Page 74 of When You Rescued Me

Samuel’s eyes instantly found hers, and Hannah’s pulse tripped. Taking the last two stairs as quickly as she dared, she joined them with an apologetic smile.

“Forgive me for keeping you waiting,” she said.

“No apology necessary,” her father replied. “Prescott is bringing the carriage around now.” With the aid of his cane and with Sophia and Elinor on either side of him, he started toward the door.

Romford opened it, and Hannah heard the distinctive clop of the horses’ hooves and rolling of the carriage wheels drawing up to the front of the house.

Samuel moved to join her. “You look stunning,” he said softly.

“Thank you.” Her cheeks warmed at his genuine praise. “You appear rather dashing yourself.”

A corner of his mouth turned up in a half smile. “Would it expose me for being an impostor if I confessed that my sailor uniform was infinitely more comfortable?”

“I would wager that if the dictates of Society did not have such a firm grasp upon them, almost every person at the ball would choose to exchange their heeled shoes, wig, stays, or well-fitting jacket for something more agreeable,” she said with a smile. “Besides, climbing the rigging in those clothes and shoes would be challenging, at best.”

“True.” He offered her his arm. “But I would be the best-dressed disaster the rigging had ever known.”

She laughed. Had he instinctively known that she’d desperately needed to release the tension that had been building in her chest for the last few hours? “You may be the best-dressed guest Lady Telford has ever known as well.”

The humor in his eyes was replaced by unease. “I believe I would rather take my chances with the rigging than the dance floor, especially if it meant keeping you away from Grimsby and Aitken.”

“I only have to point them out to you and ensure that the french windows are open so that Mr. Clarke and Mr. Jealous can enter the house to assist you in apprehending them,” Hannah said, repeating what Sir John had asked of her. “Lady Telford’s balls are known for being well-attended. I can remain hidden in the press of people.”

Samuel’s expression remained solemn. “I know nothing of Aitken beyond the senseless destruction he has unleashed, but Grimsby is another matter. He is someone you must avoid at all costs. If I am forced to leave you to go after one or the other of them, will you give me your word that you will seek safety and not come after me?”

“How can I—”

“Please, Hannah.” There was a hint of desperation in his voice. “I must know that you are safe.”

They had exited the house. A few yards ahead of them, her father and sisters were entering the carriage. They would be expecting Hannah and Samuel to join them straightway, and this would likely be Hannah’s last opportunity for a private conversation with Samuel for some time.

“I promise to do everything in my power to stay safe if you will do the same,” she said.

He frowned. She knew it was not precisely the promise he had asked for, but he also must have realized that with their arrival at the carriage door, their time alone had ended. “I agree to your terms,” he said, extending his arm to assist her up the step. “And until we must put them into effect, perhaps you would be good enough to review the steps of the cotillion with me.”

Samuel had walked past Lady Telford’s house with Clarke during daylight hours. At that time, his focus had been on where Grimsby’s men might choose to lie in wait with getaway horses and on how the Bow Street men might gain access to the back garden. Given that he’d made a general note of the grandeur of the building and gardens, he should not have been surprised by the opulence within. And yet, now, with candles blazing in every window and a steady stream of elegant guests entering the house ahead of him, he found himself uncomfortably overawed by the sight that awaited him in the entry hall.

The highly polished marble floor gleamed in the light coming from the enormous silver candelabras positioned on either side of a sweeping staircase. Large oil paintings hung on the walls. The men and women portrayed within the gold frames looked down upon those gathering in the entrance hall with somber indifference, seemingly unmoved by the vast flower arrangements, expensive tailoring, and stunning gowns.

Three people stood to one side of the door that led to the ballroom, greeting those who entered. Samuel knew it was the ballroom because he and his colleagues had spent hours memorizing the footman’s sketch of the house’s floor plan.

“The older lady in the lilac floral gown is Lady Telford,” Hannah whispered as they joined the queue of people waiting to greet their hostess. “Standing at her left is her daughter, Lady Pembroke, and Lady Pembroke’s husband, Lord Pembroke.”

Grateful for Hannah’s forewarning, Samuel gave her an acknowledging nod and turned his attention to their hostess. Her coiffured white wig was decorated with small purple flowers, and powder caked her wrinkled skin. No matter her advancing years, however, her lace-trimmed and elegantly embroidered gown appeared to be the height of fashion, and the sparkling gemstone hanging from her neck immediately drew the eye.

“Our first view of the emerald pierre,” Samuel said softly.

“It’s beautiful,” Hannah whispered.

“It is. Although not worth risking one’s life for.”

Hannah glanced at him with concern. “Do you truly think it will come to that?”

“I certainly hope not, but the men we are dealing with have very little respect for the welfare of others, and if they want the piece badly enough . . .” He left the sentence hanging. It was imperative that Hannah realize how dangerous Grimsby and Aitken were and how important it was that she stay clear of them.

The middle-aged couple ahead of them moved forward, and Dennington stepped up to make the introductions. “Lady Telford,” he said, bowing. “It appears you have outdone yourself once more.”

The older lady’s expression was one part satisfaction and one part haughtiness. “I am glad you think so, Mr. Dennington. Given your recent leg injury, it was very good of you to come.”