wished to do so. “Good gracious, I see that I am the first to claim you!” His eyes twinkled, as he looked back at her, making Titania smile despite her thoughts turning towards Lord Carroway. “Then I shall have the cotillion and the waltz, I think.”

Titania felt a blush rise in her cheeks as she murmured her thanks, aware of just how much an effect Lord Huckleby had on her. His handsome face was entirely turned towards her, his eyes fixed on hers as he let go of her dance card, his enigmatic smile growing steadily. Perhaps he knew just how much he affected the young ladies of the ton, Titania thought to herself, trying to think of something to say. Mayhap he enjoyed it.

“I must also give you my sincere apologies that I have not, as yet, called upon you again, Miss Wells,” Lord Huckleby continued, ignoring Merry completely. “I did very much enjoy my last visit with you and hope that I might arrange another time with you very soon.”

Titania nodded quickly. Lord Huckleby had been one of her many gentleman callers the day after the ball where she had been introduced to him, but he had taken his leave without seeking to call upon her again. Now, it seemed, he was eager to do so, and Titania felt herself blush with pleasure.

“Might you care for a walk through the park?” Lord Huckleby asked, grinning at her. “Perhaps, tomorrow afternoon?”

“I…that would be….” Titania found her words tumbling over each other, not quite in the correct order. Taking a breath, she smiled up at him and attempted to settle herself a little more. “I would very much enjoy that, Lord Huckleby,” she said, with a small smile of her own. “Hyde Park, did you say?”

Lord Huckleby shrugged then laughed. “I shall go to whatever place you choose, Miss Wells, although I did think that you would very much enjoy being seen on my arm during the fashionable hour.” He winked at her broadly, sending a flurry through Titania’s heart. “Hyde Park it shall be then.” He bowed before she could say anything more, his gaze fixing on hers again as he lifted his head. “I look forward to our first dance, Miss Wells. Good evening.”

“Good evening,” Titania replied, somewhat breathlessly as she tried to understand what had just occurred. It did not matter to her whether or not she was seen with Lord Huckleby, and certainly she did not care if the ton saw her with him during the fashionable hour, but apparently Lord Huckleby believed that this was what she had meant when she had suggested Hyde Park. A flicker of irritation caught her mind as she frowned, looking to see Merry’s expression also a little dark as she watched Lord Huckleby walk from them.

“He is a trifle arrogant, Titania,” Merry said bluntly, looking back at Titania. “I am not sure I care for him.”

Titania did not know what to say, wanting to protest that Lord Huckleby was not attempting to court Merry but finding that, inwardly, she found herself agreeing with her sister. Fortunately, there was not more than a moment or two of silence before more acquaintances appeared at Titania’s side, each eager to sign their name on her dance card and, much to Titania’s delight, to take Merry to the floor for a dance also. She laughed softly at Merry’s uncomfortable expression as she allowed Lord Danvers to write his name down for the quadrille, thinking silently to herself that it might be just what Merry needed, even though she did not wish it.

* * *

It took a good hour or so before Titania was finally able to spot Lord Carroway. She had begun to give up hope of his attendance here this evening, even though she was certain that he would have received an invitation, but the sight of him sent a surge of hope through her heart.

He was watching her with sharp eyes, lingering back in the shadows as she danced with Lord Whitby. She did not hear a single word of Lord Whitby’s conversation and was, therefore, a very poor partner, but her whole being was entirely caught up with the sight and the presence of Lord Carroway. The moment the dance came to a close, she thanked Lord Whitby and took her leave of him, making her way towards Lord Carroway without hesitation.

He shrank back into the darkness and his actions reminded her that most of society would be keeping their eyes on her. She had to behave as appropriately as she could, even though she was more than desperate to speak to Lord Carroway.

Moving slowly, Titania smiled and nodded at various acquaintances, moving slowly through the crowd of guests until she spotted Lord Carroway standing near her sister Catherine and cousin Dinah. A smile settled on her face. Had he found them deliberately so that she would be able to speak to him without being considered improper? To stand next to her sister and cousin would not cause anyone to lift an eyebrow.

“Lord Carroway,” she murmured, her heart leaping in her chest as he bowed towards her. “I did not think that you were present this evening.”

He spread his hands. “And yet you see that I am here,” he stated, his voice low and his eyes filled with doubt as he looked at her. “You have not thought to disregard me completely then?”

“How can I, when I have so many questions?” she asked lightly, tilting her head. “You came to call upon me but did not tell me the truth for your reasons for doing so. I should reject you entirely for such a thing, but I confess that my mind will not allow it.” She leaned closer, just as the music for another waltz began. A waltz that she knew she had no partner for. “You must tell me the truth, Lord Carroway.”

Before he had a chance to respond, Titania moved forward and curtsied beautifully, then reaching out one hand to rest on his arm.

“It is our waltz, Lord Carroway,” she said in a loud enough voice for some of the other guests to overhear. “I have been looking forward to this all evening, I confess.” Smiling brightly in his direction, she waited for him to respond, her stomach tightening when he did not immediately agree to step out with her.

He sighed heavily as though she had pained him with such a request, before inclining his head and leading her through the crowd towards the dance floor. “It seems that I have no choice but to comply,” he muttered, as they walked. “Although the consequences of stepping out with me will be entirely on your own head, Miss Wells.”

She smiled as the music began, curtsying towards him again before he took her into his arms. “If you are speaking of the rumors that surround you, Lord Carroway, then I confess that I do not easily believe them.”

His hand was tight about her waist, his other hand clasping hers gently as they began to waltz. His steps were sure and certain, and she found herself greatly enjoying the waltz as they moved together as one. A sigh escaped from his mouth as he looked down at her and she was caught by the intensity within his gaze.

“If you speak of the rumors that state I am nothing more than the illegitimate son of a duke, whose title and lands were bought for him by way of recompense, then I confess that I believe those rumors to be true,” he said, his voice a little harsh. “I can see no other explanation, Miss Wells. I am nothing more than an orphan, without family and without a true family lineage.” His gaze drifted away, and Titania felt her heart fill with compassion for him, seeing the sadness in his expression and hearing the hurt in his voice.

“I mean to say that you are supposedly a rake, Lord Carroway,” she replied honestly, as he twirled her about the floor. “Lord Huckleby informed me that I should stay far from you…for you care for nothing other than to seek out your latest conquests.”

Much to her surprise, Lord Carroway laughed aloud, his expression lifting almost at once. He grinned, looking down at her, and Titania felt her heart rise within her.

“I hardly think that can be true,” he protested, still smiling. “If I am a rake, then I confess to be a very poor one, Miss Wells. I do not think I have danced with a lady of the ton in some years.” His smile began to fade. “I have heard such rumors about me, although I have never given them much consideration. I fear for your reputation now, Miss Wells, for you have danced with me and now all of society will be watching you.”

She tossed her head as the waltz came to a close. “I hardly think that stepping out onto the dance floor with a gentleman should bring a stain to my reputation,” she stated firmly. “Although, Lord Carroway, you have not yet told me the truth about your reasons for questioning me yesterday afternoon.” She took his proffered arm as they walked from the floor back towards her sister and cousin. “Nor have you told me why you were present the night I saw the murder.”

Lord Carroway let out his breath in a hiss, silencing her.

“You must remain silent, Miss Wells,” he whispered fiercely, turning towards her as they reached the back of the ballroom once more. “Do you understand? You must not speak of what occurred, not in company. You do not know who could be listening.”

A thrill of excitement ran up Titania’s spine. “What do you mean, Lord Carroway?” she asked, putting one hand on his arm and feeling him jerk away from her. “You must tell me. Please.”

Lord Carroway held her gaze for some moments, his face expressionless. It was as though he were trying to make out what was best for him to do or to say, wondering whether or not she could be trusted with what he had to tell her.

“I do not think that I can do so here,” he stated, shaking his head as his gaze darted from one place to another behind her. “As I have said, we cannot tell who might be listening, and I fear that it may put you in more danger if we speak at the moment.”

Titania blew out a frustrated breath, her brow furrowing.

“But I shall speak to you as honestly as I can,” he promised, placing his hand over hers and sending a wave of heat up her arm as he looked deeply into her eyes. “Might I call upon you tomorrow?”

Titania made to say “yes”—only to recall that Lord Huckleby was already promised to her.

“The day after then,” he suggested, a wry smile on his lips, having evidently seen in her face that she was not at liberty to accept him. “Your company is widely sought, Miss Wells, I quite understand.”

“No,” she said, suddenly decisive. “I shall walk with you tomorrow, Lord Carroway, for Lord Huckleby does not expect to come by until the fashionable hour.”

“Very well,” he agreed, letting go of her hand and filling Titania with a sense of loss that she could not quite understand. “Might I call thereafter? It would be late, I know, but I do feel that such a conversation does have a good deal of urgency.”

She nodded, relief and contentment filling her. She would only have to wait for a little longer before she discovered everything about Lord Carroway and what it was she had witnessed. “My mother may be out at some soiree or other, but I and at least one of my sisters will expect you,” she said, aware of the way her heart suddenly seemed to bounce about her chest with delight and anticipation. “And you will not keep anything from me?”

Lord Carroway chuckled, his expression somewhat rueful. “I do not think that I could do so, Miss Wells, not even if I wished to. Your eyes are so keen and your wit so sharp that I am certain you would see through even the smallest lie.” He bowed and stepped back, already beginning to melt into the shadows. “Until tomorrow, Miss Wells.”

“Good evening, Lord Carroway,” Titania replied, watching him until he turned his back on her and made his way through the crowd, wondering why she felt such a flurry in her heart as she did so. Was it because of the mystery that surrounded him? Was it because she wanted to know all of his secrets? Or was there more to what was in her heart than that?”

“Ah, Miss Wells, I have discovered you!”

At the sound of Lord Huckleby’s voice, Titania turned and pasted a bright smile on her face. She did not want Lord Huckleby to know what she had been thinking, nor whom she had been speaking to. He would not have noticed her dancing with Lord Carroway, she was quite certain, for he was a gentleman entirely caught up with his own endeavors.

“I was simply conversing with my sister and cousin,” she said, gesturing towards Catherine and Dinah, who curtsied quickly. Introducing them, she saw the disinterest in Lord Huckleby’s eyes as he retuned their greeting and, for whatever reason, that irritated her greatly.

“Shall we, Miss Wells?” Lord Huckleby said, turning back to her and offering her his arm. “It is the first of our two dances, and I confess to you that I have been most eager to dance with you.”

“That is most kind of you to say,” Titania replied, finding her irritation beginning to ebb away as Lord Huckleby’s easy manner began to soothe her. “I have been looking forward to it also.”

He chuckled as she took his arm. “Of course you have been,” he stated, as though she could do nothing else other than wait impatiently for her turn to dance with him. “Come then. We need not delay any longer.”

Chapter Nine

“A drink, my Lord?”

Edward hesitated, looking at the glass of champagne that the footman held out to him. After his exchange with Miss Wells, he felt as though he could do with a stiff drink, but another part of him held back, warning him that he would need to keep a clear head for the rest of the evening. After all, despite what Miss Wells thought, he would have to remain close to her for the remainder of the ball, simply to ensure her safety. She thought that he would take his leave of the ball and then call upon her tomorrow, as he had stated, but he could not allow himself to leave her side for fear that she might be set upon by someone unknown to either herself or to him.

“I think not,” he muttered, turning away from the footman and wishing that he could allow himself such a small indulgence, but experience had taught him that it was best to remain entirely without any liquor in his veins if he wished to have himself entirely without hinderance.

Turning back, Edward tried to find Miss Wells in the crowd, aware that she had been dancing with Lord Huckleby, but the dance had come to an end. Where was she now? His gaze traveled across the room, his heart quickening with a little anxiety as he struggled to find her.

A long breath of relief escaped him as he saw Miss Wells talking with another gentleman, and with another gentleman approaching her. She laughed and said something to the second gentleman, which made Edward’s heart twinge with jealousy. He did not mean to feel such a way for Miss Wells, but spending even a little more time in her company had only drawn him to her a more. More than anything, Edward wanted to keep Miss Wells at a distance, to ensure that she was nothing more than someone he needed to protect for the time being before setting her aside once Ravel had been found and captured, but he was beginning to fear that he would not be able to do such a thing, given just how much he was bewitched by her. A single look into her eyes and he lost all reason, forgot about what it was he was meant to say or what he was supposed to be doing. Having never experienced such emotions before, Edward was quite at a loss as to what to do with them. Was he meant to simply push them aside and attempt to forget how she made him feel? Ignore the emotions that blossomed in his heart whenever she smiled at him? Push down the spark of jealousy that rose in his heart when he saw her laughing and smiling with another gentleman, as though he desperately wished that all her attentions were solely settled upon him?

Sighing heavily to himself, Edward thrust one hand into his hair, closing his eyes tightly and groaning inwardly. His heart was making things a good deal more complicated, and he was not at all certain that he liked it. It was much easier to simply deal with matters without any emotion or feeling holding sway. He lifted his chin and looked about for the footman carrying the tray with the glasses of champagne, thinking that he might need a drink after all.

* * *

By the time Edward had finished his second glass of champagne – watered down, he was certain of it – the second waltz of the evening had come to an end, which meant that Miss Wells would be freed from Lord Huckleby’s arms. He had hated watching her dance with that gentleman, finding his teeth gritting together tightly and his frustrations beginning to bubble over. It was not because he had anything against Lord Huckleby, for the earl was a well-known rascal who enjoyed the company of ladies and made no bones about throwing his title and fortune about in order to garner such attention. Rather, it came from the sheer dislike of seeing Miss Wells dancing so closely with another. The waltz he himself had danced with her had been the first dance he had done for some time, having not stepped out with a lady for some months. The last time he had danced had been a year ago, he thought to himself, idly watching the gentlemen and ladies disperse from the middle of the ballroom. It had held no particular interest for him – not until this evening when he had held Miss Wells close in his arms and had twirled her about the floor. The softness of her curves, the lightness of her gaze and the delicate smile on her face had made the entire experience rather wonderful, to the point that he found himself jealous that she had stepped out for a waltz with another gentleman instead of with him. Of course, he knew that it would have been entirely improper for her to have waltzed with him again and would have brought a good many questions to bear. It was nothing but foolishness to feel such a way, and yet he could not prevent himself from letting envy burn through him.

You have captured me entirely, Miss Wells, he thought to himself, looking out across the ballroom and thinking he would find her still with Lord Huckleby.

However, Lord Huckleby was now talking to another young lady, laughing down at her as he had done with Miss Wells. Edward felt his body suddenly grow tight with tension, realizing that he had lost sight of Miss Wells and, as such, now had very little idea as to where she had gone. The ballroom was vast, and the crowd filled almost every part of it. As the music began for the next dance, he looked about in vain to see whether or not she would be stepping out with another gentleman, but it seemed it was not so. His heart began to pound as the couples took to the floor, making him almost frantic with anxiety. The glass in his hand was set back on the footman’s tray hurriedly, with Edward cursing himself for allowing himself the liberty of champagne when he was meant to be keeping a close eye on Miss Wells. Had he not done so, then he might not now be searching desperately for her.

Hurrying through the crowd, he spotted the open doors that led to the gardens at the back of the ballroom. Was she outside? Surely she would not have gone alone. In stepping out into the darkness, she was putting herself in danger without being aware of it. Cursing her foolishness under his breath, Edward drew in a long breath and made his way out of the doors, searching the gloom for any sign of her.

