Page 63 of A Duke's Sinful Bargain
Anna rushed through the crowd of guests. She found her way to Lady Pentor, who had fortunately been standing alone, obviously in need of some respite.
“Ah, Anna, my dear,” Lady Pentor gushed upon seeing her, but immediately after, her look turned grave. “Is everything all right?”
Anna nodded, swallowing heavily. Everything was affecting her. The lights were too bright. The music and the sound of chatter was too loud. The air was too thick with fumes. Nothing was as it should be, and she had to escape from this place as soon as possible.
“It is,” she replied, endeavoring to sound normal. Hopefully, she managed to do that. “I merely wished to bid you good night.”
Lady Pentor’s eyes widened in shock. “You surely do not mean to tell me you are going home? Why, the festivities have only started, my dear!”
“I know,” Anna replied apologetically. “But I have had a sudden onslaught of a very painful headache. I feel a little lightheaded and the crowd is only exacerbating my condition, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, you poor thing,” Lady Pentor commented sympathetically, taking Anna by the hand. “Of course you should go home and rest in that case. Balls are to be enjoyed, not endured.”
“I am truly sorry for leaving early,” Anna apologized again because, after all, she did like Lady Pentor and she did not wish to offend her in any way.
“Nonsense!” Lady Pentor waved her hand dismissively. “There shall be plenty of time for balls and chats. You just go home and feel better, dear.”
“Thank you for understanding.” Anna smiled. It was her first genuine smile of that evening, and it actually made her feel better.
“Do you need someone to escort you to your carriage?” Lady Pentor inquired tenderly, her eyes fluttering about in search of the right candidate for the job.
“Oh, no, no,” Anna assured her. “I will be just fine, thank you.”
The two ladies proceeded to exchange heartfelt goodbyes, and several minutes later, Anna found herself in the dimly lit interior of her carriage, leaning back against the plush cushions, her mind entangled in a web of thoughts as the clopping of horses’ hooves echoed through the quiet night. Already, the ball and its dazzling splendor felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the looming specter of what was to happen the following day.
Alexander had assured her that he would sort everything out… but how? He was not omnipotent. What could he do against the man who held all the cards in his hands, threatening to destroy them all unless his conditions were met?
She shuddered at the thought of facing him. In an effort to banish him from her mind, her gaze fixated on the passing images of the streets. Her thoughts were drawn to Alexander. A flicker of hope warmed her heart, a fragile ember in the cold darkness of what she feared her future would be.
Trust him,she kept telling herself over and over again. It was not difficult to do. She already believed something more was blossoming between them, and she hoped with Alexander at the helm of this ship, they would weather the storm, emerging stronger and unbroken. She even smiled at the thought, despite the night’s whispers of uncertainty and fear.
Her heart seemed adamant in its belief that Alexander would know what to do. He had given her his promise and that was exactly what she was clinging to as the carriage rolled through the cobblestone streets, taking her home, where she was welcomed by the worried face of her lady’s maid.
“Was everything all right, my lady?” Eliza wondered, her voice laden with tender concern.
Anna sighed. “I don’t know if you would call any of this all right…” she started, recounting the events of the ball and what she had come to learn.
“He is being blackmailed as well?” Eliza gasped. “Well, that explains his message then.”
“It does.” Anna nodded. “But it creates other problems. Much worse ones. He thinks he knows who it is and wants me to come tomorrow to his home, that all will be revealed then.”
“I truly hope so.” Eliza nodded, her face etched with concern. Then she pressed her hand to her lips. “Oh, and I was so horrible to Tom when he came here. I turned him away so rudely, thinking they had something to do with this.”
Anna tried to reassure her. “It is all right, Eliza. I’m sure he’ll understand when we explain everything tomorrow.”
“Do you really believe that, my lady?” Her voice was vulnerable, and her eyes pleaded for more reassurance.
“I have to,” Anna smiled softly.
They exchanged a few more words before Eliza bid her mistress good night. As Anna lay down in her bed, she knew she would not be sleeping that night. But she had to try. The pillow was too hard and the blankets too heavy on her weary soul. Nothing offered any solace. Nothing, other than the memory of Alexander, his words and the gentle touch of his hand against hers.
Would he be able to untangle the web of deception that loomed over them all and free them from the shadows that lurked in the night? She believed with all her heart that he would.
***
The ballroom buzzed with laughter and chatter as Alexander found his way back inside, walking past people in an effort to reach Lady Pentor. The soft strains of the waltz were heard in the background, but he was in no mood for dancing. Unfortunately, Lady Genevieve could not see that.
“Your Grace!” she called out to him from behind.
