Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“Henry?”
Adaline gave her a wry smile. “Lord Hugo. I am still working on Henry.”
Lucy raised her brows. “That is generous of you.”
“I am feeling generous of late,” Adaline said with a softer smile.
“Hmm, and does that have to do with a certain impetuous young lord? Or a mysterious scribe?”
“Yes?” Adaline laughed. “I truly do not know. Perhaps both. Or neither.”
“Just take care, cousin. I would not see you hurt. If Mayhem is not of our class, or worse, if he is unworthy, it will reflect on the whole family. And Lord Hugo… I greatly fear that it is his family, not ours, who may not approve. Their treatment of you has been icy at best. And frankly, your own family is little better toward Lord Hugo. Only with greater cause,” she said with a sympathetic smile.
Adaline felt the sting of Lucy’s words but knew she spoke nothing but the truth. And yet, she couldn’t help the flicker of rebellion that ignited in her. She had, for the most part, been dutiful. Vocal in her discontent, perhaps. But dutiful.
Now her heart yearned for more.
Her thoughts churned. Duty warred with desire. Cautiousness with yearning.
She finally took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“I think it comes to this… when all is said and done, I will always wonder if I do not meet him. I do have a strange, unexplainable, and growing affection for Hugo Brelsford,” she said with an exasperated half-smile.
“But I will spend the rest of my life wondering what might have happened if I had met with Mayhem. I will see him in every face that I meet, wondering if it might be him. If it ends badly, I will weather whatever storm occurs. At least I will know. It is the not knowing, I think, that would hurt me far more.”
Lucy regarded her for a moment and then nodded. “That, at least, I can understand. Well then, only one thing to do then. I have a few more minutes to spare if there is something you’d like to send with me.”
She nodded at Adaline’s writing desk with a smile, and Adaline hurried over to grab fresh paper and her quill.
To the Marquess of Mayhem,
I received your kind invitation, and I must confess I am flabbergasted. And intrigued. Confused. Excited. And a host of other emotions I have not quite identified yet. Above all, I am filled with curiosity and know I will be filled with regret if I do not accept your offer.
I will acquiesce to your request, my lord. Reveal the time and place you would like to meet, and I shall appear.
Yours,
Millie
She sealed the letter before her nerves failed and gave it to Lucy.
The reply came sooner than expected. Lucy arrived on her doorstep the very next afternoon and could scarce wait until they were alone before she pulled the letter from her reticule. Adaline tore open the envelope, her hands shaking.
My Dear Marchioness of Millinery Mischief,
I have seen fit to add to your title as, while I had hope, I had little expectation that you would truly deign to meet with me.
Your agreement brings me both great joy, no small amount of trepidation, and a decided pride that I may have encouraged your rather shocking and ill-advised behavior.
That you have seen fit to join me in an endeavor of extreme mischief will delight me for the rest of my days, no matter the outcome.
Though I have no doubt the outcome will be wonderous, indeed.
As for where this illustrious event should take place, I pondered a great deal.
And the perfect solution finally presented itself—the Duke and Duchess of Beaubrooke’s annual masquerade ball this Friday.
Maintaining the mystery of our identities during the festivities seems fitting. And, frankly, amusing.
Meet me near the portrait of the duchess in the conservatory. At midnight. As my seal is a peacock feather, wear a costume to match. Or, if the time is too short to procure such attire, incorporate a peacock plume as well as you can with the gown you have chosen. I shall do the same.
Until midnight Friday.
Yours always,
The Marquess of Mischief and Mayhem
Adaline pressed the letter to her heart, the thrill of anticipation mingling with dread. But Lucy was already thinking about the details.
“Hmm, a masquerade is actually a rather fine idea. If you don’t like the look of him, you can always hide away and claim you did not attend.”
“Yes, but he could do the same with me.”
“Oh, never,” Lucy scoffed. “Any man would be lucky to have you, a fact of which I am sure he is already aware. Though…Friday does not give us much time to incorporate peacock feathers into your costume.” She frowned, chewing her lip.
“It is lucky indeed that your gown is a deep blue. That will make it marginally easier.”
She began muttering under her breath, something about ribbon and material. Adaline didn’t bother asking her to enunciate. Lucy was lost in her own world, no doubt designing something spectacular for Adaline to wear.
Adaline frowned. “Oh. But… Where will I ever find peacock feathers in only a few days’ time?”
Lucy blinked, drawn from her internal thoughts.
“I have a few left from the headdress I created for the Countess of Alanthew. And I may be able to get a few more. The Duchess of Whittsley has several of the creatures and will usually sell me a few.” Lucy’s eyes cleared, and she patted Adaline’s hand.
“Do not fear. I’m sure I can come up with something. A fan perhaps. Or a mask.”
“I am in your debt,” Adaline said, sincerely grateful not only for her cousin’s loyalty, but also her talent. Left to her own devices, Adaline would have simply shoved a feather in her bun and called it good.
“Never. Though your brother will be,” Lucy said with a smile. “I shall send him the bill.”
Adaline laughed. Her brother would be happy to pay it.
Well…perhaps happy was too strong of a word, especially if he knew the reason she needed such a thing.
But under normal circumstances, he was happy to support whatever frippery she and her mother required.
Particularly if it could advance her chances of making a match.
“Leave it to me,” Lucy said, gathering her things to hurry out. “You shall be resplendent.”
When she was alone once more, Adaline reread Mayhem’s letter. Twice more. Then she clasped it to her chest with a sigh.
She would finally meet her Mayhem. Though…
Hugo would likely be in attendance at the ball as well.
The man went to every possible function he could, and simply everyone went to the Beaubrooke’s masquerade.
She and Hugo had taken to spending quite a lot of time together.
But that didn’t mean he expected or even wanted to be with her for the midnight unmasking.
Especially after the way he treated her at the theater.
But what if he did? Could she rebuff him? The thought made her heart ache. Yet, she could do nothing but, if it came down to that. If she did not, she would miss her chance at finally discovering Mayhem’s identity.
She belatedly realized Friday night may just prove the point at which she would have to choose between the two men. Yet still had no idea what choice she should—or wanted—to make.
And she was quickly running out of time to figure it out.