The night was still and quiet, and a light hum of conversation filled the air as he made his way down the steps and towards the path. A few lanterns were set about the gardens, illuminating the path somewhat, which was something of a relief – although that did not mean that Ravel could not be close by, wanting to capture Titania or take from her whatever it was she had. If only he had told her the truth, then she would have known to be more careful in what she did and where she went, but he had convinced himself that it did not matter for one more evening since he would be there to watch over her. And then, like a fool, he had managed to lose her amongst the crowd, simply by letting his mind and heart fill with thoughts and questions over his connection to Miss Wells.

The path led back around towards the open doors again, and—in his frustration—Edward stepped off the path and began to look about the rest of the gardens, seeing a small arbor and then a fountain. There did not appear to be any sign of Miss Wells, although there certainly were one or two couples hidden in the shadows.

And then, the sounds of a scuffle met his ears. Hurrying back towards the path, he heard a slight scream and then a shout of pain. His heart turned over as he ran back towards the townhouse, almost running directly into Miss Wells.

“Miss Wells,” he gasped, seeing her half fallen, half sitting on a bench just by the side of the path. “Good gracious, wherever have you been? What happened?”

A gentleman and a lady whom Edward did not recognize hurried towards Miss Wells, their faces lined with concern.

“Oh, do forgive us, Miss Wells,” the lady cried, coming to sit by Miss Wells. “Lord Doncaster and I were so caught up in conversation that we quite forgot you were with us.”

Edward frowned, seeing the way Miss Wells tried to sit up and attempted to reassure the young lady. Even in the dim light, he could see that her face was terribly pale and that her hand was clutching at the side of the bench. He reached for her hand on instinct, grasping it tightly and hunkering down beside her.

“I am quite all right, I assure you,” Miss Wells said breathlessly, her fingers tight on Edward’s as she addressed the young lady. “That gentleman, whomever he was, must have thought that I was someone else entirely.”

The young lady gasped in horror, one hand to her mouth, whilst Lord Doncaster muttered under his breath about what he should like to do to such a fellow.

“I do not think that this needs to be talked about however,” Edward interjected, just as the young lady began to fawn over Miss Wells again. “We should not like to bring any suggestion of wrongdoing onto Miss Wells’ head.”

The young lady gasped again, as though shocked by the suggestion. “Oh, indeed not!” she exclaimed. “You are quite right, my lord.”

Edward looked all about him, his eyes taking in everything. “I do not think that many others have seen what has occurred,” he said by way of reassurance. “Miss Wells, if you would sit here until you regain your strength, then mayhap Lord Doncaster and…” He gestured towards the young lady. “Might you go in search of Miss Wells’ sisters or her mother, Lady Whitehaven?”

“My sister Merry,” Miss Wells said quickly, her voice already sounding a little stronger. “She will be looking for you, but I pray, Miss Smythe, do not send for my mother.”

Miss Smythe, the young lady in question, seemed to understand this at once, giving Miss Wells an encouraging smile. “At once, Miss Wells,” she said, glancing towards Edward. “And you will sit with her, will you not?”

“Of course,” Edward replied, coming to sit by Miss Wells, whilst ensuring that a good distance was kept between them. “And there is a footman approaching, whom I shall hail to stand opposite in order to further ensure Miss Wells’ reputation remains untouched.”

“I shall speak to him as we pass,” Lord Doncaster replied, holding out his arm to Miss Smythe. “Do excuse us, Miss Wells. We shall return as quickly as we can.”

Miss Wells murmured her thanks, holding herself straight as she sat until Miss Smythe and Lord Doncaster turned away. The moment they did so, she slumped, her heart sinking low as she looked down at her hands.

Edward did not know what to do. He could not tell if Miss Wells was crying or if she was merely gathering her strength. The urge to put one arm about her shoulders grew steadily, but with determination, he held himself back.

“I am sorry about that fellow,” he murmured, as the silence grew steadily between them. “He must have been in his cups.”

“It was not as I said to Miss Smythe.”

Edward’s breath caught, his whole body tensing. “What do you mean, Miss Wells?”

She lifted her head and looked at him steadily, her breath shuddering out of her. “I mean, Lord Carroway, that a man attempted to haul me from this path and out into the darker part of the gardens.” She shook violently, her eyes closing for a moment. “I do not know what it was he intended to do, but I am certain that it was not simply to steal a kiss. One hand covered my mouth, but I bit at him hard and he ran from me once I screamed.” Opening her eyes, she looked at him again, showing such courage and fortitude that Edward found himself filled with admiration for her. “And then I saw that you appeared by my side not moments after this man ran from me.”

The question in her voice made Edward wince inwardly, knowing that he would have to confess the truth to her.

“I was seeking you, Miss Wells,” he admitted softly, finding that he was reaching for her hand in the gloom. He rested his fingers upon hers, and after a moment, he felt her take his hand in hers. Something like relief curled up within him, bringing with it a good deal of delight. “I have been watching you this evening in order to ensure that you have been kept quite safe.” Clearing his throat, he looked away feeling shame cover his heart. “Except I lost you after the waltz.”

There was a long silence, and Edward could find nothing more to say, looking back at Miss Wells and seeing her eyes searching his face.

“There was a man,” she whispered. “A man by the house some nights ago.”

“Yes,” Edward said, knowing of what she meant. “He was there to seek you out, I believe.”

Miss Wells’ eyes flared wide. “You were present.”

“I chased him from the house,” Edward replied honestly. “I wanted to discover what it was that he needed from you.”

“And did you discover it?”

“Titania!”

Edward closed his eyes and tugged his hand away from Miss Wells, knowing that he could not be found holding her hand when her sister arrived.

“Oh, Titania!” Miss Merry Wells practically flung herself at her sister, her expression filled with worry. “Miss Smythe says a gentleman attempted to coerce you away from your friends.”

Getting to his feet, Edward gave them both a small bow. “Your sister showed great courage, Miss Wells,” he said, directing his comment towards Miss Merry Wells. “She will be quite all right, but may I suggest that she always remains within your sight for the rest of the evening?”

Miss Merry Wells nodded fervently, grasping Miss Titania Wells’ arm as she rose to stand beside her. “But of course, Lord Carroway,” she agreed, not even looking at him. “Come now, Titania. We must return inside. We can take the carriage and return home if you wish it?”

To Edward’s surprise, Miss Titania Wells laughed softly, as though the suggestion was nothing more than absurd. “I do not think so, Merry,” he heard her say, falling into step behind them both. “I shall be quite safe. I know that you will be watching me closely, and I am certain that no one dare approach me in such a way when you are present.” This was said with a quick glance over her shoulder towards Edward, who found himself nodding in response. Miss Wells gave him a small, quick smile before turning her head back and climbing the stairs that led to the door of the ballroom.

Edward drew back but continued to watch Miss Wells closely, allowing her sister to lead her to a quieter corner of the ballroom before following after them. He stayed some distance away but was still able to see her clearly, glad that she was sitting in a chair and drinking something that her sister pressed into her hand. The color was slowly returning to her face and her smile remained, as she looked up at her sister. He knew full well that when she had been speaking to her sister and stating that she was certain that she would be safe if she was kept within Merry’s gaze, she had been speaking to him. His nod had been to reassure her that he would continue to watch over her as the ball came to a close, to make certain that no one approached her and that nothing further occurred thereafter. There was a new understanding between them, he realized, seeing her glance towards him. Yes, she did not understand everything, and yes, he would have to speak to her with a good deal of honesty, but at least now she knew that there was a danger that enveloped her, given what she had witnessed. He had to pray that he would be able to find a way to protect her from Ravel, and that, mayhap, she would know what it was that the man wanted from her. If she knew that, then perhaps this difficult circumstance might be brought to an end.

Although, Edward realized, smiling softly back at her, he knew now that the last thing he wanted was to bring his acquaintance with Miss Wells to an end. If anything, he only wanted to further it so that they would grow closer than ever before.

Chapter Ten

“This has been a wonderful afternoon, has it not?”

Titania did not immediately respond, thinking to herself that Lord Huckleby was, as Merry had stated only yesterday, more than a little arrogant. The fashionable hour was a time to be seen, a time when the high society of London came out as one, simply to look and to be acknowledged by others. Titania had not cared much for it, although there had always been something of a delight in being acknowledged by the many gentlemen that walked about the park.

This afternoon, however, she had found herself trailing alongside Lord Huckleby as she had made her way through the park. Lord Huckleby had not appeared to be interested in any way in regards to Titania. He had not talked to her a great deal but had, instead, spent most of his time greeting various acquaintances and murmuring to her about how he knew this person or the next.

Titania had not enjoyed herself at all.

“I should return you now, of course,” Lord Huckleby continued when Titania said nothing. “The carriage is waiting for us, as you see.”

“I thank you,” Titania murmured, accepting his hand and climbing into the carriage where her cousin, Dinah, waited patiently. Dinah had been encouraged to attend with Titania by Lady Whitehaven but had only agreed to go on the understanding that she would not have to attend the soiree with Lady Whitehaven this evening. Titania was doing her best to be grateful for Dinah’s company, even though her cousin was steadfastly looking out of the window of the carriage and did not even acknowledge Titania as she took her seat.

Lord Huckleby chuckled to himself, taking one last look out across the park before climbing into the carriage himself. The door was shut, and the carriage began to roll away. Titania let out a long breath, filled with relief that she would not have to endure much more of Lord Huckleby’s company. How odd it was to have been so desperate for his attention, only to realize, on closer acquaintance, that he was not at all interested in her in any way; nor did she feel interested in him. If he sought to court her, sought even to marry her, then she would be nothing more than a delicate decoration on his arm. Most likely, he would consider her vapid and uninteresting and would continually seek out the company of others so that they might fawn over him in the way he so desired.

It was not a life that she would even allow herself to consider, realizing now that Lord Huckleby was not the desirable gentleman she had thought him to be.

“What say you, Miss Wells?” Lord Huckleby said, drawing her attention back to himself yet again. “I say that we make a very fine pair. Shall we take another stroll tomorrow afternoon?”

Titania hesitated, before pasting a large, false smile on her face. “I fear that I cannot, Lord Huckleby,” she lied. “I am already engaged tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh?” To Titania’s surprise, Lord Huckleby’s expression had grown rather dark, his smile fading very quickly and his brows lowering down. She tried to smile, lifting one shoulder in a delicate shrug.

“I am afraid that I am to go to the bookshop with Lord Carroway,” she said, praying that Lord Carroway would not mind doing such a thing. “He asked me to walk with him this afternoon but, of course, I could not, given that I had already agreed to stroll with you.”

Lord Huckleby shook his head, one hand held up in apparent protest. “I hardly think that is wise, Miss Wells,” he stated, as though he had rule over her. “You cannot go out with someone such as Lord Carroway. The rumors about him are rife, and you must know that your reputation will suffer for it.”

Titania stiffened, irritated by the way Lord Huckleby was speaking to her.

“No, indeed, I cannot permit you to risk such a thing as your reputation for someone like Lord Carroway!” Lord Huckleby continued, as though he had the right to demand that she obey him. “You will step out with me instead of with him. I insist upon it.” He beamed at her, as though this was truly a wonderful idea and as though she ought to be grateful for his interference, but Titania felt nothing but frustration.

“I hardly think that you have the right to step in with such a strong hand as this, Lord Huckleby,” she said sternly, not wanting him to have the impression that she would be acquiescing to his demands in any way. “I have already agreed to walk with Lord Carroway tomorrow afternoon, and I shall do just that.”

Lord Huckleby’s brows rose, as if he were astonished at her response. “But surely you can see that my company is preferable to that of a rake,” he said, looking mildly offended. “Wisdom should tell you that–”

“Lord Huckleby,” Titania stated firmly, aware of Dinah looking at them both now with a flicker of interest. “I am truly appreciative of your concern for me, but I will not go back on my word. I have promised Lord Carroway that I will walk with him tomorrow to the bookshop and that is precisely what I intend to do. Thereafter, if you wish to call upon me or arrange another time, I would be glad to do so.” She did not flinch from his angry gaze but held it calmly, looking back at him without any sense of fear. Titania was not about to let a gentleman she was barely acquainted with dictate whether or not she was allowed to go walking with another gentleman, especially when she believed that the rumors about Lord Carroway did not hold any truth. Her brow furrowed as she realized that Lord Huckleby had been the one to tell her of these rumors in the first place, wondering if there was something about Lord Carroway that he did not like and was, therefore, ensuring that all of society thought ill of him.

It was a strange thought, and Titania dismissed it quickly enough, aware of just how cold the atmosphere had suddenly become. Dinah must have felt it also, for she cleared her throat and gestured to something outside.

“It seems we are almost home,” she said, her voice neither cheerful nor dull. “Did you enjoy your walk about the park, Titania?”

Titania, surprised by her cousin’s sudden change of character, nodded. “I did,” she lied, seeing Lord Huckleby’s jaw work for a moment before he, too, looked out of the window. “Ah yes, I see we have arrived home.”

The relief she felt upon seeing Lord Huckleby drive away was almost inexplicable. Was there something about him that she was pulling away from? Something in his eyes that had frightened her?

“Thank you, Dinah, for conquering the dark silence that had settled between myself and Lord Huckleby,” she said, as she and her cousin climbed the steps back to the house. “I am truly grateful.”

Dinah said nothing for some moments, handing her bonnet and gloves to the waiting butler before turning back to Titania with a curious look in her eyes.

“I do not think that Lord Huckleby spoke to you with kindness or consideration, Titania,” she said slowly, as though she were unused to speaking her mind or were taking great lengths to consider every word. “The way he demanded such things of you was, to my mind, more than a little ungentlemanly, and I found myself a trifle angry with him.”

Titania’s brows rose in astonishment, having never heard her cousin express such a feeling before. “Anger?” she said, unable to help herself. “You do not consider that to be wrong?”

Dinah smiled slowly, her face transformed from severe to joyous in a moment. It was almost breathtaking to behold.

“No, indeed I do not,” she replied with a quick shrug. “There is such a thing as a righteous and good anger, and that is what I felt this afternoon. I do not think, Titania, that Lord Huckleby is a wise choice for you.”

Blinking rapidly in surprise, Titania tried to regain her sense of balance, quite overwhelmed with all that her cousin had said. “I do not think he is either, Dinah,” she admitted, seeing her cousin’s smile widen in relief. “In fact, I did not enjoy this afternoon as I said – and you need not correct me for my mistruth, for I know that it was wrong to pretend, but I did not want to anger Lord Huckleby further.”

Dinah said, her smile fading away as she turned to climb the staircase. “What was wrong about this afternoon?”

“Lord Huckleby was not at all considerate of me,” Titania replied quickly. “He was much more interested in being seen rather than speaking to me. He showed very little interest in furthering our acquaintance, and—as such—I found myself quite repulsed.”

Dinah nodded, waiting until Titania had caught up with her before they walked together to the drawing room. “Then I am glad, I must say,” she commented, as they stepped into the room. “And it means that I do not have to endure another carriage ride with him, for which I am very grateful!”

