Chapter 14
Della pulled at her dress, attempting to remove it from underneath the gentleman’s shoe. She had tried tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention, but he was speaking to someone and ignored her. How rude!
Giving one last desperate tug, Della pulled herself free. Sighing, she looked down at another ripped hem when Miss Putnam appeared in front of her.
“Miss Rowntree, just the person I was hoping to talk to,” she said with a sickeningly sweet smile.
“Miss Putnam.”
“He is quite handsome, is he not?”
“To whom are you referring, Miss Putnam? There are many handsome men here tonight.”
“Why, His Grace, of course,” she said, pointing at a figure in front of them.
Della looked up to see Royce standing there, watching them.
“His Grace and I will announce our engagement soon.” Miss Putnam fluttered her fan. “I had hoped we would announce it at the beginning of the season, but as we all know, these things do not always go as planned. No matter,” she said, snapping her fan shut. “What I would like to know is what His Grace’s fascination is with you.”
“Your pardon, Miss Putnam, but I know not what you are referring to. His Grace has no interest in me, I assure you. Indeed, we have known each other since we were young, and we are friends, as I am friends with the entirety of His Grace’s family. This fascination you think you see is nothing more than friendship. I am afraid you are mistaken if you think it is more than that.”
“Ah, but you see,” Miss Putnam said with a hint of warning in her tone. “I do not believe I am. I saw how he looked at you in the park, how he always seems to notice your every move and ignore me. And that… will simply not do.”
“What do you mean?” Della asked, trying to appear indifferent.
“His Grace is mine—not yours, mine,“ Miss Putnam whispered so only Della could hear. “I want you to stay away from him.”
“That would be impossible. Lady Derrington and I are best friends.”
“Then it is time you found a new friend,” Miss Putnam snidely remarked. “You might want to fix that.” She pointed to Della’s dress before she walked away, leaving Della standing there, speechless.
Della looked at Royce, emotions high as tears welled up. Stay away from His Grace…find a new friend…that is what Miss Putnam had said. Turning away from Royce’s gaze, she went to the side of the ballroom and found an empty chaise to sit on, away from the prying eyes that might see her in distress.
She let out a quiet sob as she looked for something to wipe away the tears that fell, but there was nothing to be had. Turning to face the wall, she bent down to grab the torn hem of her dress and quickly dabbed her eyes.
“Della?” a voice called softly.
“Oh, Maggie, I was just, um,” Della paused, wiping away some more tears. “I just had the strangest conversation with Miss Putnam.”
“Here,” Maggie said, handing her a handkerchief.
“Thank you.”
“I saw Miss Putnam talking to you and thought I would make my way over to help. She looked to be speaking rather intently, but by the time I got here, she had already left. Your face went pale, and I was worried. What did she say that upset you so?” Maggie asked, laying a comforting hand on Della’s shoulder.
“I need to get out of this ballroom. Is there somewhere we can talk?” Della asked, trying to hold back more tears that threatened to fall.
“The gardens, the balcony, the retiring room?” Maggie listed a few places.
“I just need somewhere quiet to hear myself think.”
“I know!” Maggie exclaimed, drawing some displeased glances in their direction. “What I mean to say is,” she whispered, “we can try the study. Sometimes Lord Ravensdale leaves it open for gentlemen who may want something stronger to drink. I also happen to know where the key is hidden.”
Della knew better than to ask, but she did anyway. “And how would you know this?”
“I heard Royce and Aden talking about it the last time Lord Ravensdale hosted a ball. I followed them and accidentally bumped into a vase sitting on a pedestal. Fortunately, I caught it before it hit the ground. When I put it back, I saw the key sitting there. Not the most imaginative place to hide a key.”
“We could be caught.”
“We could,” Maggie agreed. “Listen, if we get there and it is occupied, we will simply come back here.”
“I was on my way to discuss something with Aden before someone stepped on my dress and Miss Putnam intervened.”
“Pfft, Aden can wait.” Maggie waved her hand dismissively. “Look, the orchestra is getting ready to play again, now is our chance.”
Grabbing Della by the hand before she said anything else, Maggie led her toward two doors; one leading to the retiring room and the other that led into the foyer.
“Maggie! Miss Rowntree!” they heard someone call.
Both Maggie and Della turned to see Royce trying to get their attention. Della was unsure of what he was thinking after witnessing her exchange with Miss Putnam, nor was she sure she wanted to know.
“I did not have the chance earlier to ask if you would honor me with a dance, Miss Rowntree,” Royce said as he approached. “I also have something I must speak with you about.”
“Apparently everyone does,”Della mumbled to herself. “I would be honored, Your Grace. But we were just heading to fix the rip in my dress,” she said, pointing down. A plausible excuse, but she hated the deception.
“Then I shall wait until you return.”
Della smiled and nodded. Once more, Maggie grabbed her hand and acted as if she was guiding her toward the retiring room. She quickly checked over her shoulder to make sure Royce was not watching them, then smoothly slipped them through the other door.
The foyer was dark, save for a few candles lighting the way for the servants that came and went from the kitchen below. Della trusted Maggie knew the way and followed her quietly, trying not to give their presence away in the part of the house where they had not been invited.
“The study is just there.” Maggie pointed to the door across from them.
“The door is shut,” Della whispered.
Maggie walked over to where a large blue and white vase sat on a pedestal and picked it up. There lay the key, exactly where she said it would be. “Get the key so I can set this down.”
Della picked up the gold key, feeling the weight of it in her hand, and watched Maggie carefully place the vase back.
