Chapter 3
The applause from the dance had barely died down when Odette stepped off the floor and struggled to catch her breath.
What was that?
She passed the throng of guests and crossed to the back of the room before raising a hand to her chest. Her heart was beating uncontrollably as she struggled to catch her breath.
She told herself it was due to the fact that she could have been discovered, but doubts lingered at the back of her mind.
There had been something else that had stirred beneath her ribs. Attraction, perhaps?
Shaking her head, she quickly pushed the thoughts aside and pulled herself up straight. It was utter nonsense to think that she would find another man attractive so soon after her husband’s death. She had merely been shaken by the way he had looked at her so intently.
Those eyes…
Her breath caught again as she recalled the intensity of the depths in those dark green eyes. He had spoken with a Scottish accent, and his eyes had reminded her of the peat that grew on the moors. He certainly was an interesting man.
“Odette?” Hermione’s voice nearly made Odette jump as she suddenly spoke up from behind her.
Sucking in a sharp breath, Odette felt her heart jolt again. For a split second, she had imagined the masked stranger coming to claim another dance.
How could that be when he does not know my name?
“Hermione, there you are.” Odette quickly pulled herself together and forced a smile as the rest of the ballroom suddenly came back into focus around her.
Frowning slightly, Hermione gave her a strange look. “I have been looking for you ever since your dance ended. Are you feeling ill? You seem a little flushed.” Her eyes searched Odette’s face.
“I am well, thank you. I am just a little hot from the dance. It has been a while since I have exerted myself in such a manner.” She quickly came up with a lie. “Now tell me, have you met anyone interesting while I was dancing?”
Hermione’s eyes instantly lit up as she reached for her sister’s hand. “Oh, Odette, it has been marvelous! I have met so many new friends. The young ladies of the ton are so welcoming.” She sighed contentedly with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Well, I am glad that your first ball is living up to your expectations,” she lowered her voice a fraction so that only Hermione would be able to hear.
I hope you have not been careless with mentioning who I am.
” She looped her arm through Hermione’s and began to walk, hoping to blend in with the crowd and not draw attention.
“Of course, I have not revealed who you are. I am not as careless as you make me out to be, Odette. I am fully aware of the fact that you are still in mourning,” she seemed bored with the accusation as she glanced around the room.
Pulling her closer to her side, Odette drew her attention back. “Good, I would hate to have to cut the evening short. You know how the ton can gossip.”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, I am aware. However, I would rather discuss the very interesting gentleman whom you were dancing with. Did he reveal who he was?” She smiled gleefully.
Odette’s gaze instantly wandered around the room, yet she could not spot the man who had danced with her. “I dare say that he would not have,” she looked back at her sister.
“The entire point of having a masked ball is to hide one’s identity. I must admit I was quite nervous during the dance, but I was also intrigued by the man. I, too, am wondering who he is.” She glanced around the room again, but Hermione’s attention was already focused elsewhere.
“Would you excuse me for just a moment? I think I saw one of the girls that I was speaking to earlier.” She pulled away from Odette before she could even stop her.
“Hermione, if you would just…” Odette raised her hand in protest but stopped as her words trailed off.
I swear, that girl will be the death of me.
She shook her head and straightened, but stopped when her breath suddenly caught in her throat.
Her eyes widened at the sight. There, from across the room, was the man she had danced with.
His gaze was once again locked on her as if he were cataloging her every move.
Their eyes locked, making her pulse race and her throat suddenly feel too dry.
Why is he…
Odette took another deep breath just as someone passed between them.
She craned her neck to glance at him again, but it was too late; he had either moved off, or she had imagined the entire interaction.
She barely had a moment to think about what had happened when she spotted Hermione across the room.
She was standing with her back against the wall, looking like a trapped mouse with no hopes of escape. The man in question was considerably older than Hermione, with snow-white hair and a matching mustache. He towered over the poor girl with his heavy-set frame and square shoulders.
Sighing heavily, Odette lifted her skirts and headed directly toward the pair. “There you are. I have been looking all over for you,” she said politely with a radiant smile, taking care not to mention Hermione’s name.
A wave of relief washed over Hermione’s face as she came up straight. “I…I was just telling this fine gentleman how you would be looking for me.”
The man narrowed his eyes, looking far less than pleased with the interruption. “Quite, I was hoping that the young lady would honor me with a dance.” His voice was stiff as he bristled his top lip, making his mustache dance.
Odette skillfully worked her way between the two, slipping her arm into Hermione’s.
“That is a most kind offer, I am sure, but I am afraid that our dance cards are quite full for the rest of the evening. Perhaps another time?” She offered the man her most charming smile, giving him no room to protest.
“Well, I guess another time then.” His smile was forced as she placed his hands behind his back, exposing his rotund belly.