Titania could not help but laugh, seeing Dinah smile again and wondering at this change in her cousin. A large swell of relief rose in her heart as she rang the bell for tea, feeling almost free as she set Lord Huckleby aside in both her mind and her heart. He was not the gentleman she had thought him to be, and therefore, she could not consider a future with him. In addition, she realized, sitting down carefully opposite her sister Catherine, who was reading, she was quite caught up with Lord Carroway, wondering what it was he would reveal to her this evening. Her mind turned to him fully, and she found an eager expectation rising up within her, flooding her with a sudden anticipation and excitement. This evening was to bring a good deal of revelation with it, and Titania could hardly wait to see Lord Carroway again.

* * *

“Good evening, Miss Wells. Thank you for allowing me to call upon you at such a late hour.”

Titania smiled and welcomed Lord Carroway into the room, aware that Merry had also risen to her feet and was now staring at Titania in astonishment.

“You are most welcome, Lord Carroway,” Titania replied, praying that Merry would not ask Lord Carroway to leave, given both the hour and the fact that Lady Whitehaven was gone from the house. “Please, do sit here and let me ring for tea – unless you would care for something a little stronger?” She gestured to the decanter of brandy that sat on one side of the room and saw Lord Carroway’s eyes flare.

“If you would not mind,” he murmured, walking over to pour himself a glass. As he did so, Titania threw Merry a long look, seeing her shake her head in Titania’s direction. Titania held her breath, thinking that her sister might insist that the visit be of a very short duration or that she might rise and draw closer to Titania so that she could hear every word Lord Carroway said. Thankfully, however, Merry sighed and let her shoulders slump as though in defeat. Sitting back in her chair, she gave Titania a careless wave of her hand, as though she knew that Titania would do as she pleased regardless of what Merry thought.

“Thank you, Miss Wells,” Lord Carroway said again, as he came to sit down opposite Titania. “I know this will be a difficult conversation and might I say that I am sorry for all you have endured thus far.”

Titania frowned, hearing the compassion in his voice and wondering what it was she had stumbled into.

“I shall speak quietly so we are not overheard,” Lord Carroway continued, his eyes flickering to Merry for a moment before returning to Titania’s face. “It is best that as few people as possible know of this.”

A thrill of anticipation ran up Titania’s spine, and she found herself leaning forward in her seat, clearly eager to discover the truth. Lord Carroway looked back at her steadily, his jaw set and his blue eyes fixed upon hers, filled with a dark intensity that had her catching her breath.

“Speak, Lord Carroway,” she said urgently, wanting him to tell her all that he knew. “Why did someone attempt to break into this house? Why did another fellow try to carry me away from the ball? I must know the truth.”

He nodded slowly, appearing a little reluctant to do so. Letting out a long breath, he spread his hands and shrugged softly. “I am a spy, Miss Wells,” he murmured, the words sounding like thunderclaps above her head. “I work for the British army to discover and capture the French spies that linger amongst us. And, for whatever reason, these spies now seek you.”

Titania could barely draw in air, her breath coming in weak, shallow gasps as she stared at Lord Carroway. Her eyes were wide, her hands clutching tightly at the arms of the chair as she struggled to comprehend what had been said.

“I know this may come as something of a surprise,” Lord Carroway continued, hesitating, as though he could see the astonishment in her expression and wanted to ease her back from it again. “But I must tell you the truth if you are to understand, Miss Wells.”

“A spy,” Titania whispered, recalling how her brother had written of such a thing and how she had disregarded it completely. “Truly?”

Lord Carroway nodded. “Yes, it is the truth, Miss Wells,” he said, without even glancing away from her. “As you know, I am an orphan and have no family to call my own. Someone – I believe it was my father, who was rumored to be some duke or other – purchased a title for me so that I would not be without a future.” His expression darkened for a moment. “Whilst I was grateful, I will not pretend that I reveled in the idea of joining society. Instead, I found myself seeking to do something of importance, something that would allow my life to have purpose.”

Titania swallowed the lump in her throat. “And so you joined the army?”

“This particular endeavour was set up by myself and another fellow, Lieutenant James,” he said by way of explanation. “There are a few gentlemen involved, as well as a good many others from the lower classes. It works very well, save for the fact that one particular man continues to elude us—no matter what we do.”

Pressing her lips together, Titania tried to simply accept all that Lord Carroway had said without reacting strongly to it, but her mind and body refused to do so. Her head was filling with so many thoughts and questions that she could barely keep herself from demanding answers to them, whilst her heart was hammering furiously in her chest. She swallowed again and closed her eyes, taking in a long breath so as to calm herself somewhat.

“You are overcome,” Lord Carroway muttered. As Titania opened her eyes, she saw him shaking his head before thrusting one hand into his hair in frustration.

“No, please,” she said hurriedly, not wanting him to stop his explanations. “I am quite all right, I assure you. Please, will you not continue?” She held his gaze firmly, her eyes still a little wide as she sought simply by her look to show him that she had enough strength to continue to listen to what he had to say.

Lord Carroway let out a long breath and then nodded. “Very well,” he murmured, looking a trifle relieved as though he himself was glad that he could speak openly to her. “Let me explain to you about Ravel and why he might be pursuing you for whatever reason.”

“Ravel.” The word sounded strange on her lips, and as she spoke it, Titania recalled something that struck at her mind hard. A gasp escaped from her, and she pressed one hand to her mouth. Lord Carroway stared at her, his eyes searching her face, evidently aware that she was caught by something.

“I have just recalled something of great importance,” Titania whispered, going ashen as she recalled what she had done that night she had been attacked and now realizing that it might be of very great value. “Do excuse me, Lord Carroway. I shall only be a few minutes.”

“But of course,” he muttered, as Titania rose to her feet in a flurry of skirts and practically ran from the room.

Chapter Eleven

Edward cleared his throat as Miss Titania Wells rushed back into the room, the door slamming noisily behind her. He caught a glimpse of Miss Merry Wells looking up from where she sat, having been avidly reading a book of some sort, only to be disturbed by her sister. A frown crossed her face, but she did not rise, much to Edward’s relief. There was still a good deal he had to say to Miss Titania Wells.

“Here.”

Miss Wells held something out to him, and after a momentary pause, Edward reached out and took it from her. His hand burned where their fingers touched, his heart jumping to life, but with an effort, he ignored it and returned his attention to the small item he held in his hand.

“I had quite forgotten about this,” Miss Wells said, sinking back down into her chair and appearing most apologetic. “It was the night of the murder. I awoke to find this still held in my hand, but I did not know what it was. I set it aside to ensure its safekeeping, but had very little idea of what I should do with it or where it should go, given that I had been told not to speak a word of what I had seen to another living soul.”

Edward fixed his gaze on the small vial that he held in his hand, not at all certain as to what it was and certainly not knowing what he ought to do with it. “And where did you get this from, Miss Wells?” he asked, glancing up at her and seeing her tight expression and the slight pallor in her cheeks. “Was it from the murderer?”

She nodded, pressing her lips together for a moment. “Yes, I believe so,” she whispered, as though too afraid to speak of it aloud. “When I fought him off, this was what I found in my hand thereafter. It must have come from him although I do not understand its significance.”

Everything began to fit into place, and Edward closed his eyes for a moment, letting his breath rush from him and a sense of certainty settled over his shoulders. “I understand now,” he murmured, opening his eyes to see Miss Wells sitting forward in her chair, her elbows on her knees and her hands held tightly together as she pressed them at her mouth. It was a most unladylike pose, but it told Edward that the lady was filled with nothing more than anxiety and he felt a rising sense of compassion for her, along with the knowledge that things were not easily going to improve for her.

“I think, Miss Wells, that Ravel and his men know that you have this vial,” he said, returning his attention to the object. “That is why they seek you out. They want to have this returned to them.”

“But why?” Miss Wells asked, her voice a little breathless. “What is it?”

“I do not know,” Edward confessed, pulling out a small knife from his pocket and running it over the vial, feeling something tug at his knife as he did so. Narrowing his eyes, he caught his breath as he saw a small stopper at the top of the vial, which, in the candlelight, he had not been able to see before. His knife began to work at it, taking great care not to break anything.

“The night that I pursued the man who was looking to break into this house, the unfortunate fellow told me that you ‘had it’ and that ‘Ravel wanted it back,’” he commented quietly, as he continued to remove the stopper. “This is what they spoke of, Miss Wells.”

Miss Wells dragged in a shaky breath; her face now even paler than before. “But I do not know what it is,” she whispered hoarsely. “Nor did I know what to do with it.” Her voice was becoming a little higher, her worry evidencing itself all the more. “How will they know that I do not have it any longer, Lord Carroway? How can we show them that it is you who now carries this vial in your possession?”

Edward frowned, his jaw set as the stopper tugged free from the top of the vial. “I must be truthful with you, Miss Wells, I do not think that whether you have the vial or not, you will be safe.” He set the knife and the stopper down carefully before retuning his gaze to her. “You have seen a great deal and are aware of a good many things also. Ravel is a hard man. He will not hesitate to remove you from this Earth if he considers you to be a threat.” He did not want her to faint nor to collapse into hysterics but knew that he had a duty to be honest with her. “But I have an idea that will aid you in all this.”

Miss Wells closed her eyes for a long moment, her fingers now pressed tightly against her mouth. Edward hesitated with the vial in his hands, looking at her and wondering if she were going to collapse.

But Miss Wells had more strength than he gave her credit for. With another long breath, she opened her eyes, set her hands down and gave him a small—albeit jerky—nod.

“Very well, Lord Carroway,” she said in a quieter voice. “I shall do as you say.” She shrugged, her expression rueful. “I cannot blame anyone but myself for what I have become involved in, for it was my own foolishness that had me hurrying from the house in an attempt to prevent one man’s death.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes at her own idiocy. “I should have remained indoors as my sisters would have done.”

“I think it speaks well of your character that you behaved in such a manner, Miss Wells,” Edward told her, seeing a splash of color appear in both her cheeks. “It was foolhardy, I will agree, but you were acting in an attempt to prevent a man from killing another—and that cannot be considered to be wrongdoing.” A smile crossed his lips and, much to his relief, Miss Wells managed to smile back. “Now, let us look at what is within this vial. Mayhap it will give us a few more answers.”

Glancing towards Miss Merry Wells for fear that she was busy watching them both, Edward was surprised to see her with her head back against the chair, her eyes closed and her cheeks a little flushed. Apparently, she had fallen asleep which, he had to admit, was a good thing. It meant that they were in no danger of being seen.

Tipping the vial over, he gave it a slight shake in the hope that whatever lay within would remove itself from the vial, but nothing appeared. Frowning, Edward peered at it carefully, his heart bouncing in his chest as he suddenly saw a small piece of parchment appearing near the top of the vial.

“Good gracious,” he muttered, reaching for his knife and using it to encourage the paper out from the vial. “Look at this, Miss Wells!”

She leaned forward, just as he managed to spear one corner of the paper, tugging it out carefully. Setting the knife down, and with great care, Edward pulled out the paper and, with a breath of relief, now set down the empty vial and turned his attention to the paper.

“What is it?” Miss Wells breathed, her green eyes alive with curiosity as a red curl tumbled down from her coiffure and brushed gently against her temples. Edward swallowed hard at the sight of her, forcing himself not to become caught up in just how mesmerizing she was and fixing his attention solely on the paper.

It was small and rolled up very tightly and, with gentle fingers, Edward began to unravel it. Miss Wells reached forward and held down one side whilst he continued to stretch it out, his eyes reading the words written on it as he did so.

“They are names,” Miss Wells exclaimed, reading upside-down. “Although they mean nothing to me.” She looked up at him, hopeful. “Do you know them?”

Edward frowned, looking at the four names written and reading them carefully. He was about to state that, no, he did not know a single one, only for the last name to catch at his mind.

His breath caught. His thoughts began to tumble freely through his mind as he stared at the piece of parchment, going cold all over as he realized what it was he was looking at.

“Yes, Miss Wells,” he breathed, taking the paper and beginning to roll it up again. “I know one of the names written here, and I confess to you that there is now a great deal of urgency in what I must do.”

“Oh?” She was searching his face, her eyes wide as she leaned forward. “What is it, Lord Carroway?”

The eagerness in her expression could not be ignored. “There is a belief that Ravel is seeking to disrupt the royal family in some way,” he said, hearing her startled gasp. “There has been, as you know, some difficulties already with the illness of the king and thereafter, the prince regent, but to cause more trouble and even mayhap attempt to overthrow the monarchy would bring nothing but chaos and disruption.”

“And the army would have to give a good many of its men back to England,” Miss Wells murmured, surprising Edward with the sharpness of her mind. “Therefore, weakening their defenses against the French.”

He nodded, finding himself filled with admiration for this woman. “Precisely,” he stated, putting the paper back in the vial. “But on this paper are written four names, and I believe that they are the ones who work for the royal family in some way.” Watching Miss Wells carefully, he saw the understanding begin to creep into her expression. “I know the last one. He is a footman in the palace.” He shook his head, taking in a long breath. “We had thought him a useful source of information, but it seems that the French have also discovered this. It would not be the first time that a man has had his loyalty changed by either the promise of wealth or the threat of death.”

“Goodness,” Miss Wells murmured, her hands clasping together tightly. “So you must discover whether or not they are being used by the French?”

“Indeed,” he stated, not forgetting that Miss Wells was still in danger. “I shall share this with the lieutenant, and he shall set men to the task at once. I must remain near you, Miss Wells, in order to ensure your protection. I must also continue to seek out Ravel.”

Miss Wells nodded slowly, her expression set firm. “Ravel is the one behind this plan to attack our royal family,” she said, as if seeking confirmation from him that she was correct in this statement.

“And there have been many times I have thought myself very close to catching him, only to discover him gone and a button left in his place,” Edward said bitterly. Seeing her quizzical look, he shook his head and let out a long, exasperated sigh. “A large brown button that, when it is turned over, has the initial ‘R’ carved into it. It is as though he wishes me to feel ridicule and mockery over my lack of success, but the truth is, Miss Wells, that I have simply become all the more determined to capture him.”

“I can understand the urgency with which you must do so,” Miss Wells replied quietly. “And you believe he is within society?”

“He could be anyone,” Edward admitted. “But the urgency that you speak of grows stronger with each passing day – although now that I have this paper in my possession, we have the opportunity to prevent the attack on the royal family. They were seeking this, I believe, so that they would know which men to approach. Without it, they are held back from their task.”

“That is a relief,” Miss Wells admitted, quickly glancing over her shoulder at her sister, who was still asleep. “But what did you mean when you stated that I must be protected?” Her expression did not change from curiosity to fear, as he had expected, and yet again, Edward found himself filling with admiration for her strength.

“The truth is, Miss Wells, that as I cannot be certain as to who Ravel might be and who also might be working alongside him, I fear that it would not be wise for you to continue as you are.” He drew in a long breath, seeing her watching him still and finding himself suddenly nervous. “You cannot continue to be introduced, conversed with, and courted by gentlemen that you do not know, for fear that you might be putting yourself in danger.”

Miss Wells tipped her head gently, watching him closely. “Then you are suggesting that I give up society altogether?”

“Not at all, Miss Wells,” he said hurriedly, aware of the knot that was forming in his stomach. “I propose that you accept my courtship and allow it to be made known throughout society.” The words began to tumble out of him as he attempted to explain. “We can, of course, bring such a thing to an end once Ravel has been caught and his plans completely foiled, but for the time being, I believe that—”

“I would be glad of your courtship, Lord Carroway.”

