Page 78 of When You Rescued Me

“You are gallant to say so,” she said, “but I have no desire to dance with anyone else this evening.” She touched his arm. “This is where I want to be, Samuel.”

This time, his smile reached his eyes. “At the potted fern?”

“Yes. With you.”

A new emotion flickered in his eyes. One that caused Hannah’s breath to hitch. She pressed her hand to her stays. “Have . . . have you surveyed the assembly already?”

Her question brought a slight frown to his brow. “I walked the room’s perimeter during the earlier dance, and though it would be easy enough to hide in so great a crush, I cannot help but think that even if they were able to enter the ballroom without passing the official receiving line, neither Grimsby nor Aitken would go to the trouble or expense of purchasing fine enough clothing to blend in with Lady Telford’s guests.”

“They could just as easily blend in if they were dressed as footmen.”

“Indeed,” he said. “And there seems to be no shortage of them. I counted at least a dozen during my turn about the room.”

Hannah nodded. “For an event of this size, I would wager that Lady Telford hired additional staff.”

“So they would not all be loyal retainers.”

“No, but with their matching livery and white wigs, it will be hard to differentiate between them,” Hannah said.

“Grimsby’s sizable frame might give him away,” Samuel said, his eyes fixed on the larger of the footmen standing on either side of the entrance to the ballroom.

“And Aitken is uncommonly small,” Hannah said. “He also—” The words caught in her throat. Unlike Samuel, she was facing the french doors, and a footman had just entered. He was slight of build, and above his ratlike features, his wig was slightly askew. “Samuel.” She swallowed and lowered her voice a fraction. “I see him.”

Samuel tensed but did not swing around. “Who?”

“Aitken. He just walked into the ballroom from the terrace.”

“You are sure?”

“Yes.” Aitken’s beady eyes darted her way. Her chest tightened, but assuming a bored expression, she averted her gaze. “He’s heading toward the main doors.”

“Do you see Lady Telford?” Samuel asked.

“Yes. She’s talking with a group of matrons to the left of the dancers.”

“And she is wearing the emerald pendant still?”

“Yes,” Hannah said.

Aitken was now close enough to the exit to have moved into Samuel’s line of vision. Samuel’s jaw tightened as he set eyes on him.

“Go directly onto the terrace,” he said. “Inform Jealous and Clarke that I am in pursuit of Aitken. As soon as you’ve given them the message, return to the ballroom and do whatever you must to keep Lady Telford from leaving the room. She and her necklace are safest whilst she is surrounded by friends and acquaintances.”

Hannah’s anxiety rose another notch. This was not the order in which things were supposed to have happened. Samuel had planned to make contact with his colleagues before he needed their support. “How do I find them?”

Samuel stepped away from her. Within moments, Aitken would be through the doors and out of sight.

“Do not worry on that score,” he said. “They will find you.” And then he was walking toward the open doors with long purposeful strides.

Hannah took a steadying breath. She could not think of the danger Samuel was entering. Instead, she must set her mind to how she could help—and that meant getting word to the other officers. Forcing herself to maintain a measured pace so as not to draw any attention to herself, she crossed the short distance to the french doors and slipped outside. Lanterns illuminated the stone terrace. In every direction, softly spoken voices and moving shadows suggested that more than one couple had chosen to escape the crowded ballroom in favor of the quiet and more private outdoors. But she was alone, and her current state of mind was anything but peaceful.

She hurried to the stone balustrade. Setting her hands on it, she peered into the darkness, desperately trying to make out shapes in the garden below.

“Mr. Jealous?” she whispered. “Mr. Clarke?”

Footsteps sounded at her right. Moments later, a gentleman materialized beside her.

“What’s happened?” It was Mr. Jealous.