“I will knock first. If anyone answers, we will say we got lost and be on our way.” Maggie raised her hand and knocked.
“Perhaps there is someone in there that would not like to be disturbed.”
“Do not be silly,” Maggie said, holding out her hand. “No one answered.”
Quickly glancing around to make sure they were alone; Della handed the key to Maggie. And just when Maggie was about to turn the key in the lock, the door fell open slightly.
“Hello?” Maggie asked, pushing the door open further. But silence was the only thing that greeted them. She waved Della in and shut the door. “It appears as though we have the room to ourselves.”
“It would seem so,” Della said, staring at the curtains fluttering by the open window.
After sitting down on the settee, Della could not help but let out a long sigh. The warm light from the fire, combined with the rich mahogany of the room, gave the room a cozy and inviting feeling. Baubles and trinkets were scattered across every available surface, and must have come from Lord Ravensdale’s many tours abroad.
He had told Della about his travels in his youth during an alfresco luncheon the Duchess had hosted. An elephant carved out of ivory, a wooden ship in a bottle, and a beautifully crafted chess set were but a few things she saw.
“Oh, dear. I know you want to talk, but I just realized I left my reticule on a chair in the ballroom. I must go retrieve it before someone finds it,” Maggie said, rushing to the door.
“Then I should go back with you,” Della said.
“No, you stay here where Miss Putnam will not bother you again. I will not be long. Here.” Maggie placed the key in Della’s hand. “Lock the door after I leave. When I return, I will knock four times so that you know it is me and not someone else.”
“The quiet is nice,“ Della admitted. “Fine, I will stay here, but please be quick and make sure Royce does not see you. He is waiting for me to return, if you recall, and will wonder why I did not come back with you.”
“I will be careful. I promise.” Maggie left, closing the door behind her.
Immediately, Della locked the door and sat back down to wait for Maggie. She studied the chess set in front of her, leaning forward to get a better view in the limited light. Picking up the queen, she twisted it around, taking in the tiny details. It was ebony with gold filigree, magnificent in its simplicity, and the other pieces were just as beautiful.
She marveled at the smooth black-and-white checkered surface of the board with ornate carvings along its edges. Maggie would love a set like this. Maybe she could discreetly inquire where Lord Ravensdale had acquired such a unique piece.
“Pretty, is it not?” came a voice from behind her.
Della cried out in alarm and bumped into the table, knocking it over and causing the chess pieces to scatter as they hit the floor.
“Who is there?”
“Come now, surely you have not forgotten me so easily?”
“L-Lord Haddock, w-what are you doing in here?” Della’s voice wavered as she laid eyes on the one man she fervently wished never to cross paths with again, stepping out from the shadows of the curtains.
“I have been avoiding the Duchess and His Grace all evening,” he slurred. “They did a magnificent job painting me as a villain, and I tired of the contemptuous glares thrown at me in the ballroom, so I came in here to—“
“Hide?” Della attempted to finish his sentence.
“That makes me sound like a coward, Miss Rowntree.” Her name escaped his lips in a hiccup.
“An apt description for someone who all but attacked me.” Della attempted to use her most commanding tone to mask the fear that she felt.
“Attacked?” He tsked. “I know you felt something for me back at the ruins. Do not deny it.” Lord Haddock grinned menacingly as he staggered closer to Della with an unmistakable wickedness in his eyes.
“If I remember correctly, you were the only one who felt something,” Della said, bumping into things here and there as she backed away. Somehow, as drunk as Lord Haddock seemed to be, he made his way to the door with surprising quickness, successfully blocking her means of escape.
“What is the hurry?” His hands clamped down on Della’s arms as he spoke. Spinning around, he pinned her against the door, running a clammy finger down her cheek. “I have been trying to figure out how to get you alone all evening. Imagine my surprise when you arrived here in the study with Lady Derrington, only to remain behind and completely alone.”
“Lord Haddock, please let me leave. If someone should find us here—“
“Then you will have no choice but to marry me. Should you refuse, let us just say that things will not turn out well for you.”
Della recoiled as his warm, spirit-scented breath tickled her nose, making her stomach churn. Lord Haddock attempted to kiss her, but she wiggled out of his grasp and slapped him across the face, the sound of it reverberating off the walls of the room.
“That was a mistake. Much like your refusal of my first proposal.” He gripped her hard by the wrists and pinned them to her side. “You will be my wife, or I will ruin you so that no other man will want you.”
“No!!” Della screamed and lifted her knee to strike him between the legs, but he quickly caught on to what she was trying to do and stopped her. No doubt remembering how their last encounter ended.
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang
Lord Haddock paused at the sound of four knocks on the door. “Who is it?”
“It is the Duke of Exeter.”
“Go away! This room is occupied,” Lord Haddock hissed.
“Royce! Hel…” Lord Haddock cupped his hand over Della’s mouth, cutting off her plea.
“Hush, you have already caused enough trouble,” he sneered.
Della did not know if Royce had heard her before Lord Haddock had placed his hand over her mouth. She had to think of something; anything to allow Royce access to the room. As she glanced out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a glimmer of light reflecting off a shiny object. And there, lying on the carpet, was the key Maggie had given her. She must have dropped it in her haste to get away.
She continued to fight against Lord Haddock’s punishing restraint as a distraction and stretched out her leg as far as she could to grab the key with the tip of her slipper. With a backward slide of her foot, Della shoved the key toward the door, and prayed that it reached the other side.