Her voice was so quiet and his astonishment so great that, for some moments, Edward did know what to say or how to respond. He stared at Miss Wells, the blood roaring in his ears as she smiled at him.

And then, Miss Merry Wells shifted in her seat, her eyes fluttering as she coughed, and the moment became urgent.

“Thank you, Miss Wells,” Edward stammered, not quite certain what else he should say. “I thank you for your understanding and your patience.”

To his surprise, Miss Wells laughed, her eyes dancing. “You speak as though it is of some great torment to me, Lord Carroway,” she said, teasing him. “But I confess that I do not consider it so.” Her smile lingered, her expression softening, and Edward felt heat rush through him. “Oh, if we are to be courting, might you accompany me to the bookshop tomorrow afternoon?” A faint blush rose in her cheeks as he stammered his acceptance. “It is only that I attempted to push away Lord Huckleby’s request to walk with me tomorrow by pretending that I was already engaged for a short walk to the bookshop with you.”

Edward felt warmth flood his heart, and he rose to his feet, feeling both content and satisfied with how the evening had gone. “I should be glad to, Miss Wells,” he stated, as she got to her feet and offered him her hand. Taking it in his, he allowed the sparks to shoot up his arm and into his heart, accepting his feelings calmly and without forcing himself to push them away. Bowing over her hand, he reluctantly let it go and made to take his leave. “Until tomorrow then, Miss Wells. I look forward to spending some more time in your company.”

She smiled at him, her eyes seeming to glow with the same pleasure he felt. “As do I, Lord Carroway,” she promised, sending him on his way with a sudden surge of joy in his heart that captured him tightly and refused to let him go.

Chapter Twelve

“Mama, you must talk to her!”

Titania sighed heavily as Lady Whitehaven frowned in her direction. There was a good deal of surprise in her mother’s eyes, which Titania had expected, given that Lord Carroway had not approached her in order to court Titania, but perhaps also from the fact that Titania had accepted without hesitation.

“Lord Carroway is known to be a rake, Titania,” Dinah said firmly, looking at Titania from across the dining table. “Even I, who seeks to keep myself from the rumors and the gossip that spreads like a malignant disease through the beau monde, have heard of him.”

Titania felt a good deal of irritation rise in her heart and frowned heavily in Dinah’s direction. “That is most surprising to hear, Dinah, given that you have always stated that it is important not to judge others and ensure that the truth is always sought instead of simply accepting what one hears about another.” She narrowed her eyes and saw the color flood Dinah’s cheeks. “Does it not say that ‘the Lord looks upon the heart’ instead of merely the outward appearance? Therefore, should we not do so also?”

“That is enough, Titania,” Lady Whitehaven interrupted firmly. “You are correct, but Dinah is also right to be concerned for you. The rumors about Lord Carroway are concerning.”

“But that is all they are, Mama,” Titania insisted, wishing that she could speak openly about what Lord Carroway truly did. “I have spoken to him of them, and he has shown me just how much he despises them. In truth, I cannot be certain that these idle whispers have not been started by another gentleman who dislikes Lord Carroway intensely.” She shook her head, recalling Lord Huckleby’s determination to remove her from Lord Carroway entirely, wondering how he would react when he heard that she and Lord Carroway were now courting. “Please allow me the opportunity to make my own decisions as regards the gentleman.” She looked across the table at her mother, seeing the indecision on Lady Whitehaven’s face and praying inwardly that her mother would not forbid the courtship from continuing.

“You stepped out with him earlier today, did you not?” Lady Whitehaven asked slowly, her gaze settling back onto Titania. “This Lord Carroway took you to…?”

“To the bookshop, Mama,” Titania replied quickly. “And he was the most pleasant of gentlemen.” A soft smile tugged at her lips as she considered what had passed between them, her heart filling with pleasure over what she had experienced with him. Lord Carroway had been excellent company, and they had conversed on a good many subjects for some time. They had not spoken of Ravel or of the vial, nor of the danger Titania might be in. Instead, they simply enjoyed one another’s company without even worrying about the danger that might surround them both. Lord Carroway had spoken to her of his life as an orphan and had been more than honest with her about all that he had experienced. The pain that came with not knowing the truth of his family heritage and not even knowing whether or not it truly was a duke who was responsible for his very existence was obviously a great source of pain for him, and Titania had marveled at the strength within him to continue on as he did. She could not imagine what it must be like to not know where one came from and to feel as alone as Lord Carroway stated he so often did.

“You are quite certain that you wish to allow this gentleman to court you, Titania?” Lady Whitehaven asked, as Catherine shook her head firmly beside her, making her thoughts on the matter clear. “You are aware that there may be consequences for you if he proves to be the rake that everyone believes him to be? He may set you aside if you do not respond to his less-than-proper advances.”

This riled Titania and sent a flurry of anger rushing up her spine, color filling her cheeks. “I am quite determined, Mama,” she stated plainly. “I do not believe the rumors. Lord Carroway has been nothing but a gentleman towards me, and I should like to continue my courtship.”

Lady Whitehaven pressed her lips together tightly, evidently considering all that Titania had said and weighing up the matter in her own mind. Titania waited for judgement to fall, her hands tightening into fists under the table in an attempt to calm her anxiety.

“I do not like that Lord Carroway himself did not come to speak to me of his intentions, Titania. Nor am I particularly pleased with your decision to agree to this courtship without even considering whether or not you ought to consult with me.”

“I am sorry, Mama,” Titania began, only for Lady Whitehaven to hold up one hand, silencing her.

“Therefore,” Lady Whitehaven stated, her final decision now forthcoming. “You will invite Lord Carroway to dine with us tomorrow. It will give me the opportunity to know him a little better and, if I am satisfied with his conduct and am certain that he truly means to consider you in the way that he ought, then I shall be content to allow the courtship to continue.”

Titania let out a long breath of relief. “Thank you, Mama.”

“However,” Lady Whitehaven continued in a loud voice. “If I am not convinced by him, then you will bring this courtship to an end at once. Do I make myself quite clear?” Her eyes were sharp as they landed on Titania, but Titania had no concern whatsoever, knowing that Lord Carroway would do more than convince her mother that there was no truth to the rumor that he was a rake.

“I understand,” Titania said, smiling at her mother and catching the slight softness in Lady Whitehaven’s expression. “Thank you, Mama. I shall write to him this very moment and invite him to dine with us tomorrow. Do excuse me.”

* * *

The following evening found Titania back in the dining room, sitting in her usual seat except that, this time, Lord Carroway was with them. He had been permitted to sit by her, and Titania was becoming more than aware of his presence, feeling her heart pounding with a quick, excited beat as she smiled up into his face. Lord Carroway smiled back, although there was a slight nervousness in his expression that told her he was, mayhap, a trifle anxious about this meeting.

The first few courses were served without any particular difficulty, and the conversation moved from various benign topics to ones that held a little more interest for Titania. Lord Carroway spoke well, ensuring that he spoke directly to Lady Whitehaven, Merry, Catherine, and Dinah, although the latter did not show any particular delight in engaging in conversation with him, given her quiet responses.

“Might I ask you something a little more direct, Lord Carroway?”

Dessert was being served by this point and, as Titania stiffened, she realized that her mother had grown tired of the banal conversation and was now determined to speak to the viscount directly.

“Indeed, Lady Whitehaven,” Lord Carroway replied, setting down his spoon and looking back at Titania’s mother. “I shall do my very best to answer truthfully.”

“Good.” Lady Whitehaven’s smile was tight lipped. “I am a trifle disappointed that you did not come to speak to me regarding the courtship of my daughter, Lord Carroway. It is not what is usually done.”

There was a short, tense silence, and Titania was forced to set aside her own spoon and dessert, such was her fierce nervousness that seemed to rifle all through her.

“You are correct, Lady Whitehaven.”

Titania looked at Lord Carroway sharply, seeing his expression one of regret.

“It was clumsily done,” he continued, not looking at Titania but continuing to address Lady Whitehaven directly. “If I may speak honestly and confess something to you, then perhaps you might understand my foolishness.” So saying, he turned his head towards Titania and gave her a long look, his eyes holding something that made her breath hitch. “The truth is, Lady Whitehaven, I have never once felt so strongly for a young lady that I have found myself wishing to court her,” he said, turning back to look at Lady Whitehaven, as Titania found heat rising upwards within her, starting at her toes. “Therefore, when I realized that I wished to seek out your daughter in order to court her, I found myself doing and speaking things in a most awkward fashion. I did not do things correctly, as you say.” He shook his head and gave Titania another quick smile. “But Miss Wells accepted me regardless.”

“I see.” Lady Whitehaven’s voice was sharp, although there was a slight softening about her eyes that betrayed a growing consideration towards Lord Carroway. “You say, then, that you have not sought such a courtship before?”

“No, indeed I have not,” Lord Carroway answered truthfully, already aware of what Lady Whitehaven was asking, given that Titania had spoken to him of it prior to his arrival at dinner that evening. “I know that there are rumors about my character, Lady Whitehaven, but none of them have any grounding in truth. I am not a rake, nor am I a scoundrel. If you wish, you might speak to some of my closer acquaintances, who will tell you that I have very rarely been seen within society. It is not my preference to be so caught up in all that goes on.”

“I quite understand that,” Catherine interrupted suddenly. “Although I am surprised to hear a gentleman say such a thing.” She gave Lord Carroway a small smile, and Titania felt her hopes lifting. “It is quite unusual, you must admit.”

“I do,” Lord Carroway chuckled, making Titania smile. “But I am a rather unusual gentleman, I believe, Miss Wells. I have returned to society with the awareness that I must do my duty and find a wife and continue the family line – but I did not expect to find myself so caught by this young lady here.” His expression gentled, and he looked towards her, making a flush catch her cheeks. She had not expected him to appear so tender in his words nor in his expression and was surprised by her own reaction. Looking away so that her blush would not deepen, she saw her mother’s eyebrow arch as she studied Lord Carroway, as though questioning inwardly what she could believe.

“You are very kind to speak so,” Titania found herself saying, not wanting there to be a long, pronounced silence that would stretch awkwardly across the room. “Thank you, Lord Carroway.”

He smiled. “You are most welcome, Miss Wells,” he replied, before picking up his spoon and making to tackle his dessert. Titania joined him, now feeling as though she could enjoy the delicious concoction that the cook had prepared for them, aware that her mother was, by now, appearing a good deal less concerned over Lord Carroway. The conversation turned to other things, such as the ball being thrown by Lord and Lady Winters, and Titania found herself enjoying Lord Carroway’s company. He was well spoken, affable, and made not only herself but her sisters smile. Dinah, of course, seemed quite determined not to like the gentleman and remained as quiet and as disinterested as she always did, but this did not subdue Titania’s spirits in any way whatsoever.

“I fear, Lord Carroway, that there is only you to sit and enjoy your port alone,” Lady Whitehaven said, as they finished their dessert. “I shall have tea sent through for ourselves, but you are more than welcome to join us with your port if you so wish.”

Lord Carroway rose to his feet, a broad smile on his face. “I could not imagine sitting alone here whilst the rest of you remained in the drawing room,” he said, looking down at Titania. “If it suits you, then I should be glad to join you in the drawing room.”

“Then mayhap Titania will walk with you,” Lady Whitehaven suggested, bestowing a smile on Titania, which told her that she had no need to concern herself over her mother’s worries as regarded Lord Carroway any longer. “We shall join you in a few moments.”

“That went as well as I hoped it might,” Titania said, as the dining room door closed softly behind them. “I do hope you were not made to feel unwelcome in any way.”

“None whatsoever,” Lord Carroway replied at once, looking at her. “In fact, Miss Wells, I had a most enjoyable evening.”

Titania hesitated, an urge growing within her that she was not sure whether to give voice to. “Might I ask, Lord Carroway, if you would consider simply referring to me as ‘Titania’?” she asked, a trifle nervously as her gaze darted towards his face. “It seems that we are being very proper whereas I feel as though there is no need to be doing so when we are in such a strange set of circumstances as the ones that surround us at present!”

For a long moment, Lord Carroway remained silent, walking slowly beside her with his arms held tightly behind his back. Titania blushed with embarrassment, wondering if he thought she had spoken out of turn or had been too forward with her suggestions.

“I should be honored, Miss Wells,” he murmured, sending a wave of relief crashing over her. “Forgive me my hesitation. It is only that I am quite overwhelmed with the intimacy that has grown so swiftly between us, for it is something I confess I have never experienced before.”

“Oh.” Titania did not know what else to say, aware that her blush remained in her cheeks as warmth rose up within her.

“I will be honest with you, Titania,” Lord Carroway continued quietly, now looking down at her. “I did mean every word that I spoke within the dining room as regarded our acquaintance. I have never once felt anything akin to what tumultuous emotions ravage my soul whenever I so much as see a delicate smile on your lips or the beauty of your countenance.” He cleared his throat abruptly and then looked away, as though embarrassed by what he had admitted. “You will think me much too forward. And since it has not been a particularly long acquaintance, I am certain that you will think me quite ridiculous.”

“No, indeed!” Titania exclaimed, reaching for his arm before she could prevent herself. “I value your honesty, Lord Carroway, truly.” She found herself looking up into his eyes, not realizing that they had come to a sudden, abrupt stop in the middle of the hallway. “It is not as though you are alone in feeling such things.”

Lord Carroway swallowed hard, his jaw working for a moment as he looked down into her eyes. Titania’s heart began to race furiously as she held his gaze, her mouth going dry as she realized that their hands were now joined.

“I am not the sort of gentleman a lady such as you ought to consider, Titania,” he murmured, his eyes fixed on her face. “I am not a gentleman who can offer you the simple life of an estate, of trips to town and the like, not when I am as caught up with the army and my role therein.”

“I would not wish for such a life,” Titania replied firmly, speaking the truth from her heart. “I have always sought excitement and found myself eagerly anticipating the future, wondering what it might contain. I do not think, Lord Carroway, that I am at all the sort of young lady that any sensible gentleman should consider either.” A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “An earl, for example, should be the perfect choice for a young lady such as myself, and yet I found myself turning away from him almost at once, when it became clear that the sort of gentleman he was did not appeal to my heart in the least.”

Lord Carroway chuckled and some of the tension between them began to drain away. “You speak of the Earl of Huckleby, do you not?”

“I do,” she admitted, turning with him so that they might enter the drawing room together. “I will tell you truthfully, Lord Carroway, that he was not particularly pleased that I was turning away from him and towards you, but I confess that I did not care in the slightest for what he thought.” She looked up at him as he walked her to a chair close to the small fire burning in the hearth. “I think that I am not at all suited for a gentleman such as he, Lord Carroway.” She did not say anything more, aware that her meaning was clear to him, given the glimmer in his eye as he seated himself opposite her.

“I think, Titania, that I should consider myself a very lucky gentleman,” Lord Carroway murmured, as the voices of the others began to drift towards them from the hallway. “To have been considered by you is a wonder in itself, and I must hope that when Ravel is captured and this is at an end, that you will continue to consider me then also.”

“I am certain I shall,” Titania replied quickly, just before the door opened and her mother walked in, bringing a swift end to their intimate conversation.

Chapter Thirteen

“And you say you are to dine with them then this evening?”

