Page 32 of My Lord, My Rogue
“I have noticed that. I apologize for being testy about it. Can you forgive me?” she asked, meeting his eyes.
The shimmering gold mask enhanced her beauty.I could forgive her for practically anything, he realized. Placing his hand on the center of her waist, he tugged her closer, feeling the need to show her off.
Her eyes widened.
Gently moving his arm to her hand, he extended his arm and gently guided her into a full spin before bringing her back to him. Dreamlike, her body complied with his subtle signals. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I cannot quite believe I am here tonight. Papa encouraged me to enjoy myself, but it is hard. I cannot seem to relax,” she replied, then bit down on her bottom lip.
“I must disagree. That twirl required your utmost relaxation and trust. You did a magnificent job. I daresay my mysterious partner’s dance moves will be discussed long after this ball.”
A slow blush stained her neck and cheeks. “Perhaps the best part about this type of ball is that with your mask, no one can really comment on your dancing more than twice. How would they know for sure?” he suggested.
Her brows lifted in surprise. “Are you asking me for another dance?” Something between a whimper and a laugh escaped her throat.
“I am. My goal is to claim every waltz with you. Do you think we can get away with it?”
Her lips formed an ‘O’ of surprise. “Technically, I am a widow and not a debutante. I think I can get away with most things as far as thetonis concerned.”
“One day, perhaps we can decipherallthethingsof which you speak without theton,” he said, allowing his lips to quirk.
One side of a large double door slammed against the wall, followed by loud gasps and the loud sound of rushing feet, drawing everyone’s attention. The band stopped playing. Benjamin turned and noticed the queen and her ladies-in-waiting rush from the hall leading to the ladies’ retiring room, met by her personal security. Glancing around the room, he noticed the costumed soldiers he had spotted earlier heading toward her, as well. Something had happened. The queen had garnered the attention of the entire ballroom. He leaned in and kissed Honora’s ear before whispering, “I should see what has happened to the queen. I will be back in time to waltz with you. Perhaps no one will notice if you save all of those for me.”
“Of course!” she said, optimism tinging her voice.
“I will be back for you, Honora,” he promised, kissing her nose before heading into the fray across the room.
Benjamin saw Jess speaking with Runners dressed as British cavalry and infantry officers, while the Queen’s Guards locked down the exits for this room and the attached tearoom, which saw a constant flow of patrons. No one could leave these two assembly rooms.He hoped.
“Willington!” Jess hissed, drawing up beside him. “We have a problem. I lost sight of the old woman shortly before Stanton turned up in the ladies’ retiring room when the queen and several of her ladies-in-waiting were still in there. I found the skirt and colorful blouse he had worn stuffed behind a potted plant. He is in a different disguise. He could be anything. He waited until only two ladies and the queen remained in the room and slid from behind a door and snatched the queen’s drop earrings from her ears. Her cries alerted the guards, who stormed the room but could not find him. They locked the windows from the inside and we saw no other exits.”
“Did you tap the walls? I have heard there is a maze of tunnels beneath these buildings in Bath. Some say they exit at the abbey in town. They built the tunnels to link structure-supporting vaults in order to provide extra strength and support for the roads and buildings,” Benjamin quickly explained.
“I did not know such a security risk existed here,” Jess snapped.
“And I do not remember anyone asking my opinion on the masquerade ball or any of the plans,” he bit out.
“Clearly we are both upset. I apologize for my surliness. I must find this man. The earrings are of no import, except as evidence.”
“You do not want the earrings?” He did not understand. “They are a stunning reproduction. Surely, she may wish to use them again.”
“Bah! They are paste. I had them made when she insisted on having a grand adventure in Bath. She loves it here. No one knew of this but you, me and the queen, who finally relented and gave me permission.”
She regained a modicum of respect in his eyes. “We should find that man before he hurts someone. It surprised me no one was hurt in the retiring room, but her maids’ loud screams alerted the guards. Let us go back to the room and try the walls, as you describe.”
Turning about as he moved across the polished floor, Benjamin quickly scanned the room looking for Honora. He saw her family yet found no sign of her. Deciding she had gone to the tearoom to take refreshments, he followed Jess to the ladies’ retiring room.
She tapped along the wallpapered walls until a panel opened. The two of them followed it to a point where it split in two directions. “We will need light,” she vexed.
“I have an idea. Ask two Runners to search these tunnels from here. You and I should head to the abbey where presumably these tunnels exit. We can cover the tunnels and the attached vaults more quickly that way, trapping him.”
The idea Stanton could escape from beneath the abbey drew her attention.
“You are right. Let us go. I will inform the Runners.”
Chapter 13
Honora opened her eyes and looked around. The room was dark and the air smelled damp and musty, like wet dirt. Her face hurt. It had been punched, and she struggled to breathe because her nose was swollen. She went to touch it and could not move her arms! Trembling, she swallowed, pushing back bile.
