Authors: Gloria Harchar
"
That is, if he hasn
'
t already started.
"
Indignant,
Nicola
was tempted to call the women
'
s hands. She didn
'
t want to add to the gossip, however. Glancing about her, she noticed a narrow door she hadn
'
t seen and inched
toward it, praying she could open it without attracting attention.
"
It would explain his desire to see the chit at the ball,
"
Lady Whitley murmured.
Slowly,
Nicola
opened the door. It creaked.
"
Who
'
s there?
"
Lady Kensington asked.
Heart pounding,
Nicola
slid through and out into the spacious hallway. She knew it would be only moments before the ladies searched and discovered her. Quickly, she crouched behind a gilded pedestal displaying a basalt vase.
Firm, decisive footsteps sounded on the wood treading just around the opposite comer, moments before the narrow door opened to expel the gossipmongers.
Nicola
'
s breath snagged in her suddenly parched throat. She recognized Falcon as he came into view. She positioned herself more squarely behind the um, hoping he wouldn
'
t look in the darkened comer.
He passed so near to where she crouched she could have touched his shining black Hessians. Blood hammered in her ears and she wondered if he could hear it. He seemed not to notice her hunched so
conspicuously
in the comer.
"
Ah, there you are, Lady Whitley,
"
he called out, causing
Nicola
to jump. He moved toward the women so that he blocked her view of the
m
... and, more importantly, their view of her.
"
You
'
re looking for me?
"
Lady Whitley sounded as if she
'
d swallowed a mouse.
"
Yes
," Falcon replied, his tone serious
.
"
Lady Talbot is feeling faint.
"
"
Oh
... oh, my
.
" This came from Lady Whitley. With a shake of her head, Nicola wondered if the silly chit was about to faint again.
"
We must see to her immediately,
"
Lady Kensington declared.
"
Where is she?
"
"
In the
gardens. She looked deathly pale."
"
Good heavens.
Does Lord Talbot know of her malady?
"
"
No.
But I am sure you can inform him if you go quickly
before the situation takes a turn for the worse
.
"
"
Of course.
Lady Wh
itley, pull yourself together and find her husband."
The woman straightened at Lady Kensington's stringent command, and scurried down the corridor.
"
I
'
ll look in the card room,
"
the younger woman replied.
The gossipmongers raced off. As their footsteps faded down the hall,
Nicola
remained crouched behind the ornate stand, wishing Falcon would sweep away in their wake. She held her breath, tempted to look at him but fearing that if she did, he would sense her presence. He did seem to have an uncanny knack of finding her. For now, she hoped he couldn
'
t see her in the darkened corner. The silence dragged on. Temptation pulled at her, and she finally peeked around the huge vase.
He was staring at her, his hands on his hips.
"
Why do I always discover you lurking behind pieces of furniture?
"
Disgruntled, she stood and moved away from the urn.
"
How did you know I was there?"
"
Other than the very notable
Clockwork Blue
cloth poking from behind the pedestal?
"
She grimaced.
He raised his brows.
"
Do you mind telling me why you were sneaking about? I see no looms for you to smash.
"
She lifted her chin, heat in her cheeks.
"
For your information, I happened to overhear some disturbing news about you in connection with me. When I realized someone else was coming in this direction, I decided the situation too awkward to have to face the gadabouts.
"
"
Even more so if you had been caught skulking in the shadows.
"
He grasped her hand, tucking it under his elbow before escorting her into the hallway.
Her heart raced over his proprietary manner.
He shook his head.
"
Excellent
I discovered you first.
"
"
I
'
d say that was rather coincidental, Lady Talbot feeling faint.
"
"
Never believe in coincidences.
"
Nicola
frowned.
"
Are you
saying you fabricated the story?"
"
The immorality I commit for you.
"
He gave her a mocking smile.
"
Why did you come this way?
"
"
I saw you leave the ballroom. Knowing this was the way to the ladies
'
retiring chamber, I decided to wait. Only you came out the trysting door.
"
"
The trysting door? How do you know that
'
s what this is?
"
"
Perhaps because I
'
m a womanizer?
"
"
You
said
you weren't."
"If you think I'm a murderer, why would you believe I told the truth?"
Her chest burned
at the idea he was having an affair with the Viscountess Ballard.
"
So, tell me this. Why was I invited?
"
"
The Viscountess likes me.
"
"
Aha! So they were right. You are having an affair.
"
"
I am?
"
"
Don
'
t act coy with me. You scoundrel. You whisper love poems in poor Lady Ballard
'
s ear while you plot to coerce me into marriage!
"
He rubbed his chin.
"
These tales wouldn
'
t be quite so bad if only I had the pleasure of experiencing them.
"
"
Then you aren
'
t having a
n affair with the Viscountess?"
"
Not that I
'
m aware. And, believe me, I
'
m not so obtuse.
"
The strange sensations that flooded her couldn
'
t be relief, she decided. She just didn
'
t want to be responsible for breaking poor Lady Ballard
'
s heart. She studied Falcon, absently recognizing they had once more entered the ballroom.
"
Her friend, Lady Whitley, acted as if the Viscountess had no choice but to invite me.
"
"
Perhaps she didn
'
t.
"
Nicola
narrowed her
eyes
.
"
You blackmailed her!
"
A gentleman glanced at them and
Nicola
realized she
'
d spoken rather loudly.
Falcon placed his hand over his heart.
"
I
'
m deeply shocked,
Miss Moore
, that you would even know of such dastardly deeds.
"
"
Don
'
t speak of it here.
"
He stared at the openly curious guest. Glancing away in a self
-
conscious manner, the man coughed and fidgeted before disappearing into the throng.
Falcon returned his
Malcolm
gaze to
Nicola
.
"
You were saying?
"