“No, not to dine,” Edward replied patiently, aware of the slight gleam in the lieutenant’s eye. “We are to attend a small soiree, I believe. The courtship between myself and Miss Wells will be made known and matters shall continue to progress as they ought.”

“I see.” The lieutenant cleared his throat, before getting up to pour Edward another brandy, which Edward accepted gratefully. “And you believe her to be in danger still?”

Edward sighed and nodded in frustration. “Ravel and his men will not know that Miss Wells does not have the vial nor the information contained within it any longer and, even if they did so, I am not convinced that they would simply allow her to continue on regardless. Remember that she has seen the face of the murderer.”

The lieutenant nodded gravely, taking a sip of his brandy before he spoke. “I have confirmed that one of the names on that paper you discovered in the vial is the man you believed it to be.”

Sitting up straight, Edward leaned forward, caught with a flurry of excitement. “And?”

“All four names are men who work in the palace—and one who is very close to the prince regent.” His face darkened. “I will not go into particular detail, save to say that one of the men, when questioned, has admitted to being involved with Ravel. He received a good deal of wealth for his trouble it seems.”

Edward let out a breath, both horrified and relieved that Ravel’s plan, for the time being, had been foiled. “Then that is treason,” he murmured, knowing all too well what the four men’s fates would be. “Do we consider the royal family to be safe from Ravel for the moment then?”

The lieutenant considered this for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I believe that they are safe from Ravel for the time being, although there is certainly not an end to the danger that Ravel poses. We must discover him, Carroway.”

Nodding, Edward rubbed his chin for a moment, thinking hard. “He will not be pleased that his plan has been discovered and the men removed,” he muttered, seeing the lieutenant’s eyes flare with a sudden awareness. “He could behave rashly.”

“Or he could attempt to remove you and any of the others who work under us,” the lieutenant replied, a dark frown on his face. “You had best be on your guard, Carroway.”

Feeling a slight twinge of worry in his heart, Edward thrust it aside at once. “Ravel has known who I am for some time,” he said, trying to remove his fear entirely. “He has always had the opportunity to remove me from the Earth should he wish to but, as yet, he has not made any attempt to do so.”

“He has left you those buttons,” the lieutenant countered swiftly. “He enjoys toying with you, Carroway. He enjoys proving himself to be the victor in all things. He likes to see you scurry about in an attempt to find him. I would state that Ravel, whoever he is, likes the chase that comes with your investigations. The enjoyment he finds is escaping from you and leaving you the button should not be forgotten. The man has a dark mind and an even darker spirit. I do not think that he will hesitate to remove your life from you if he is given the opportunity, not when you have foiled what has been a very large and important plan.”

What Lieutenant James said did make sense, Edward had to admit. He had often wondered why Ravel had never sent a man to kill him, but now that the lieutenant suggested that the fellow enjoyed watching Edward’s efforts come to nothing, he felt a sudden understanding crash into his mind. This time, Edward had not failed. With the help of Miss Wells, he had discovered the truth about Ravel’s plans and, in doing so, had put an end to them. The four men involved would be hung for treason and a much closer watch would be put on everyone who worked for the king. It was wise to expect that there might now come some form of retribution.

“You must be on your guard,” the lieutenant finished, as Edward’s frown deepened. “Even this evening, watch your step when you are in the midst of society. You cannot tell where this Ravel might appear from.”

“I shall,” Edward promised, realizing that it was time for him to call upon Miss Wells and her family so that they might attend the soiree together. “I am glad that the royal family is safe, Lieutenant. It is a relief to know that they are in no present danger and that our concerns as regards the French are, for the moment, at an end.” He got to his feet and shook the lieutenant’s hand firmly. “I shall ensure that Miss Wells remains out of Ravel’s clutches.”

“As you yourself must do also,” the lieutenant repeated firmly. “Good evening to you, Carroway. And take care.”

* * *

The evening was already beginning to draw in and Edward found himself quite enjoying the quietness of the London streets. He had hailed a hackney to take him to the townhouse but had realized that he was a trifle early and so had asked it to stop some streets away so that he might walk. The warnings of the lieutenant were still ringing in his ears as he began to make his way towards the house, knowing that he had to be on his guard.

Ravel might be anywhere.

The thought of seeing Miss Wells again, however, took some of his nervous anticipation from him. The moments they had shared after dinner last evening had taken his breath away and even now, just thinking of it had filled him with both shock and delight. Miss Wells had asked him to call her “Titania” and even that particular intimacy had left him astonished. The words he had spoken to her, confessing his feelings and his growing admiration of her had not ever meant to be said, for he had thought himself almost foolish in his desire to grow closer to her. However, something about Titania had forced those words from his lips, making him speak to her with such truthfulness that it had felt as though a great weight rolled from his shoulders as he did so.

Titania had, in turn, told him that she too was filled with emotions that she could not quite express. It was utterly astonishing that such a beautiful, vibrant young lady could ever be drawn towards a gentleman such as him, but he did not doubt her words, not even for a moment. The way she had spoken of Lord Huckleby, the way she had admitted to him that she had turned from the earl and towards him, had left him in no doubt that she spoke the truth.

A sudden sound had him freezing in place, realizing with a sudden sense of dread that he had quite lost all awareness of his surroundings. Having let his mind fill with thoughts of Titania, he had forgotten to pay close attention to his own surroundings. Cursing silently under his breath, he turned around – only for something hard to slam into one side of his face.

Staggering backwards, Edward tried to get his bearings, tried to grasp at something to help him stand up but found himself falling backwards. His back slammed into a set of iron railings, forcing him to stay upright. Another blow hit him hard on the other side of his face, and he let out a shout of pain, his fists flailing out around him as he tried to defend himself.

“You have gone too far this time, Carroway!”

The voice was familiar, but Edward could not quite place it.

“I was so very close, and you had to step in my way.”

Something warm was trickling down over his eyes and Edward wiped at it futilely, trying to make out the man in front of him, only to see that the man had covered his face with something, save only for his eyes.

“Ravel,” Edward breathed, trying to find the strength within himself to stand upright but still feeling disorientated and sick. “You shall not defeat us.”

The man did not deny the name but laughed harshly, mocking him loudly. Edward winced as he managed to grasp onto the iron railings, pushing himself up.

“This means nothing,” Ravel said, pulling something out from his waistband – and with horror, Edward realized that it was a knife. The warnings from Lieutenant James suddenly burst to life, making Edward aware that he was now about to fight for his life. “You shall not be permitted to continue getting in the way of my plans, old boy,” Ravel mocked, sounding every bit the English gentleman. “I am afraid that it is the end for you now. I have enjoyed our little game, but you have become a little too close and I will not let you continue on.” So saying, he lunged forward with his knife, but Edward, having regained a little strength, dodged out of the way and stood, breathing hard, on the pavement.

“Good gracious, we are going to have a little fun, are we not?” Ravel chuckled, advancing slowly upon Edward. “You do not think that you are going to be able to defeat me now, do you? Not when you have so little to defend yourself with and certainly no one to turn to – not even to that pretty little Miss Wells that you have taken a liking to.”

It was as though the sound of Titania’s name on Ravel’s lips sent a fresh fire bursting through Edward. His rage grew steadily as he hunkered down into a fighting stance, knowing that he had to do everything he could to both defend himself and attempt to capture Ravel. He would not be made a mockery of any longer.

“You have hidden yourself in plain sight, have you not?” he grated, as Ravel took another step. “But even still, you are nothing but a coward. You hide your face from someone you intend to put an end to.” He allowed his tone to become mocking. “Why is that, Ravel? Do you fear that I might succeed in defending myself? Do you think that you shall have to run from me, as you have before?”

Ravel’s eyes narrowed, and—without warning—he lunged forward, forcing Edward to dodge out of the way, only to feel pain slice through his shoulder as he did so. As hard as he could, he swung his fist in Ravel’s direction, hitting him squarely in the eye. Ravel staggered backwards, a shout of pain on his lips, and Edward did not hesitate but moved forward at once, ignoring the pain in his side and striking Ravel hard again. Ravel fell backwards, the knife spinning out of his hand and landing on the cobbled streets. The cloth covering the man’s face slipped, but before Edward could do any more, before he could reach for the cloth and grasp at it to reveal the man’s face in its entirety, a shout came from behind him.

“You there!” came an indignant voice. “What do you think you’re doing?”

A man Edward did not know hurried past him, kicking the knife even further away from Ravel as the man struggled to his feet. “What in heaven’s name is going on?”

Edward groaned aloud, the pain in his side burning hotter as, to his immense frustration, Ravel picked himself up and, with a shout of defiance, ran away from Edward and melted into the darkness.

“Did he get you?” the stranger asked, as Edward slumped to the ground, his back against the railings and one hand pressed tightly to his side. “Goodness. Listen, let me just go get you some help.”

“That house there,” Edward croaked, the pain in his head from where Ravel had hit him beginning to cloud his mind. “Ask for Miss Titania Wells. She will come at once.” The words seemed heavy on his lips, making him struggle to speak clearly as he closed his eyes, hearing the man say something that he could not quite make out.

Doubt and frustration plagued his mind. He had been so desperate to capture Ravel, so determined to finally have him dragged from his security and into England’s strong arms, that to know that he had escaped yet again was utterly devastating. He suddenly felt quite hopeless, blackness surrounding him as he accepted the pain that ran through him. He drew it close to himself. Unconsciousness beckoned him, and he went to it willingly, wanting to lose himself in the darkness completely.

“Carroway?”

The voice of Titania Wells pulled him away from the inky blackness, forcing him to move, to speak, to do something to reassure her that he still lived.

“Lord Carroway!” Titania’s voice was urgent, her hands settling on his face. “Whatever happened? Are you hurt?”

The man who had come to Edward’s rescue muttered something about Edward’s side, and before Edward had the strength to say anything, Titania gasped aloud and let out a soft cry.

“We must get him indoors at once,” she said urgently, grasping his hands tightly. “Get the footmen and the maids and have him brought inside.”

The sound of Miss Merry Wells’ voice then came to Edward’s ears, sounding just as horrified as Titania. Edward groaned, feeling Titania’s gentle hands cup his face as he did so.

“You are injured, Lord Carroway,” he heard Titania say, struggling to get his eyes open. “I will take you into the house. You will be looked after there. I shall send for a surgeon at once.”

Edward forced his eyes open with an effort, looking blearily into Titania’s face as her features slowly came into view. “Ravel,” he muttered, seeing her eyes widen. “He was here.”

“Well, he is not here now,” Titania replied swiftly, as footmen began to hurry around him. “You are quite safe, Carroway.”

The darkness was beckoning him again, and Edward wanted desperately to go into it, but his mind was urging him to remember something of import, to tell Titania something that would make all of the difference once he had recovered. Her hand was now on his, and he held it with as much strength as he could, his mind trying to pull itself out of the fog that held it.

“Knife,” he muttered, suddenly remembering. “Find it. Please.”

“I will,” Titania said gently, squeezing his hand. “I must go now. You will be taken inside, and I will return to you in a moment.”

Edward wanted to say more; he wanted to ask her to stay but his lips would not move no matter how hard he tried. His eyes closed, his body going limp as he gave himself up to unconsciousness, the pain running through his body finally ceasing.

Chapter Fourteen

Titania had been sitting idly by the fire in the drawing room, waiting for Lord Carroway to arrive and feeling such a sense of excitement within her that she had felt the urge to begin to pace up and down the room in the hopes of settling her spirits somewhat.

Having just been about to do such a thing, it had come as something of a surprise to hear that a gentleman was waiting to speak to her at the door of the house and that he was most insistent, stating that it was an urgent matter that required her attention at once.

Hurrying down the staircase, Titania saw the man standing in the threshold, his hat in his hands. She did not recognize him, taking in his short stature, thinning grey hair, and rather thick moustache.

“Yes?” she asked, moving quickly towards him. “Is there something that I can help you with, sir?”

The man looked at her, shifting from foot to foot. “There is a gentleman just outside this door who is asking for you,” he said by way of explanation. “He’s been hurt rather badly, but insisted that I speak to Miss Titania Wells.”

Titania hesitated for a moment, trying to sort out in her mind what the gentleman meant. The warnings about Ravel rang in her mind, making her wonder if this was some sort of plot.

“He’s been stabbed, I think,” the gentleman continued, making to walk towards the open door as though she should follow him. “He was asking for you, Miss Titania Wells, and I said I would fetch you. I think he’ll need a doctor.”

Titania drew in a long breath and looked up at the butler, who was eyeing the man with a good deal of suspicion. “Do attend with me if you please,” she murmured, seeing the butler nod his head at once. “It may be nothing of importance, but I still think that I…” She trailed off as she walked down the stone steps, her heart in her throat as she made out a slumped figure of a gentleman lying back against the railings. His dark hair was brushed over his face as his head remained low over his chest and, with a start, Titania realized that it was none other than Lord Carroway.

“Footmen, at once!” she exclaimed, turning to the butler in horror. “And send for a surgeon. At once. Have a room prepared for him.”

“A-at once,” the butler stammered, his face a little pale.

“And fetch my sister and Mama,” Titania called over her shoulder, hurrying towards the prone form of Lord Carroway, panic filling her. “Tell them it is Lord Carroway.”

Her hands were trembling as she reached for him, kneeling on the dirty street and caring nothing for her new gown. “Carroway,” she exclaimed, suddenly afraid that he might be cold to her touch but forcing herself to press her hands to his face regardless. “Lord Carroway! What happened? Are you hurt?”

Seeing his hand pressed to his side and how he struggled to pull himself from unconsciousness, Titania closed her eyes tightly for a moment, forcing herself to remain as calm as she could. Lord Carroway needed her assistance, else he might succumb to what was an obvious injury. His hand slipped to reveal the growing stain across his shirt and she caught her breath, feeling a shudder run through her.

How she managed to get through the next few minutes without collapsing or feeling herself drawing near to fainting, Titania was not quite certain. However, as she watched Lord Carroway being brought into the house, with Merry and Lady Whitehaven at the door, standing as two horrified marble statues, Titania felt herself fill with a sudden, fierce resolve. Edward had managed to tell her that Ravel had been the one to do this to him, and she was not about to draw back in fear from such a man. No, instead she was determined to help Edward in any way she could so that Ravel could be brought to justice and the difficulties he brought to Edward gone forever.

The knife.

Swallowing hard, Titania looked all about her for the knife that Edward had asked her to find. The knife that had been thrust into his side, the one that would be covered in his blood. It took her some minutes to find it, but eventually she saw it glinting in the dull lantern light, and she forced herself to reach for it. Picking it up carefully by the handle, she tried not to shudder as she held it up to the lantern light, seeing the pearl handle and the long, thin blade. Why Carroway wanted it, she did not know, but perhaps, she thought, as she hurried inside, he might be have seen it before and therefore he would be able to discover the truth about Ravel.

Hurrying back inside, Titania saw her mother wringing her hands as she waited for her, clearly upset by all that had occurred.

“Whatever do you have there, Titania?” Lady Whitehaven exclaimed, her face ashen. “Surely it cannot be…”

“Lord Carroway bade me fetch it, Mama,” Titania said softly. “I must do as he requests.”

Her mother closed her eyes tightly but gestured her to hurry inside. “Close the door and bar it,” she instructed the butler, opening her eyes again as Titania set the knife down on a white cloth that one of the footmen held out for her. “Make sure that those who enter are known to us. It may be that whoever has attacked Lord Carroway may attempt to do so again.”

