Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles) (8 page)

The quadrille ended. Someone came over and asked Mrs. Sassafras to dance, leaving Noli all alone. No sooner had she left than Missy and her flock of courtiers accosted
Noli. Considering it was improper for a lady to cross the ballroom alone, and that young women traveled in packs, Noli
was stuck. She craned her head, hoping to see someone, perhaps a woman her mother owed a dress to, or any female she was halfway acquainted with. Everyone seemed to be going to the dance floor with their partners. Flying figs.

“I think I’m going to sit right here.” Missy pretended to sit
on
Noli. “Oh, Noli, I didn’t see you. Actually, I’m surprised they let you in. Truly, that dress is disgraceful.”

The other girls tittered behind their fans.

Why was she putting up with this? She wasn’t trolling for a husband. No longer did she need to be on her best behavior so her mother wouldn’t be embarrassed. Why must she play by society’s rules? After all, her mother wasn’t here and she had no interest in
ever
being part of Los Angeles society again. She could
leave
. This chair. This room. Go find V and the jewel.

A weight lifted from her shoulders.

“I’m surprised they allowed
you
in dressed like that,” Noli retorted. “You need to find a better dressmaker. It doesn’t flatter you at all. In fact, you look like a boat.”

Missy recoiled as if slapped. “How dare you speak like that to me? I’m you’re better.”

“No, you’re not.” Noli stood. “You’re only invited
because your merchant father is meddling in politics and it’s the polite thing to do. Your parents make you go, because if you marry a truly wealthy man, with real social status and power, then it would cement their own precarious position. You’re not accepted by true society girls, so you spend your time lording over anyone you can. Also, you’re here annoying me and not on the floor, which means your dance card isn’t full, and don’t give me anything about being fatigued. You might be able to make a perfect scone, but you’ll make no one a perfect society wife. Money can’t buy class. You know it—and so do they. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Noli marched away, desperately looking for a place to march to.

“Noli Braddock, is that you?” A blonde with a cascade of curls in a pink dress bounced over, accompanied by a brunette in blue and a brunette in lilac.

“Josephine? When did you return from France?” Noli took in the thin, pretty blonde with rosy cheeks and dimples. They’d been friends back when her family had social standing. Josephine had been in France for ages. Now, she was a
real
society girl.

“Who exactly is that girl in the awful dress? I keep seeing her at things.
Missy
. What sort of name is that?” Josephine took out her fan to hide her scornful look.

“I think it’s short for Melissa. Her parents are new money.” Noli tried to channel her mother when saying that. “She doesn’t have very nice manners.”

“My mother says that’s the problem with new money,” the girl in lilac retorted. “I’m Lillian, and this is my sister Vivian. We used to take dancing lessons together before my mother sent us to New York for polish.” Lillian looked pained as she said that.

Noli nodded. “I remember all of you—especially you, Jo.”

Lillian and Vivian had been among the friends who’d abandoned Noli years ago. But since everyone was pretending to be civil, she might as well do the same. It was infinitely better than speaking to Missy Sassafras.

“Do you still play the piano?” Vivian added. “I remember always being jealous that you were so much better than me.”

“Were you now?” Noli hadn’t had lessons in years.

“Why did you stop writing me?” Josephine frowned.

Noli looked down at where her shoes should be. The dress hid them completely. “Because I didn’t have anything to say.”

She’d stopped writing letters when the dark times started. No longer did she have gossip to share, because she’d moved to public school and been dropped by her old friends. She didn’t attend parties or picnics or even the theatre. Her life became different. Unrelatable.

“But things are better now, aren’t they?” Hope gleamed in Josephine’s blue eyes. “My mother said you’ve returned to Boston.”

“We did. My brother Jeffrey and his bride-to-be bought the house here in Los Angeles. I’m just helping wrap up our affairs.”

“How very modern of you,” Lillian replied without a hint of disdain.

Vivian eyed her dress. “What an unusual design.”

“It’s the latest in France.” Noli bristled. Then her cheeks burned. Josephine had just returned from France.

