Page 16 of When Dashing Met Danger

“Ethan left, but I thought you might need a friend.”

“Oh, Francesca!” Lucia leaped to her knees. “Do you really think something happened to poor John?”

“I don’t know.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “Ethan says not to worry, that it’s all just a misunderstanding.” She placed the cat gently on the armchair and sat on the bed beside Lucia. “He says young men need to sow their oats or some such nonsense, but what do you think, Lucia? You know John better than anyone. The two of you are peas in a pod.” Lucia sat back on her heels. “Not lately. Oh, Cesca, we haven’t talked—really talked—in so long. I thought it was just John’s way of dealing with my engagement—our separation.” She bit her lip, holding back her own tears now. “But now I wonder if it wasn’t something more.” The last came out in a whisper, and Francesca took her hand. Lucia squeezed back, grateful for the offer of comfort. But she knew she would never be at peace until she was certain her brother and closest friend was well.

She and John had been inseparable as children, Lucia acquiring most of her bad habits from her brother. Their close bond hadn’t diminished with age or even when John went away to school. More often than not, they finished each other’s sentences and spent long hours in conversation. Lucia realized now that she couldn’t remember the last time they’d had one of their soul-searching talks or exchanged confidences.

“All our worrying isn’t going to help John,” Francesca said. “And I feel better knowing that Alex is looking into it. If there has been some mishap, Selbourne will find it out and make it right.”

Lucia snorted. “You’re giving Selbourne more credit than he deserves.”

“I know him better than you, dear. He’s a capable man.”

“Still,” Lucia said, tapping a finger against her chin. “We can’t leave this matter entirely in his hands.”

Francesca raised a brow. “We can’t?”

“Of course not!” Lucia frowned at her. “He doesn’t even have a good plan—”

“Oh, no, Lucia!” Francesca grasped both of Lucia’s hands and gave her a stern look. “You heard what Daddy said. You’re not to get involved. These schemes you concoct never work.”

Lucia shook free, indignant. “Schemes? I’m not scheming! I just thought that Dandridge and I might make an appearance at the Seatons’ ball tonight. While we’re there, I’ll make a few inquiries as to whether William Seaton has seen or heard from John recently.”

The whole affair would be absurdly simple. Almost too easy. She’d pull Seaton aside and tease information from him. He’d think she was flirting, nothing more. In fact, if she could arrange things so that he promised her a dance, they’d be together for almost half an hour. That would be more than enough time to flirt her way into any knowledge he had of John’s whereabouts.

Francesca shook her head at her. “This sounds suspiciously like a scheme, Lucia. In light of past experiences, I insist you reconsider.”

Lucia glanced out of her pink-draped window. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“I know you, Lucia, so wipe the innocent expression off your face.”

Lucia opened her mouth to protest, but Francesca silenced her with a wave of her hand. “Let me see, there was the time you and John decided that Mamma would be pleased if you dyed poor Il Cane pink for Daddy’s very important political dinner party. Poor Daddy almost had a seizure when the dog came racing into the dining room, pink and dripping wet, then shook himself dry, water flying all over those stuffy lords from Parliament.”

“You needn’t remind me. Il Cane was pink for a month, and John and I had a lecture from Father every time he saw the dog, which was far too frequently. But that was a long time ago,” she assured Francesca. “And it’s nothing like this plan.”

Francesca arched a brow. “Oh, really? What about last month when you were caring for little Sarah and Colin?”

Lucia dropped her jaw. Even Hamlet hadn’t had to suffer so many slings and arrows. “They wouldn’t go to bed, Francesca! What was I supposed to do?”

“Well, whatever you do, I can assure you that a three- and four-year-old will not be coaxed into bed after stories of ghosts and monsters. They still talk about the monster under the bed that will eat them up if they don’t go right to sleep.”

“I admit that was a miscalculation on my part—”

“Miscalculation!” Francesca threw her arms wide. “Last year at the masque when you thought the Prince of Wales was John and you tore off his disguise screaming ‘Aha!’ in the middle of the Duke of Essex’s ballroom—that was a miscalculation. You’re lucky Prinny found it amusing. Oh, and that scheme at Almack’s—”

Lucia’s head was pounding. “All right. All right. I’ve made a mess of things in the past, but I assure you I won’t make a muddle of the affair at the Seatons’. It’s too simple to go wrong. Simplicity: that’s the beauty of the plan, Francesca.” Lucia felt a familiar prickle of excitement creep through her limbs, making the little hairs on her arms stand up. She knew her idea would work. It had to.

Francesca eyed her dubiously, but Lucia wasn’t going to let her sister’s dire predictions alter her decision.

Suddenly Francesca sat up. “Mamma will never agree to this. You’re to attend the Duke of York’s ball tonight.” She sighed in relief.

Lucia pursed her lips. She’d forgotten about the duke’s ball. But it needn’t be a problem if—

“I’ll go to the duke’s ball after a stop at the Seatons’,” she said. “Mamma need never know if you offer her a place in your carriage. Dandridge can escort me tonight, and there will be such a crush that if Mamma doesn’t see me until later in the evening she’ll think nothing of it.”

Francesca appeared unimpressed. “Dandridge won’t agree. The Seatons aren’t fashionable. Dandridge won’t give up the duke for Mrs. Seaton.”

“Yes, he will. I can be persuasive when the occasion calls for it. And though he’ll never admit it, I’m sure Reginald will be eager to make amends for his behavior last night.”

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