“I do not think they will, Mama,” Titania said, trying to reassure her as she handed the now cloth-covered knife to one of the footmen, bidding him to take it to Lord Carroway’s bedchamber. “It would be futile to even attempt it.”

“Regardless,” Lady Whitehaven replied, her voice a little shrill. “We must remain vigilant.” She drew near Titania and, unexpectedly, drew her into her embrace. “Goodness child, I was worried for you.”

Titania leaned into her mother, feeling tears prick at her eyes. “I am worried for Carroway, Mama.”

Lady Whitehaven let out a long breath and looked down fondly at Titania. “You care for him, do you not?”

Titania closed her eyes against the tears that dampened her eyes. “I fear that I have come to care for him a great deal, Mama. I did not know that I could feel such a depth of affection.” A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed twice in an attempt to dislodge it. “To see him lying there, to know that he has been gravely injured, I…” She trailed off, tears escaping from behind her eyes and running down her cheeks.

“I am certain that Lord Carroway will recover,” her mother replied, still holding her close and speaking to her in a reassuring manner. “He will be restored to you soon enough, my dear. I am certain of it.”

Titania wanted to speak but could not, what with the tears that were lodged in her throat. She sniffed hard and found her mother pressing a handkerchief into her hands, which made her laugh softly despite her tears. Lady Whitehaven was, even in her kindest moments, still one for complete propriety and good manners.

A knock at the door had her jumping in surprise, but within a few moments, an older gentleman with a long, thin nose and a pair of pince-nez set on them walked into the house, a bag held in one hand.

“The surgeon, Mama,” Titania whispered, stepping away from her mother as Lady Whitehaven hurried to address the man. She watched with anxious eyes as the surgeon was led away by one of the footmen, praying that he would be able to help Lord Carroway.

“You can see him once the surgeon had completed his ministrations, Titania, Lady Whitehaven said, sounding a good deal more in control of her emotions than before. “Come now. You must be tired. Let us go and change and then seek some refreshments.”

Titania nodded, glancing down at her gown and see the streaks of red that caught at various parts of it. She swallowed hard, chasing away the rest of her tears as she lifted her chin, determined not to lose her composure. “Thank you, Mama,” she said, following after her mother and feeling a new sense of strength fill her. “I think I shall do just that.”

* * *

One hour later and Titania was finally allowed in to see Lord Carroway. She had changed, eaten, and drank copious cups of tea but still had found the door to Lord Carroway’s room to be closed to her. Her mother had been sitting with her in the parlor, along with her sisters, and they had, for once, simply been sitting in silence as they waited for the surgeon to reappear. Dinah had not joined them but had stated that she would remain in her room praying for Lord Carroway and for the skill of the surgeon. Rather than be annoyed by this, Titania had found herself quite grateful for her cousin’s willingness to do such a thing and had herself prayed for Lord Carroway’s recovery as she waited for the surgeon to return.

Now, as she hurried into the guest bedchamber, her heart in her throat, Titania found herself fearing what she might see. The memory of Lord Carroway lying slumped against the railings would not leave her, fearing that he had lost a good deal of blood and might now be danger of losing his life.

However, to her very great surprise, as she walked into the room, she saw Lord Carroway sitting in a chair by the fire and not lying in bed as she had expected. A clean shirt had been given to him and, whilst it remained untucked and rather lose about his waist, it did not hold any streaks of blood. His face was, however, quite badly bruised, and one eye appeared to be swelling closed, but he was not drawing near to death, as she had feared.

Such was her relief that Titania almost stumbled with the sudden weakness that caught at her heart, blinking her tears away as she made her way quickly to him.

“Forgive my lack of formal attire,” Lord Carroway quipped, a small smile tugging at his mouth as he gestured to his shirt. “The surgeon was forced to stick a needle and thread into my side, and therefore, I am quite unable to dress as I ought.”

Titania let out a half sob, half gasp of relief and practically fell at his feet, her hands catching his as she sat on her knees and looked up into his face. Lady Whitehaven remained at the door, talking quietly to the surgeon and allowing Titania some private moments with Lord Carroway.

“I am quite all right, Titania, as you can see,” Lord Carroway murmured, putting both hands over hers and squeezing them gently. “I was lost to unconscious for a time, and I confess that I have a terrible headache but that was due to the blow to my head rather than the knife to my side.”

Titania nodded, her breath rattling out of her as she fought to keep her composure. She wanted nothing more than to rest her head in his lap and sob with relief, but she forced herself not to do so. Her eyes lifted to his, and she saw him smile tenderly, despite the bruises that covered either side of his face.

“The knife,” she whispered quietly, unable to find her voice. “I-I have recovered it.”

“I know,” he replied, letting go of her hand so that he might run his fingers down the side of her face. “The footman brought it to me, but I fear that I do not recognize it. The lieutenant or one of the others might however.”

“And you did not see Ravel’s face?” Titania asked, searching Lord Carroway’s features. “You did not see what he looked like?”

Lord Carroway frowned, then winced. “No,” he grunted, evidently in pain. “My gaze was somewhat hazy given the blows I received from the fellow, and even if my eyes had remained clear, he had covered his face with a cloth of some sort, so that I could not recognize him. However, his voice…” He trailed off, his brows furrowing.

“You recognized his voice?” Titania asked urgently, her heart quickening suddenly. “Then that means you know him.”

“Yes,” Lord Carroway agreed, his tone a little dark. “That is precisely what it means.”

Titania let out a long breath, her heart and mind caught up with a sudden anticipation. “Then he is someone you are acquainted with.”

“And the way he spoke,” Lord Carroway said, speaking slowly as his thoughts began to align themselves. “He spoke as though he were a well-educated English gentleman.”

Titania caught her breath, her eyes widening. “Then that means that Ravel could be someone within your social circle.”

Lord Carroway let out a small exclamation. “I am afraid that I have a very small social circle, Titania,” he muttered, wincing as he ran his one hand through his hair, evidently having forgotten about his injuries. “But whilst that should aid me in my attempts to discover him, it does not mean that I have any certainty over the truth of his identity.”

Titania let out another breath and tried to think. She wanted to help Carroway in some way, wanted to be able to aid him in his efforts to discover him – and suddenly, an idea caught at her mind.

“If he is within society, then surely I myself might recognize him,” she said quickly, as Lord Carroway gave her a sharp look. “Did you fight back at him, Carroway? Was he injured in any way?”

It took a few moments but, eventually, Lord Carroway began to nod. “He was,” he said slowly. “I hit him hard across the face. A bruise would form very quickly, I am certain of it.”

“Then I shall go to as many social occasions as I can over the next few days, whilst you recover, and attempt to discover which gentleman bears a mark of a bruise on his face,” she said firmly, seeing him open his mouth to protest but holding up one hand to stem his complaints. “If he is not present in society, then he will be notable by his absence. I know a good many gentlemen from within the beau monde and can use that knowledge to discover the truth about Ravel. Please do not protest, Carroway. You know that you will need to rest and recover, and this is one thing that I can do to aid you in your search.” She held his gaze, looking up at him steadily and praying that he would not forbid her from doing such a thing.

Eventually, Lord Carroway let out a long breath and shook his head gently, his shoulders a little slumped. “I do not think that I will be able to prevent you from doing so, Titania, even if I should wish you to remain entirely uninvolved,” he said with a small smile. “Please, do be careful, my dear.” His tender words touched her heart, making her lean a touch closer to him, her heart filling with a fresh affection for him.

“I will be, Carroway,” she promised, seeing the gentleness in his eyes and feeling herself longing for something she could not quite understand. “How long must you rest?”

Lord Carroway frowned, his expression a little frustrated. “Two days, at the very least,” he stated, glancing towards the surgeon. “I know from experience that it is best to do as one is told when it comes to such matters.” He looked back at her and again, allowed his fingers to trail down her cheek, making her breath hitch. “You will inform me at once if you so much as think that you have noted something of interest, will you not?”

“Of course,” Titania promised, wishing she could lean up and press her lips to his, such was the urgency of affection beating in her heart. “I look forward to the day when you are free of this, Lord Carroway, and I shall do all I can to aid you in this.”

“You are quite remarkable, Titania,” he murmured, beginning to lower his head but catching himself in time. Titania’s heart fluttered, but she forced herself to rise, to let his hand go and to turn towards her mother, who was, by now, beginning to approach them both. A determination filled her as she listened to her mother asking after Lord Carroway, hearing him respond with gratitude. She would find this Ravel, would bring his name to Carroway, and would watch in satisfaction as he was taken from his position in society. Lord Carroway would be free from that burden for good, and perhaps then, they might be able to discuss and consider their future together, for Titania knew that she would not be able to separate herself from Lord Carroway any longer. Her heart was too filled with him, too caught up with affection and the very beginnings of love. She had to hope that it would not be too long before she could confess as much to him, wondering if he too would admit that his own heart had a love for her that was growing with every day that passed.

Chapter Fifteen

“Might I say that you look rather well this evening, Miss Wells?”

Titania looked up into Lord Darlington’s face and scrutinized it carefully for a moment or two, no smile lingering on her lips. “I thank you, Lord Darlington.”

He did not appear to be confused by her scrutiny but rather pleased, smiling down into her eyes with the warmth of a gentleman hoping to secure a lady’s particular favors.

“Might I dance with you this evening?”

Titania, with a small, inward sigh, held out her dance card to the gentleman and saw his eyes glow with pleasure. This was not going as well as she had hoped, for none of the gentleman she had sought out or who had approached her showed any signs of having been in a scuffle and her dance card would soon be full.

“I thank you, Miss Wells,” Lord Darlington said, bowing low over her hand before letting it go. “I look forward to our cotillion.”

She nodded, smiled, and watched him turn away, clearly leaving her in order to seek out others to whom he might capture a dance with. A long sigh escaped her as she looked all around the ballroom, wondering if this was to be another failed attempt at discovering Ravel.

“You appear quite ill at ease, Titania.”

Turning her head, Titania’s smile was brittle as she looked up into her mother’s face, taking in her sharp eyes and the slight frown forming between her brows.

“You are not enjoying the ball, Titania?” Lady Whitehaven’s words were wry, a small, knowing smile capturing her mouth. “Or is it that you simply have not discovered your quarry as yet?”

Titania gave her mother a slight smile, knowing that Lady Whitehaven was fully aware of all that was going on. After Titania’s determination to help Lord Carroway discover Ravel by attending as many social occasions as possible, Lady Whitehaven had sought Titania out and demanded to know the truth about what had occurred with Lord Carroway and why Titania was now responding to as many invitations as she could.

It had taken Titania some time to confess the truth to her mother, but Lady Whitehaven had been more than determined to discover the truth, showing Titania where she got her stubbornness from. Lady Whitehaven was sharp eyed and quick witted and had known that the story Lord Carroway had told her of some fellow attempting to steal from him who had, in the end, stabbed him in order to get away, was not the truth in its entirety. If that had been the case, she had asked, why then had he asked Titania to bring the knife into the house?

Of course, Titania had not had any other choice but to be honest with her mother. Lady Whitehaven had reacted with surprise but had not demanded that Titania step away from Lord Carroway entirely, as Titania had feared. Instead, she had told Titania clearly that she would not be tackling such a matter on her own and had insisted on throwing a ball for the ton in the hope that by doing so, Ravel might reveal himself. After all, their acquaintances were many and Lady Whitehaven had suggested that Lord Carroway himself might recognize the fellow simply from hearing his voice again. She and Titania were both considering each and every gentleman that approached them but, as yet, no one had appeared with a mark on their face.

“You must attempt to smile a little more,” Lady Whitehaven said, encouraging her daughter. “For if this Ravel is present, then he might notice your change in countenance and know that you seek him out.”

“You are quite right, Mama,” Titania replied heavily. “It is only that I am growing desperate to discover him so that Lord Carroway might be freed of his burden.”

Lady Whitehaven laughed softly. “And how much of a struggle must be in Lord Carroway’s heart over his prolonged length of time chasing such a fellow?” she asked, putting one hand on Titania’s shoulder. “Have no fear, my dear girl. Lord Carroway’s affections will linger for a long time, whether he catches this Ravel or not. I am quite certain of it.”

Titania felt herself blush and her mother’s smile grew all the more

“I am glad for you, Titania,” she said, as another gentleman drew near them. “But now, for the moment, remember to smile and that Lord Carroway himself is watching over you.”

This only made Titania’s blush deepen as her mother turned away, leaving her to face the next gentleman alone. Lord Carroway, who was recovering well, had decided to remain hidden away and so lingered in a small alcove where he could not easily be seen but could watch all that went on around him. To know that he was watching her brought both relief and a heightened sense of awareness.

“Miss Wells! It has been some time since I have seen you, has it not?”

“It has been a few days only, Lord Huckleby,” Titania replied dryly, curtsying quickly. “Good evening to you.”

He grinned at her, but Titania frowned to herself, seeing something different about Lord Huckleby but finding that she did not quite know what it was.

“Your dance card is not full, I pray?” Lord Huckleby enquired, his dark eyes capturing hers with such intensity that she felt she could not look away. “Might I be permitted to see it?”

She nodded wordlessly and handed it to him, studying him carefully as he bent over her card. What was it about him that was different this evening? He was, as far as she could tell, just as he had always been, but yet there was something nagging at her mind that told her she had to look again.

And then, it came to her. A swift gasp escaped from her but, hurriedly, Titania turned it into a cough, which she then begged his pardon for, forcing an embarrassed smile onto her lips.

“Are you quite all right, Miss Wells?” Lord Huckleby asked, dropping the dance card so that it dangled from her wrist once more. “Might I fetch you something to drink?”

Titania, whose heart was beating with such ferocity that she was sure Lord Huckleby could hear it, gave a small wave of her hand. “I believe I am quite all right, Lord Huckleby, I thank you.”

He peered at her, as though dissatisfied by her answer. “Are you certain?”

“More than certain,” she answered, suddenly desperate for him to depart so that she might seek out Lord Carroway. “What dances did you choose, Lord Huckleby?”

He grinned at her, his eyes dancing with something that Titania found she did not much like. Looking down at her dance card, her breath caught in her chest as she took in that he had written his name down for both her waltzes.

“Lord Huckleby,” she stated, looking up at him and forcing a calmness to her voice that she did not feel. “You cannot put yourself down for both waltzes. You know that the ton will take notice and that comments will be made.”

He shrugged, as though it did not matter to him at all what other people said. “I intend for the beau monde to be entirely aware of my intentions, Miss Wells,” he said, taking a step closer to her, his eyes fixed upon hers. “Does that not please you?”

She swallowed hard, feeling her stomach begin to tighten with anxiousness. “Lord Huckleby, given that you have not spoken to either myself or my mother about any particular intentions, I cannot understand what it is that you believe yourself to be doing by such an act as this.” She let her dance card go and lifted her chin, refusing to be intimidated by his sharp gaze. “I will not dance with you for both waltzes, Lord Huckleby.”

His eyes narrowed. “You will, Miss Wells,” he replied, lowering his head just a little so that the warning in his voice could not be mistaken. “I am not a gentleman used to being refused.”

