Authors: Gloria Harchar
Alarm shot through
Nicola
.
"
Papa—
"
Falcon nodded in her father
'
s direction.
"
Good evening, Mr.
Moore
. On the contrary, I quite admire your daughter, for she speaks the truth.
"
Her father stiffened in surprise.
"
You think so?
"
"
I do. She has a down-to-earth viewpoint.
"
Her father gave him a speculative stare.
"
A
ye
, she does. Leave it to my
Nicola
to put
everything in perspective.
"
Falcon
'
s
eyes
gleamed.
"
She is refreshing. So much so that I crave a spot on her dance card.
"
Nicola
'
s father gave her a probing look before turning toward the Earl.
"
I will see to it that she reserves the next dance for you.
"
Falcon bowed his dark head.
"
Until then,
Miss Moore
.
"
Watching him saunter into the crowd, her father pressed his lips into a thin line.
"
Is there more to your acquaintance with the Earl than you are telling me?
"
"
Not at all
, Papa. Why don
'
t you try one of those crumpets on that platter over there? I think I will visit the ladies
'
retiring chamber.
"
She left, with her father frowning after her.
For her to dodge his questions like this was unusual, and her father would not let the matter rest until he coaxed the whole story from her. Well, not the whole story.
Nicola wove her way through the throng of guests, feeling stifled. As she slipped past other guests, she thought about the problem. She wasn't about to discuss the pixies with her father. He always thought his mother was addle-pated because she saw the
pixie
creatures. And Nicola didn't want to tell him about Ramsey and the trouble he brought her because of his actions. It would break her father's heart, and she feared what that would do to his declining health.
She opened the door to the ladies
'
room and almost smacked it into a guest in a peach-colored gown.
"
Shhh,
"
the lady said, not bothering to look at her.
"
Miss Moore
is nothing but a commoner,
"
a woman said from the far side of the chamber.
Nicola
froze. She turned to see a woman she recognized as being Lady Whitley, surrounded by several ladies.
Nicola
stepped back into the shadows.
Another woman shook her head.
"
It
'
s quite shocking, in my opinion. Why, I heard the chit runs a millinery, for heaven
'
s sake.
"
"
You heard correctly,
"
another female piped in.
"
In fact, I bought a hat from her just the other day.
"
Nicola
recognized the strident tones of her regular customer, Lady Kensington. Embarrassment filled her. Noting a privacy screen, she ducked behind it, hoping no one would discern her.
"
Then why ever did Celeste invite her?
"
someone else asked.
"
The Earl of Falconwood insisted upon it.
"
Lady Whitley made a clucking sound.
"
Celeste, poor thing, could hardly refuse.
"
Nicola
wished she cou
ld disappear into the thick Aubussom
carpet.
One of the women gave a gusty sigh.
"
Who could refuse him? That face and form combined with that aloofness are a challenge to any female with the least craving for adventure.
"
"
Although …
"
Lady Whitley began.
"
What?
"
several women asked in unison.
"
I wonder if
... no, no, I mustn
'
t say.
"
"
Come, do tell,
"
Lady Kensington exclaimed.
"
Well, I don
'
t wish to spread unfounded rumors. However, I had the distinct impression
that Falcon had some power over Celeste.
"
"
Oh my, he exudes the strength of an ancient god!
"
Nicola
didn
'
t recognize that young, high voice.
"
The man
is
a mystery,
"
another woman said.
"
Yes
, a
dangerous
mystery and so, so intriguing!
"
ye
t another female intoned.
Nicola
frowned. All the women sounded as if they were vibrating with awe. She risked a glance around the partition. Several of them held expressions of wonder mixed with fear. If they were talking about William the Conqueror, she would have been less surprised. She ducked back behind the screen.
"
What kind of power could he have over Celeste? Surely they aren
'
t having a romantic liaison!
"
The room seemed to inhale at once as a sharp burning sensation stung
Nicola
'
s chest.
"
No
…
no, I don
'
t think that was it,
"
Lady Whitley responded
, her tone considering
.
"
I felt as if she feared him more than loved him.
"
"
You should know, Roberta, that love has nothing to do with it. The man radiates pure carnality.
"
Several startled shrieks pierced the air.
"
Perhaps he threatened to expose their affair if she didn
'
t comply.
"
Nicola
heard a squawk and then a thud.
"
Oh, dear. Y
ou have shocked Lady Simmons into a swoon,
"
Lady Kensington said.
"
She is too young to hear this sort of talk,
"
another woman retorted.
"
Get her some smelling salts,
"
someone else cried out. Churning emotions rose within
Nicola
as she listened to the rustling of gowns and the excited murmurs. She wondered if she could sneak out of the chamber during the confusion.
"
I have some salts
,
"
another voice said, too close for
Nicola
'
s comfort.
A sniff followed by a series of coughs alerted
Nicola
to the condition of the downed lady.
"
Are you all right, my dear?
"
Lady Whitley asked.
"
I think so,
"
the woman replied in a feeble tone.
"
She needs fresh air,
"
another guest said, whose voice sounded as rusty as the hinges on the door to her father
'
s
dye
factory.
A
rush of air
swept over Nicola's lace stockings. After a count of ten, she
ventured a peek from behind the screen. Several women left with the wobbly Lady Simmons in tow. She started to follow in their tracks.
"
Wait, Phyllis,
"
Lady Kensington called, pulling her friend back inside the retiring chamber.
Nicola
snapped back behind the concealing panel.
"
I just wanted to tell you, I feel quite sorry for poor Celeste. Any woman in Falcon
'
s clutches has no hope of recovering. The man is without scruples.
"
Lady Whitley cleared her throat.
"
Well, I think it
'
s shocking. Of course, he
'
s planning on beginning a liaison with
Miss Moore
.
"