“No, it’s not.” Josephine’s grin grew wide, lighting up her doll-like face. “But I see what you did—and I like it. Ladies, we should do that. Also, you look so slender with your corset that way. I’m going to try it. So … ” She leaned in and lowered her voice. “We’re going to sneak out and inspect the art. Care to be scandalous with us?”

Perfect. Noli grinned. “Why, Jo, I thought you’d never ask.”

“You and Steven Darrow? I always thought James was more handsome.” Josephine giggled as they ate cake in the refreshment room. Well, she and Noli ate cake, the other girls pretended to eat.

“James
is
attractive.” Lillian’s eyes held an appreciative gleam.

“I’m happy with V.” Noli looked around. She’d found the gem; now, to find V so they could steal it and leave. As nice as it was to see Josephine, that wasn’t the point of being here.

“Oh my,” Vivian whispered behind her fan. “If that isn’t the handsome devil now.”

Noli turned and saw V enter the room and make his way slowly toward them is if he happened upon them and wasn’t looking for her. Anything less would be improper.

“Hello.” Noli smiled and introduced him to Josephine, Lillian, and Vivian.

He bowed. “If you would all excuse me, I believe Miss Braddock owes me a dance.”

Josephine waggled her fingers at Noli as V escorted her out of the room. He didn’t turn toward the ballroom. Instead, they found themselves alone in a dark gallery.

“I’m so sorry,” V apologized. “I saw Mrs. Sassafras
escort you out and it took me a few moments to find a way to politely leave the conversation. By the time I made it to the ballroom, you were nowhere to be seen. For a moment I thought that perhaps you’d taken Missy Sassafras outside.” He gave her a lopsided grin.

“V.” Noli gave him a little shove. “It’s been ages since I’ve gotten in a fistfight. Besides, could you imagine? I did manage to take a peek at the room with the gem. It’s not dark like this one. It’s unguarded, but patrolled. I think I can do it. I have the decoy.”

“Decoy?” His eyebrows rose.

She patted the heavy handbag dangling from her wrist. “It’s in here. Thad gave it to me. We go, wait until the room is clear, you stand watch, I’ll make the switch, and we leave.”

V took out his pocket watch and checked the time. “James will be here soon. Are you certain? After all, Jeff and his men are standing by to help.”

Like she would give them a chance to say
I told you so
.

“Let’s try.” Noli took V’s arm and they entered the faery exhibit, analyzing the paintings until the room emptied.

Noli looked both ways; she touched the glass of the case holding the beautiful jewel, her belly nothing but nerves.

“What are you two doing in here?” a male voice asked from behind them.

Not knowing what else to do, she kissed V, long and deep, holding on to him with all her might. Then, she straightened and put a finger to her lips in what she hoped was a coy gesture. “Shhh. We’re having a clandestine rendezvous.” Noli winked, hoping to make it seem more believable—they were misbehaving, but not committing a crime.

“Oh, it’s you. Aren’t you supposed to be annoying hardworking law enforcement officers in other locales?” Officer Davies didn’t look—or sound—angry.

“Aren’t you supposed to be off sending girls to reform school?” Anger welled inside her. He had to have known what Findlay House was like. For a moment she was back there as Miss Gregory poured cold water over her face …

… she couldn’t breathe …

“We’re just admiring the paintings, Officer.” V put his forehead to hers. “Noli, it’s all right.
Breathe.
”

Noli took one breath, then another, listening to his voice, as the memories of Miss Gregory and Findlay House faded away.

“That’s it, darling, that’s it,” V soothed. Officer Davies left the room.

“I’m sorry I’m broken,” she hiccupped, putting her head on his shoulder. Would she ever recover from everything that had happened to her?

“Let’s go home. We’ll let Thad take care of this,” he whispered, his grip loosening.

No.
She wasn’t about to back down now. They were too close. Her hand found the fake jewel in her purse. Head popping up, she looked both ways. “Guard me.”

Putting her hands on the glass, Noli used her magic to send out a pulse that would kill any monitoring device, even though she hadn’t seen any indication that they used them. She lifted the glass dome and handed it to V. Carefully, just like Thad showed her, she edged the gem off with the new one, trying to keep the gem even.

Voices floated down the hallway and her heart quickened.
Steady
.