A noise of derision escaped her, making Lord Huckleby’s gaze narrow further still. “I do not think, Lord Huckleby, that stating such a thing will make me any more likely to do as you wish,” she replied, unswerving in her answer. “I will not dance both waltzes with you, given that you have not spoken of your intentions to me and that, even if you had done so, I would not accept them from you. I have already begun to be courted by another, and it is to him that I intend to remain loyal.”

Lord Huckleby let out his breath in a hiss, his frame tightening with apparent frustration. “Do not tell me that you would choose a viscount over an earl, Miss Wells.”

She tipped her head gently, feeling a sudden reassurance fill her heart. “I would choose kindness over attempts at fear, Lord Huckleby,” she replied, aware that she was infuriating him but finding that she did not care. “I would choose understanding and consideration over arrogance and selfishness. In short, Lord Huckleby, yes, I would choose Lord Carroway over you. In fact, that is precisely what I have done.” Bobbing a curtsy, she forced a tight smile to her face. “Good evening, my Lord.”

Walking away from him, Titania pressed one hand against her heart, feeling it beat with such a fierceness that it was almost painful. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she hurried away, trying to remember where Lord Carroway was hiding himself. She knew now. She knew that Lord Huckleby was none other than Ravel, but that knowledge had to be pressed down and set aside so that it would not overwhelm her. Once she had found Lord Carroway, she could speak to him of what she had seen and allow him to proceed as he needed.

It had come to her in a sudden thrill of awareness, realizing that Lord Huckleby had set his hair to the opposite side of his head than usual. It had flopped over his left temple instead of his right, which meant that, most likely, he was hiding something beneath it. She did not have to guess what it was, believing that he was hiding a bruise that would prove him to be Ravel, the one who had attacked Lord Carroway and had sent men to steal the vial from her.

“I hardly think that you are going to be able to escape, Miss Wells.”

A gasp of fright escaped from her lips as she turned around to see Lord Huckleby advancing towards her as she hurried to the ballroom door, forgetting completely where Lord Carroway had hidden himself.

“I do not know what you mean, Lord Huckleby,” she lied, knowing that she had to find some excuse as to why she had been leaving the ballroom. “I am simply going to the powder room.” She did not run but remained standing, turning around to face him as he drew near. “Why are you following me in such a manner?”

Lord Huckleby glared at her, his expression dark. “I am not an idiot, Miss Wells,” he grated angrily. “I saw something in your eyes. An awareness, I think. If you are being courted by Lord Carroway, then it is most likely that he has told you the truth about his endeavors. Besides which, he was recovering at your mother’s house, was he not?”

Titania forced a look of surprise to her face, feeling her heart sink inwardly as she did so. Lord Huckleby had a sharp mind. It should not come as a surprise to her that he had surmised that she knew more than she had said, but still, she had to pretend otherwise.

“You will say nothing,” Lord Huckleby grated, reaching out and grasping her arm, making her gasp with fright. “I will not allow myself to be captured, Titania. Therefore, you must come with me.”

“I shall do no such thing,” Titania hissed, trying to wrench her arm away from him but finding his grip much too strong. There were only one or two guests near to them and, as the music began to play for the first dance, the guests hurried to the floor, giving Lord Huckleby his chance to force Titania out of the ballroom door.

“I should have had you killed the moment I first became aware of what you had seen,” Lord Huckleby muttered darkly, as he pushed her into a small, dark room that was not lit by even a single candle. “Foolishly, I did not.” He shoved her, hard, and Titania fell back onto a couch, her hands grasping tightly to it as though it might protect her in some way. “Your beauty was something I wished to have for myself. I thought you could be the decoration on my arm, but it seems you were determined to do otherwise. That vial you had in your possession was of the greatest importance to me, and yet you decided to show it to Lord Carroway.” He gritted his teeth, his anger evident as the moonlight streamed through the window, making him a shadowy, threatening figure that loomed over her. “Because of you, Titania, all of my plans are at an end.”

“Ravel,” she whispered, her mouth going dry as he laughed harshly.

“That is the name they gave me, yes,” he admitted, taking a step back to find a candle so that he could light it. “Working for the French has been much more profitable than simply remaining an English gentleman.”

Titania’s stomach turned over. “You did all of this for wealth?”

He shrugged, setting the now-lit candle on the table between them, his features lit up in a rather ominous fashion. “They have paid me well. When England falls, I shall have the prestige and the gratitude I deserve.”

“From the French.”

He shrugged again, looking down at her. “You shall have to learn to like it, Miss Wells, for it is there that you shall spend the rest of your days.”

Swallowing hard, Titania pushed herself up into a straighter seated position, her hands trembling as she forced them to settle in her lap. “I shall do no such thing.”

“Yes, you shall,” Lord Huckleby countered quickly. “Else I shall kill both you and Lord Carroway and leave your bodies here in England to rot.”

Fear crashed over her, but Titania drew in three long breaths, pushing away the buzzing in her head and trying to think clearly. “I will not go with you, Lord Huckleby,” she replied in as firm a voice as she could muster. “I would rather die than be a traitor.”

Lord Huckleby snorted. “Then I shall kill Lord Carroway.”

A silent scream lodged in Titania’s throat, and she found herself looking down helplessly at her hands, not at all certain what she ought to say.

“Although I confess that I fear it may take a few attempts before he succumbs completely, given how well he fought the last time,” Lord Huckleby continued airily, as though he were talking about something entirely benign. “Now, Miss Wells, if you do not wish for that to occur, then you will tell me how to remove both yourself and I from this house without being seen. If you make a sound, then I shall stab you, hard, and you will have no means to escape then.” He took a step forward and leaned over her. “Your life blood will drain from you and soak into your mother’s fine rugs.” He chuckled darkly, and Titania shuddered.

“You are trying to fill me with fear, but I will not allow it to take hold of me,” Titania told him, aware that she was lying but determined not to allow Lord Huckleby to see the true effect his words were having upon her. “I shall not leave this house without making as many people as I can aware of what your intentions are and the truth of your identity, for it is not only my life at stake but a good many others.” Holding his gaze, Titania squeezed her fingers together, forcing herself to take in a steadying breath. “You work for the enemy. Your plan was to bring down the royal family, and if I allow you to force me to leave this place without making so much as a sound, then what good am I to my King and to my country? You may be willing to betray them, Lord Huckleby, but I am not.”

Lord Huckleby leaned forward, the very air in the room seeming to fill with his presence. Titania felt herself tremble with fright as he did so, finding that she could not look away from him even if she wished to.

“Then your body shall be discovered here, in this very room, with the button left beside you,” he said, referring to the button that Lord Carroway had so often found in his attempts to chase and capture Ravel. “Lord Carroway will know that he has failed again, and that, this time, he has lost more than ever before.”

Before Titania could answer, the door behind Lord Huckleby flew open and slammed against the wall. She jumped, scrambling back against the cushions as Lord Huckleby turned around.

“I have not lost anything yet,” came the voice of Lord Carroway, standing framed in the doorway. “Now step away from Miss Wells and face me alone, Ravel. The time for your reckoning has come.”

Chapter Sixteen

Edward had been watching Titania closely, hidden in the shadows of the alcove Lady Whitehaven had led him to. Lady Whitehaven had informed him, quite succinctly, that she now knew everything about the very difficult situation which both he and her daughter found themselves in, but instead of losing her temper or hurrying Titania back to the estate as he thought she might do, she had surprised him by doing all she could to help.

Edward suspected that Lady Whitehaven might be aware of the growing affection between himself and Titania and had, in her own mind, decided that her daughter’s happiness would be worth going through the trouble of aiding him with the capture of Ravel. Either that or she knew that Titania was rather stubborn and would fight against any edict to remove herself from Edward’s company. In that way, Edward found himself both appreciative for Lady Whitehaven’s decision and Titania’s determination.

He had settled into his alcove with his eyes firmly fixed on Titania, marveling at the grace and the poise with which she moved. When she smiled, he found his heart lifting in his chest, his mind filling with delight at the mere sight of her. They had shared so much the last few days and the intimacy between them had grown steadily and with such force that it was almost unbelievable. Had Lady Whitehaven and the surgeon not been present some days ago, when he had been speaking to Titania whilst resting from what had been a very difficult ordeal, he would have bent his head to kiss her and, immediately thereafter, sought to make her his bride. It felt more than right to do such a thing, for he knew in his heart that there could be no one else like Titania, no one who could become so dear to him. To make her his wife, to bring her back to his estate and perhaps to settle into a life without the army had suddenly become a much more delightful prospect, and Edward knew with certainty that this was what he desired. Titania was enchanting, strong, and fiercely determined, and within that, he knew, was a growing affection for him – one that he could not help but return. He had never encountered any one like her before, and he was certain he would not find anyone like her again. Therefore, Edward knew that he had to ask her to be his wife and found himself growing ever more eager to do so.

That had been the only thought in his mind, right up until the moment that Lord Huckleby had come to stand in front of Titania. The way he had grasped her dance card with such a possessive manner had taken him aback, and seeing the way that Titania had frowned, he felt himself grow tense. It was not because he had thought that Lord Huckleby had anything to do with the French, but merely because he disliked how he spoke and treated Titania.

However, when Titania had retreated, her eyes wide and flared with a sudden fright, he had risen from his seat in the alcove and had begun to hurry towards her, the pain in his side nagging at him as he did so. Yes, he had recovered a great deal, but the wound was not yet well enough healed for him to move at any great speed. It tugged at him as he had moved towards her – but it had not been in enough time to prevent Lord Huckleby from grasping her arm and propelling her towards the door.

* * *

“Lord Carroway?”

Edward turned from where he stood, staring after Lord Huckleby, to see Lady Whitehaven approaching him, her expression one of fright.

“He is gone this way,” he said quickly, gesturing towards the door. “I know not where.”

Lady Whitehaven reached out and grasped his arm. “Who?” she asked, as Edward saw Titania’s two sisters and cousin coming towards them. “Who has taken her?”

“Lord Huckleby,” Edward replied in a low voice. “I must go in search of them. I do not think that he will have left the house, for someone would have seen them go and your daughter would not leave willingly.”

“Nor in silence,” Lady Whitehaven agreed, although her eyes were filled with fear. Turning to her daughters, she gave them a small smile, reminding Edward that they did not know the intricacies of what was happening all around them.

“Merry, you, Catherine, and Dinah must continue to ensure that our guests enjoy themselves,” she said in a calm voice. “Lord Carroway and I must speak privately for a moment.”

Edward’s heart lurched as Merry’s eyes widened and she turned towards him, although a smile crept across her face as she did so. He knew what they thought he and their mother would be discussing, and he found himself wishing desperately that such a thing was about to occur.

“I quite understand, Mama,” Merry said clearly, looking back towards Lady Whitehaven. “Take as much time as you need.”

“And Dinah,” Lady Whitehaven said, her tone now a trifle more severe. “You are not to hide yourself away in the corner. Engage with our guests, if you please.” She waited until the girl had given her a small, jerky nod before turning back to Edward, whose urgency was rising steadily.

“This way,” he said, urging her towards the door. “As I have said, I do not think that he will have left the house, although it might be wise to ask a footman if—”

He did not get to finish his sentence for Lady Whitehaven hurried away from him at once and began to speak in rapid tones to a nearby footman. Edward waited impatiently, his heart quailing a little within him. He prayed that Titania would be unharmed by the time they found her.

“No, Lord Huckleby and Titania have not been seen leaving the house,” Lady Whitehaven said, coming back to him. “Then where can they be?”

Edward looked along the hallway. It ran from one side to the other, with the ballroom behind him and most of the doors were tightly closed – but there was one that lay in the shadows, as though hiding itself from his sight.

“He will have taken her somewhere here,” he murmured, gesturing to the doors and the other rooms. “He will try to convince her to leave quietly or he will threaten her in some fashion. We must go at once.”

Lady Whitehaven nodded. “I will go to one side if you will take the other,” she said hurriedly, stepping away from him. “I do hope Titania is…” She shook her head, unable to say more, but Edward did not pause to give her any words of encouragement. His need to find Titania was too great.

“We must be quiet,” he murmured, moving to the first door and seeing Lady Whitehaven move across the to the other side of the ballroom, listening carefully at the doors as he did. His instincts told him to hurry to the door farther away from him, the one hidden in shadows, and so he did so at once, moving quickly but quietly, with the growing urgency deep within his heart.

His instincts proved to be correct again, as he heard the unmistakable voice of Lord Huckleby coming from within. Gesturing wildly to Lady Whitehaven, he saw her lift her head and nod, coming towards him at once and bringing two footmen with her.

“He is in here,” Edward whispered, his voice barely audible.

“And Titania?”

Edward swallowed hard, knowing that Lord Huckleby must be speaking to someone but not being certain about the state of mind or of body that Titania was in.

And then, he heard her voice, as clear as crystal, coming from within.

“You are trying to fill me with fear, but I will not allow it to take a hold of me,” he heard her say, wanting to shout aloud with relief as he heard her speak. “I shall not leave this house without making as many people as I can aware of what your intentions are and the truth of your identity, for it is not only my life at stake but a good many others. You work for the enemy. Your plan was to bring down the royal family, and if I allow you to force me to leave this place without making so much as a sound, then what good am I to my King and to my country? You may be willing to betray them, Lord Huckleby, but I am not.”

Edward let out a long breath, relieved that Titania was not only safe but still showing the same strength as she had done before.

“I will tackle him,” he mouthed to Lady Whitehaven, wondering if he should tell her about the pistol that was within the depths of his jacket. “Have the footmen stand guard. Lord Huckleby cannot be allowed to escape.”

Lady Whitehaven nodded, her face ashen as Edward placed one hand on the door handle, preparing to enter the room and finally capture the one man he had been seeking for so long.

“Then your body shall be discovered here, in this very room, with the button left beside you,” he heard Lord Huckleby say, his skin prickling as he heard the man refer to the buttons that had been left for Edward to discover each time he had narrowly missed capturing Ravel before. “Lord Carroway will know that he has failed again and that, this time, he has lost more than ever before.”

In a moment, Edward threw open the door and stepped inside, his eyes capturing the scene in front of him. Titania was sitting on the couch, her back straight and her hands clenched tightly in her lap, whilst Lord Huckleby was leaning over her, although he had now turned to see who had stepped inside.

“I have not lost anything yet,” Edward stated angrily. “Now step away from Miss Wells and face me alone, Ravel. The time for your reckoning has come.”

For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke. Even the candle on the table did not seem to flicker. Edward kept his gaze fixedly on Lord Huckleby, seeing the man frown, his eyes calculating as he took in what was occurring.

“It seems you have discovered me, Carroway,” Lord Huckleby said slowly, turning a little more to face Edward. “What a shame. I was just about to leave this place with Miss Wells, and it seems as though you have stepped into our plans.”

“Leave my daughter alone.”

Edward did not move but saw Lord Huckleby flinch at the sound of Lady Whitehaven’s commanding voice.

“You shall not escape, Huckleby,” the lady continued, her voice filling the room. “There are footmen here ready to capture you should you even attempt it. You have nowhere to go.”

