Page 65 of How the Earl Entices

As they moved into the two-story high stair hall, the townhouse unfolded around them, with the massive marble staircase marking the center of the building and a circuit of reception rooms on the ground and first floors encircling it. The house was built expressly for parties like this, with each room connecting so that guests could see and be seen walking through the house in two great circles. First on the ground floor, with its dining rooms and withdrawing rooms, then up the stairs to move through the long gallery, the music room, and the card room, before circling back down the stairs to join the dancing in the grand salon. The house could easily accommodate several hundred people, and it seemed that just that many—or more—were crowded into its rooms tonight. Most likely because the guests wanted to be titillated by stories of the Earl of Spalding’s treason.

Ironically, Ross was glad for it. More people made hiding among the crush easier, where he would be nothing but another masked man.

He innocently dropped the invitation to the floor. It was immediately lost beneath the trample of feet and so unable to place any blame on Ellsworth if Ross were caught.

He led her toward a spot near the wall from where he could assess the entire room, including the wide marble stairs that wound their way to the first floor. The crowd pushed in around them, the noise of conversation and laughter nearly drowning out the quartet of musicians playing from the first floor balcony.

“I don’t want you taking any unnecessary risks tonight.” He snatched two flutes of champagne from a passing footman and handed her one. “Understand?”

Ignoring that, she took a sip of champagne and glanced around at the crowd. “So what’s next, now that we’re through the door?”

He carefully kept his eyes moving around the room, turning his body halfway toward her. “Do you see those three men standing on the first floor landing, guarding the second flight of stairs? The ones without masks.” None of the servants were wearing masks tonight, to distinguish them from the guests, including Wentworth’s assistant and guards. “Do you see the one dressed in all black?”

She took her time in letting her eyes sweep around the room and on past the man he described. “Yes.”

“He’s Sir Anthony Patton, Wentworth’s secretary, and the man in charge of making the party go smoothly. Including making certain no guests stray where they shouldn’t, especially up to the private rooms on the second floor.”

“Exactly where you’re headed.”

He nodded and took a swallow of champagne. “To his study. A man like Wentworth wouldn’t hide anything of value in his bedchamber. Too many women coming and going who might stumble across it and decide that he pays his blackmailers better than his courtesans. It will be in his study.”Somewhere. He trailed his gloved fingers along her arm, the gesture familiar and just innocuous enough that he could get away with it as Ellsworth. “I need you to distract Patton so I can sneak upstairs.” With his fingers at her wrist, he gave her a hard look from behind his mask. “Then you are to leave the party immediately.”

She froze with the glass halfway to her mouth. “We’re supposed to depart together at midnight.”

“Change of plans. I’m not leaving until I have that diary.” He tossed back the rest of the champagne. “I want you to leave without me, and I’ll meet you back at the carriage house.”

“That’s not what we agreed to. Your brother’s expecting us back at the—”

“Christopher is waiting outside, to help us in case something goes wrong.” When her lips parted in surprise, he explained with a faint grimace, “I know my little brother. Kit would never let me go into a fight without him. He’ll be here to help if you need him.”

Saying nothing to that, she took a delicate sip of champagne, her eyes thoughtful. If he could have seen beneath the mask, he knew she’d be frowning with worry.

“But you won’t need him,” he assured her. “Because as soon as I’m up those stairs, I want you to leave. Have the footman at the door send for Ellsworth’s coach, and return to Chelsea. Understand?”

“No. I won’t leave you here.”

“You have to. I can’t search for the journal if I’m worried about you.”

She turned her face away, but not before he could see the emotion in her eyes. “I don’t like this.”

“It’s the only way.” He wouldnotput her life in any more danger. In an attempt to ease the grim seriousness hanging over them, he added, “Besides, it’s nothing new for us. We seem to be making a habit of being separated at masquerades.”

Her slender shoulders sank, the small movement setting her gown to shimmering like gold foil beneath the chandeliers. “I didn’t like it then, and I don’t like it now.”

Lowering his lips to her ear, he placed his hand at the small of her back. Something Ellsworth would never have done in public, not even at a masquerade. But he didn’t care. Hehadto touch her. “Tell me. If you could do it all over, would you still let my waltz be stolen?”

She paused for a moment, one heartbeat in which the two of them were frozen in place while the rest of the world went on around them. Partygoers talked and moved past, and beyond the salon door only a few feet away the whirling rows of couples reached the end of their dance. The musicians played the final resounding notes. Applause sounded, so did laughter. Isolated bits of conversation hung in the air, made overly warm by the crush of bodies and the beeswax candles that lit up the rooms and turned the crowd into a sparkling sea of glittering jewels and shimmering silks. All hidden behind the safety of masks.

But Ross saw and heard none of it. His attention was riveted on Grace as he waited for her answer.

“Yes.” Her eyes glistened. “Because that night brought me David, and David gave me Ethan. I would never change a single event in the chain that brought him to me.”

His throat tightened. “Of course not.”

“But if not for Ethan,” she whispered her confession, resting her hand on his arm, “I would have danced with you all night, if you’d have let me.”

A knot coiled in his gut, a roiling mix of pleasure, arousal, and loss.I wasn’t meant for you…He prayed that she was meant for him now.

From the salon, the orchestra sent up the first flourishes of a waltz, and a palpable excitement pulsed through the party.