Page 5 of The Lady Was Lying
She might be reckless on occasion, but she wasn’t stupid, and because she had been able to feel her self-control slipping, she’d fled straight out of the ballroom and into the moonlight. Disappearing was an understandable transgression, and she was nearly certain her brother would forgive her.
When she was far enough away from the ballroom that she could no longer hear a sound, she halted in the shadows, took a sip from the flask she’d confiscated from Sebastian’s study earlier that evening, and leaned against the trunk of a tree. The fiery brandy heated her insides while the frigid air nipped at her partially exposed bosom and bare arms. She didn’t mind the cold as long as it meant she was out of the crowd and away from her own foolish urges.
Eyes slipping closed, she tried to calm her mind.
As usual, it was nearly impossible. Stress tended to send her into a spiral, and her thoughts were churning to the point that she could barely process them.
She felt unsettled and crabby.
Not ideal for socializing. Or interacting in general.
She wasn’t fit to return to the ballroom. It seemed imperative that she remain in the shadows and away from the rest of society. For her sanity. And that of her siblings.
The crunch of gravel alerted her that someone was coming, and with reluctance, she stepped into the moonlight. She had known she wouldn’t be alone for long, and it wouldn’t do her any good to hide from whichever brother had followed her. Even if she didn’t particularly want to see Sebastian or Edward, she didn’t imagine they would desist searching until they located her.
They were persistent like that.
Since she lacked company, Belinda assumed they’d be annoyed rather than angry that she had disappeared. She would accept their chiding with as much grace as she could muster and then inform them that she wasn’t returning to the ball. Hopefully, they’d be so grateful she hadn’t caused a scandal that they’d let her go without argument.
Her whole body stiffened when a stranger ambled into view. Because his gaze was trained on the ground, he was nearly upon her before he registered her presence. He came to an abrupt halt with only centimeters between them.
His slightly above-average height, well-tended beard, and light-brown hair made him rather indistinct. If they had been introduced that evening, he hadn’t made enough of an impression for her to remember.
“Oh.” His lips parted. “Pardon me.” He inclined his head and rapidly retreated, almost tripping in his haste. “I wasn’t watching where I was going. It’s so cold tonight that I assumed no one else would venture outdoors.” His gaze locked onto her exposed arms. “You must be freezing. Allow me to escort you back to the ball.”
“No.” She stood taller. “I do not require an escort, and I’m not returning to the ball.”
“Oh.” His brows drew together. “Are you—” He floundered, waving his hand in the air when no additional words emerged.
She wasn’t sure what he was trying to imply, but she finished his sentence for him anyway. “—enjoying a bit of quiet.”
“Oh. I thought maybe you were…I was led to believe that”—his cheeks flushed—“assignations were commonly arranged in the garden during balls. I was warned to avoid escaping outdoors with a lady on my arm unless I wanted to risk being compromised.”
Belinda choked back laughter and arched her brow at his obvious discomfort. “It’s rather cold for an assignation outdoors, and men don’t become compromised.” His flush darkened, and she couldn’t help adding, “If you seek a private moment, an empty room in the house would be far more comfortable.”
“Uh…of course…that seems like sound advice.”
Was he serious? “Is that why you came outdoors?”
“No.” He shook his head rapidly while keeping his attention firmly fixed on her face. “Absolutely not. It was…uh…stuffy inside. Too many people. I guess I’m not used to it yet.”
She’d never heard anyone acknowledge they were overwhelmed by a ball. It was more acceptable for men to feign tedium than admit to feeling unease.
“It’s your first season?” she asked.
His nose wrinkled. “Is it so obvious?”
“Not at all.”
He was not a fresh-faced boy straight out of university, so it seemed as if he ought to have a bit of experience, but who was she to judge? Maybe he’d avoided balls as long as he could and was now being forced to attend. Or maybe he was like her and had attended against his better judgment.
“You said you weren’t used to all the people, so I assumed.”
“Oh…well, you were right. I…um…It is my first ball.” He shuffled a step closer. “It isn’t quite what I expected.” His eyes widened a fraction. “I mean…it’s nice…but the noise, and the attention. It’s all a bit daunting.”
Attention. He was a man. What did he know of?—
Before she even finished the thought, shame speared through her. She always believed other people’s lives were infinitely less complicated than hers, even though she had no way of knowing whether it was true.