Frowning, Edward saw the sudden darkness cross Lord Huckleby’s face, a slight note of panic in his eyes. This was the first time, it seemed, that the man had found himself in such a situation. A situation where there seemed no simple way of escape – and Edward found himself growing tense as he watched Lord Huckleby. The man could do something foolish and endanger Titania further. Slowly, he let his gaze travel towards her, seeing her looking back at him with such a longing in her eyes that it was all he could do to hold himself back from going to her. Tilting his head slowly to the left, he tried to make her understand that she needed to move out of Lord Huckleby’s reach entirely, whilst his attention was taken up with Edward. She seemed to understand, beginning to shift along the couch with infinitesimal slowness that strained Edward’s taut nerves further still.

“Why work for the French, Huckleby?” Edward asked suddenly, wanting to distract the man from Titania all the more. Behind him, another footman stepped into the room, holding a candelabra which lit up the room a good deal more and allowed Edward to study Lord Huckleby a little more closely. He was frowning hard, his eyes sweeping about the room as though trying to find some way to escape from what was an impossible situation.

“The French gave me more than this country ever has, Carroway,” Lord Huckleby spat, his eyes never resting on Edward for more than a moment. “More wealth, more prestige, more land. It is all waiting for me in France, but I could only take possession of it once the situation with the royal family had been set up. You were the only reason I was foiled.” In saying this, he turned around to glare at Titania, who had been poised to fling herself from the couch and behind a chair, and in that moment, everything changed.

With a shout of rage, Lord Huckleby threw his arm out and grasped Titania, dragging him to her and with his other hand, he tugged a knife from his waistband.

“Let her go, Ravel!” Edward shouted, taking a step closer, only for Lord Huckleby to throw his arm around Titania’s neck instead of holding her arm, tugging her close against him and pressing the tip of the knife to her neck.

“No, please!” Lady Whitehaven’s voice was filled with terror and desperation, obviously afraid that Lord Huckleby would kill her daughter.

Lord Huckleby’s expression had grown darker than Edward had ever seen it. “This is all because of you,” he grated, his cheek pressed hard against Titania as his arm tightened about her neck. Titania let out a moan and began to tug hard at his arm with both hands, but Lord Huckleby simply pressed the knife against her neck again and she stopped struggling.

Edward was impotent, unable to step forward and free Titania from Lord Huckleby’s threatening embrace. He had promised Lady Whitehaven and Titania that he would keep her safe this night, and he had completely and utterly failed. He had not seen that it was Lord Huckleby, who was Ravel; he had missed the evidence that Titania had so clearly seen. Swallowing hard, he gritted his teeth together, desperate to think of something he could say or do that would force Lord Huckleby to release Titania without harm.

“You saw the murder and then stole the vial,” Lord Huckleby continued, his expression malignant. “I tried to get close to you, to make you my own so that I could keep you by my side as a willing and obedient wife – and so that I could find the vial, but you were determined to spur me. To look to him instead of to me.” This word was spat from Lord Huckleby’s mouth, making Titania shudder violently. “If you had not done any such thing, then you might now be standing by my side as my wife. The wife of an earl.”

“And what folly that would have been,” Titania whispered, looking into Edward’s eyes as she spoke. “I do not care for you, Lord Huckleby. My heart belongs to Lord Carroway, who is both honorable and genteel. You do not even have the right to stand near to him.”

Lord Huckleby let out a harsh laugh and shook his head. “But yet, Miss Wells, you shall find that I am the one who has the greater intelligence, the greater wit. For even in what appears to be a most precarious situation, I am able to find a way to extricate myself from it. Although, my dear, it seems that you shall have to come with me.”

“No!” Titania exclaimed, attempting to twist away from Lord Huckleby but she was stopped from doing so by the threat of the knife. “I shall not go with you.”

Lord Huckleby chuckled darkly. “I do not think that you have much choice, Miss Wells,” he said brusquely. “Now, Carroway. Step aside and ensure that this door is cleared for me. If anyone attempts to stop me, then I fear that Miss Wells here will be the one enduring the consequences.”

Edward swallowed hard, unable to find a way out of the present situation and seeing no other choice but for them to do as Lord Huckleby asked. Glancing behind him, he saw that Lady Whitehaven’s gaze was fixed solely on her daughter, her eyes wide as she stepped away from the door. The footmen went with her, leaving only Edward in Lord Huckleby’s way.

“If you care for this young lady at all, you will do as I ask,” Lord Huckleby said, his voice low and menacing. “Move from my path, Carroway.”

Edward did not so much as look at him, his gaze resting on Titania’s gentle features and seeing the way her emerald eyes glittered with a sudden fierce determination. Her hair was tumbling down from its confines, her breathing ragged and her neck red from where the knife was still pressed against it, but as he looked at her, he saw just how her jaw set and her eyes narrowed.

She was about to make an attempt at an escape and Edward knew he had to be ready.

“This shall not end well for you, Ravel,” he said, addressing Lord Huckleby and pulling his attention from Titania. “No matter where you go, you will be discovered. You forget that the truth of your identity is now known. Nowhere in England will be safe for you. You shall have to run from this place, trying to find a hovel where you can rest in safety.”

Lord Huckleby laughed, his lip curling with scorn. “You fool,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “The French will welcome me back.”

“But you shall have none of what you promised, since you have failed in your attempts to overthrow the monarchy,” Edward countered, seeing the knife was no longer pressed against Titania’s neck as Lord Huckleby fixed his narrowed gaze upon Edward. “Your plans have come to naught, Ravel. What shall you do?”

Lord Huckleby took a small step forward, as though to say something in retaliation, and it was then that Titania moved. Lowering her head, she caught Ravel’s arm with her teeth and bit down, hard. A yelp of surprise and pain came from Lord Huckleby’s mouth, and he staggered back, losing his footing and allowing Titania to twist away from him.

Lady Whitehaven gasped, hurrying forward to her daughter and, in that moment, Edward moved. Seeing Lord Huckleby regain his balance and stare with murderous intent towards Titania, he pulled the pistol from his jacket and, in another moment, the sound of a retort rang through the room.

Everything seemed to stop. Titania and Lady Whitehaven froze in place, their hands reaching out to each other. The footmen who had moved forward to grab at Lord Huckleby stopped dead, their eyes widening as Lord Huckleby stared down at the red beginning to blossom out from his chest.

Edward’s shot had found its mark. Lord Huckleby began to fall back, his hand clutching at his chest. The man would not rise again, Edward knew. Ravel would soon be gone. The threat was at an end. He had achieved his goal.

* * *

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

Edward stepped back to allow two men carrying the covered body of Lord Huckleby from the room. Lieutenant James had been sent for at once and had arrived with the greatest of speed, spurred on in the knowledge that Ravel had been discovered and, in the end, completely dealt with.

“I am sorry for what you have had to endure, Carroway,” the lieutenant said, his eyes roving over the bruises that still marked Edward’s face. “But it seems you have brought this long chase to an end, and I confess that I am satisfied with that.”

“As am I,” Edward admitted, his mind already going towards Titania, who had been taken from the room by Lady Whitehaven shortly after Lord Huckleby had been shot dead. “I think, Lieutenant, that I will need a short time away from the army. After all that I have endured, as you say, I feel it is necessary for me to recover away from London.”

The lieutenant chuckled. “You have done your duty many times over, Carroway,” he said honestly, slapping Edward on the shoulder. “If you have decided to return to your estate and to begin your life as a titled gentleman, then I will have no hesitation in releasing you from your duties here.”

Edward hesitated, wondering if he could truly live a fulfilling life without all that he had known for so long within it any longer.

“You will find a new happiness with Miss Wells, I am quite certain of that,” the lieutenant said, as though he could read Edward’s mind. “You need not fear that you will be without excitement or purpose. Trust me, Carroway. Do not doubt what your heart tells you.”

Edward nodded slowly, letting out a long breath and feeling a burden roll from his shoulders. “I thank you, Lieutenant,” he said softly. “I think I shall do just as you have suggested.”

The lieutenant grinned. “Then may I suggest that you go to her, Carroway? I think she will be waiting for you.”

Epilogue

“It was rather an eventful evening, I confess it.”

Titania glanced up into Lord Carroway’s face as they walked together, hardly believing that it had only been last evening that Lord Huckleby had finally been brought to his end. “Although I am glad to see that you have recovered.”

“You are an astonishing young woman, Titania,” Lord Carroway murmured, placing his hand over hers as they walked together. “To have shown such strength and determination in the face of danger and even death…” He trailed off and shook his head, his admiration apparent, and Titania felt herself blush. “You must know just how highly I think of you.”

Grateful that St. James’s Park was quiet enough for their conversation to go unheard, Titania allowed herself to speak freely. It was early morning, for neither of them had slept particularly well, and when he had sent a note requesting to call on her at her earliest convenience, Titania had not hesitated to ask him to come at once.

“I must tell you, Carroway, that I feared more for you than for myself last evening. I knew just how desperately you needed to bring Ravel to his judgement,” she said softly, quietly thinking to herself that even Lord Carroway’s countenance had changed somewhat since last evening. He appeared much more at ease, no longer pulled down by the strain of what had weighed so heavily on his mind for so long. The lines were smoothed on his forehead, the lightness in his eyes never seen before. “I am glad that you are freed from your responsibility towards him.”

“I am free from it all, Titania,” Lord Carroway replied, looking down at her. These words were said quietly, but Titania felt as though the ground beneath her was shaking, overcome by the gravitas of what he had said.

“I have chosen to give it all up, Titania,” Lord Carroway continued, as though she had not understood the first time he had spoken. “After what happened with Ravel, I felt a great weight roll from my shoulders and, in doing that, I drew in a long breath and felt myself freed of it all.”

Titania felt tears sting the corners of her eyes, but with an effort, she kept them from falling. She swallowed the aching lump in her throat, realizing just how much this meant to both Lord Carroway and to herself. “You have decided to give up your duties with the army?”

He nodded, looking a trifle hesitant, as though he were unsure about sharing his innermost thoughts with her – but Titania felt her heart sing with a sudden, unexpected hope and pressed his arm in order to encourage him to continue. “I have chosen to look to a new life,” Lord Carroway said slowly, his voice now as gentle as his expression. “One that I never thought I would be grateful for, never thought that I would willingly choose, but ever since I laid eyes on you, Titania, I have found my mind and heart caught up with something entirely new.”

Her heart began to quicken at the hope in his eyes.

“I have spoken to the lieutenant, and he has agreed wholeheartedly to free me from my duties,” Lord Carroway said, turning to her and taking her hands in his, their walk forgotten. “My heart is no longer in such things. Instead, I seek to have a new life…with you.”

Unable to help herself, Titania felt a single tear fall from her eye and land softly on her cheek. Lord Carroway’s expression changed from hope to horror in a single moment, and Titania could not help but laugh, pulling one hand from his and lifting it to his face.

“These are tears of joy, my love,” she whispered, seeing him relax almost at once. “I do not cry for any other reason than that.”

Lord Carroway closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and leaned forward so that his forehead rested on hers. Titania closed her eyes also, breathing him in. She had never been so close to a gentleman before; she had never felt this level of passion and hope. She could not hold herself back from it; she could not prevent herself from speaking of it. It had to be made known.

“I love you desperately, Lord Carroway,” she whispered, letting go of his other hand so that she might cup his face with gentle hands. “Since the moment you saved me, since the moment you looked into my eyes and made me promise to remain silent about what I had seen, I found you entering my heart and refusing to leave it again. I have found myself longing for you, knowing that you will always protect me, always be by my side whenever I need you.” She drew a breath, the truth of her words bringing yet more joyous tears to her eyes. “I have none but you in my heart, Lord Carroway. I love you with such a desperation that I feel as though it will possess every part of me – and I find that I want it to do so.”

There was a breath of silence between them for a moment and then, with utter abandonment, Lord Carroway leaned down and kissed her.

His lips were soft against her own and yet held her with such firmness that Titania did not feel as though she could ever recover from a moment such as this. Her arms went about his neck as she felt herself being clasped tightly against him, her heart yearning to never be set apart from him again.

“I love you also, Titania,” Lord Carroway said against her mouth, brushing yet another kiss against her lips before stepping back and looking into her eyes. “That is why I have given up my life with the army. It is because I have found something wonderous with you, and I dare not turn away from it for fear that it will rip me apart.” He smiled at her and wiped her damp cheek with his thumb, his fingers running down the curve of her cheek before falling to take her hands in his once more. “I cannot be without you, Titania. From the first moment, you have bewitched me. I wish to share my life with you. I wish to take you to my estate as my wife so that we might make it our home. I want to discover a happiness that I have only just begun to see, have only just begun to feel. But more than all of that, Titania, I want to show you just how much you have captivated me, how you have stolen my heart. I will, if you will allow me, fill your every day with as much love and as much joy as I am able, for in you, I have found my everything.”

Titania looked up into Lord Carroway’s eyes and found herself lost within his gaze. Here stood the gentleman she had fallen in love with, her gentleman spy, who was offering her his heart and his life in all its fullness.

“I can think of nothing more joyous than being by your side as we traverse through this life together, Carroway,” she said honestly, feeling his hand tighten on hers. “Without you, I am quite lost. I will take my vows and make my promises before God and man, for the only thing I long for is to be your wife.”

“Then I am as blessed a man as any that has ever walked this earth,” Lord Carroway replied before reaching down to kiss her again.

Titania leaned into his kiss, knowing that with every breath she took, she was falling more deeply in love with the gentleman who held both her hand and her heart.

* * *

Did you enjoy reading The Noble Spy? You’ll likely also enjoy reading The Return of Lord Avondale, London Season Matchmaker Book One. It has Lady Titania’s sister’s story of falling in love. So head on over to Amazon and take a look! The Return of Lord Avondale, London Season Matchmaker Book One.

Author’s Note

Thank you for downloading The Noble Spy.

I hope you truly enjoyed Book Two of my London Season Matchmaker Series!

Merry’s story will be coming next in London Season Matchmaker Book Three. I’ve already started on it and I can’t wait to see you there!

PS

Merry has been one of my favorite characters to develop thus far! I think you’ll really enjoy book three when it’s ready.

About the Author

I grew up in a small town in New England. My father was a commercial fisherman for most of his life and I have two older brothers who followed in his footsteps

My mom was a housewife and loved every minute of it. Looking back now, it seems that every year she spent taking care of the three of us and my dad, made her happier. She loved cooking, she loved cleaning and sitting up all night when one of us were sick never seemed to phase her. She is a remarkable woman and in a small town, that didn’t go unnoticed. I can remember my friends coming home with me after school and before I could put my books away and change my shoes, they would be in the kitchen drinking milk and eating banana bread with my mom. She always made them laugh and I think they could have sat there for hours and hours listening to her. It made me proud, but I remember thinking ‘Mom! Can I have my friends back now?’

After I had written a few books, people began to ask my mom how did a girl who grew up in a family of fishermen end up writing Regency Romance? She would laugh and blame her brother. She had allowed me to go to England with my uncle and my cousin on vacation when I was thirteen, and it changed my view of the world forever. The Royal family and the history in that family was fascinating to me. Every past King and Queen had a story that could have only come out of a story book. The day we visited Buckingham Palace and went on the tour I was overwhelmed with the splendor of the rooms. The winding staircases, the tall ceilings and tall windows draped with satin curtains and gold beads. It wasn’t long before I knew I was in love with the grandeur of royal life. The more I learned about the family, the country, and its history, the more I felt the stories inside of me wanting to come out.

It wasn’t long before I had more stories in my head than I could put on paper.

I do hope you enjoy my books as much as I have enjoyed writing them!

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