“Now, if you would excuse us, we must find our partners before the next set.” Odette curtsied along with Hermione before turning them both around and leaving.
Hermione waited until they were a good distance away before breathing a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness you came along when you did! I do not think that I could have managed another moment with that horrid man and his rancid breath.” She seemed slightly shaken as she swallowed hard and struggled to compose herself. “He was being most insistent.”
It was Odette’s turn to shake her head as she turned to her sister and lowered her voice. “You must not run away from me like that, Hermione. You do not yet know how to conduct yourself in difficult situations. There is a way to handle unwanted attention from gentlemen”
“I know, you handled the situation quite marvelously, and I have taken note.” She seemed bored again as she glanced around the room.
“Hermione…” Odette sighed. “You must consider what these things look like from the outside. To be alone and unchaperoned speaking to a man…” Her voice trailed off when Hermione did not seem to be paying much attention at all.
Her attention seemed utterly focused on something that a nearby group of ladies was discussing at length.
“Have you heard of poor Edgar Heartwell who was killed in France?”
Odette’s body instantly froze as she heard her husband’s name carried in conversation.
A woman with more feathers than was fashionable nodded. “I heard it said that he was a good man who left behind a widow with no children.”
Something deep within Odette’s chest clenched painfully as she began to feel a little faint; memories of Edgar flooded her mind and the horrendous beatings she endured while at the mercy of his rage.
Why now?
She balled her fingers into a fist and pressed it against her abdomen. The evening had progressed without a hitch until she had heard his name. She was just about to reach for Hermione’s arm and pull her away when the next part of the conversation made her freeze in her tracks.
“I heard that he left behind a great deal of debts for the poor woman to contend with,” an impossibly thin lady with bony features and a pink costume added.
The pit of her stomach began to whirl with nausea as Odette opened her fan and began to vigorously cool her face.
How could these people possibly know so much about my life?
“That is not all.” The woman who had started the conversation lowered her voice a fraction of an inch. “I heard it said that He was seen with another woman in France. Right before he went missing.”
She pursed her lips in a conspiratorial manner. “I know they say that the conditions in France are bad, but are they bad enough to drive a man into another woman’s arms?”
“Shhh, Theodora, you must not say such things. Someone might hear you. His poor widow has been through enough.” One of the ladies in a bright purple costume spoke under her breath and glanced around the room.
The conversation suddenly became far too much for Odette as he locked eyes with her sister, feeling the blood rush to her head.
I am going to faint, she thought, as she fanned herself even faster and nodded toward an alcove.
Taking the hint, Hermione quickly got to her side and looped their arms, guiding Odette away from the conversation. “Pay them no mind.” Her voice was gentle and soft, loud enough only for Odette to hear.
They made it to the alcove just as Odette let out a shaky breath and slumped onto a bench that had been placed for resting.
“I…I cannot believe that they would say such things. It is so cruel, just cruel.” She shook her head, trying to fight back the tears of anger and shock.
Coming to her side, Hermione gently reached for her hand and rubbed the top. “Did you know about the rumors? I mean the ones regarding another woman?”
Odette shook her head, finding it hard to breathe. “I did not.”
People around them passed in a whirl, paying little to no attention to them as they chattered away.
Gossiping. They are all gossiping.
Her stomach turned again, making her open her fan once again to cool her face. She couldn’t bear the thought that Edgar beat her and betrayed their marital bed as well.
Hermione shifted closer to her until their arms were touching. “You must not allow the gossip mongers to get to you so. You look pale.” Her voice was steeped in concern this time.
The fan passed in front of her face in a blur. “I just need some fresh air.” She swallowed hard before standing. She had known that the ton would talk of Edgar’s passing; she did not, however, anticipate how cruel they would be with the lies.
It is a lie. All of it.
Edgar had been physically violent with her when his anger had flared, but she had never thought of him as someone who would stray beyond their marriage.
“I shall go with you.” Hermione instantly got to her feet, but suddenly seemed to recall something. “Oh, no.”
“What is it?” Odette momentarily forgot about her own plight and lowered her fan.
She looked quite sheepish as Hermione drew her lower lip between her teeth. “It is just that I promised someone the next dance. He was quite a strapping young man with a black cloak and matching mask.”
Odette smiled, feeling a wave of relief that mingled with her nausea. “Go and enjoy one last dance before we return home for the evening. It is getting quite late, and I fear I must lie down soon.”
Hermione’s expression brightened. “Thank you, I shall return the second the dance is over.” She hardly waited a beat before turning away and going in search of her partner.
Satisfied that Hermione was gainfully and appropriately occupied, Odette turned away and headed directly toward the balcony doors. She still felt a little queasy and in need of fresh air. She made her way across the room and pushed open the door.
A cool breeze instantly kissed her skin, making her draw in a sharp breath before exhaling again. The early winter air was brisk, but she welcomed the relief that it brought to her.