“Done.” The real gem went into her bag.

V set the dome back on. “Perfect.”

“What are you two doing?” Missy scoffed from the doorway. “You’re not supposed to touch the exhibits.”

Flying figs. Of course it would be Missy. What had she seen?

Blood roared in Noli’s ears as she tried not to panic. “Have you ever seen anything so large?” she asked, trying to throw Missy off.

Missy squinted as if she didn’t believe them.

“Miss Sassafras, would you honor me with a dance?” V bowed and offered her a hand.

What was he doing? Shouldn’t they be trying to
leave?

Missy put a hand to her lips and giggled, demeanor instantly shifting. “Why, of course, Mr. Darrow.”

“Miss Braddock, I’ll see you in the ballroom later.” V took Missy’s arm and led her out of the gallery.

Noli’s jaw dropped. What had just happened? There went their speedy exit. As she headed toward the ballroom, her shoulders slumped. She wasn’t sure whether she should feel rejected or angry, and didn’t really notice when she bumped into two gentlemen she’d never seen before.

“Oh, pardon me,” she muttered, not meaning it. She peeked into the refreshment room to see if Josephine was still in there so that she’d have someone to return to the ballroom with.

Why had V abandoned her?

What if he was actually
distracting
Missy? Yes, that must be it. After all, he knew what she thought of that dollymop.

“Done so soon?” Josephine’s lips turned down in a slight frown as Noli joined them.

“We got waylaid by Missy and he’s dancing with her out of politeness.” Noli made a face, not bothering to pull out her fan to hide it.

“It wasn’t very nice of him to abandon you,” she replied.

“Have you met Missy?” Noli snorted.

Josephine smiled and looked at Lillian and Vivian. “Shall we return to the ballroom?”

The four of them walked down the hall. Shouts came from behind them.

Vivian made a face and fluttered her fan, though even that didn’t hide her unladylike distaste. “Some people are
so
loud.”

They returned to the ballroom. Immediately, Noli’s eyes found V dancing the schottische with Missy. Actually, it looked as if V was herding Missy as she stumbled through the dance.

“She looks like an elephant,” Lillian snickered from behind her fan.

“That’s an insult to elephants,” Vivian replied.

The music ended. Missy attempted an awkward curtsey, V bowed, and he returned her to the wall with the rest of the drapery. Then he approached Noli.

“Miss Braddock, may I have the honor of a final dance before we depart?” V asked.

“I suppose, Mr. Darrow.” Noli took his hand and they went onto the floor. A waltz started, which was infinitely better than a quadrille or any of those complicated dances that took forever. “Please tell me that you were distracting her.” Noli tried not to make a face at Missy as they passed.

“Of course,” V replied. “I
am
beginning to get an idea as to why she annoys you. She talks an awful lot about herself, when she’s not gossiping.”

Noli laughed. “That’s Missy. After this, we should take our leave.”

Realization crashed down on her. They’d done it. They’d gotten the jewel. Now to depart without incident. The music ended. She waved to Josephine, who was being led to the floor by Lillian’s older brother.

“I’ll call on you,” Josephine mouthed as they left the floor after the dance.

Noli and V left the ballroom, collected their things, and walked down the front steps of the museum. James waited in the enameled auto, a bored look on his face.

“Steven, Noli, if I might have a word,” Officer Davies called after them.

Panic rose inside her. Did he know? Had Missy told?

V gripped her wrist. “Relax. Allow me to handle this,” he whispered.

Gulping to ease her fears, she nodded.

“Yes, Officer Davies?” V asked, holding her close. They weren’t the only people leaving.

“Did you notice anything odd when you were in the gallery?” he asked.

“No, not at all,” V replied. “Is there a problem?”

Noli’s heart stuck in her throat and a million thoughts raced through her head—not one of them good.

“We caught two men trying to steal something; I wanted to know if you saw anything,” Officer Davies said.

All the air whooshed out of her. He wasn’t after them. Officer Davies shot her a look.

Two men. Noli remembered something. “After V left to dance with Missy, I saw two strange men in the hallway. By strange, I mean that they looked like gentlemen, but were unfamiliar to me. I don’t remember what they looked like.”