Mercy by Deneane Clark

Author:Deneane Clark
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781938876745
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Published: 2014-06-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

“She made a complete cake of herself on the dance floor.”

Lucinda frowned at Amy Lyon’s assessment. She’d thought Mercy and Sebastian looked lovely together. She glanced over toward the Ackerly sisters and saw Mercy staring bemusedly across the room. She followed the younger girl’s gaze and found the Duke of Blackthorne leaning against a post, deep in conversation with the Earl of Huntwick, and felt a pang of empathy. After all, Mercy hadn’t really done anything wrong.

Lucinda glanced at Maria and Amy and saw that they were expecting some sort of response from her. “She’s really got the most ridiculous case of puppy love,” she dutifully murmured, although she wasn’t quite sure what made it ridiculous.

They watched as Sebastian and Trevor concluded their conversation. The earl headed toward his wife, but the girls weren’t interested in where he was going. They kept their eyes on Sebastian Tremaine, who removed his hat and left the ballroom, disappearing down a shadowy hallway.

“He’s a family friend and nothing more,” said Maria. “I could tell, even behind his mask, that he was completely bored with the conversation and— Good heavens, Mercy!” She broke off when Mercy quietly appeared at her side.

“Thank you for holding my box,” she said to Lucinda and held out her hand, giving the blonde a warm expression of gratitude.

Lucinda found herself smiling back as she handed it over. “Have you come to introduce us to the Duke of Blackthorne now?”

“I’m afraid I’ve lost track of where he’s gone.” Mercy glanced around. “Perhaps he went to play cards or indulge in some other male distraction.”

“Actually, I believe I just saw him step out of the ballroom and go down that hall over there.” Maria pointed. “He seemed as though he was looking for someone.”

Amy nodded. “He’s probably hoping to find you, Mercy. After all, he never comes to balls and he hasn’t danced with anyone except you. And yet here you are, completely ignoring him to talk to us.”

Mercy laughed a little and looked from one girl to the other. “You don’t know Blackthorne very well. He couldn’t possibly be looking for me.” Her smile faltered a little. What if he really had only come to the ball to see her? She glanced uncertainly toward the hall Maria pointed out.

“I think you should go see where he’s gone,” urged Amy. “Maybe he’s hoping you’ll look for him so he can have a quiet word with you.”

“Oh, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” Mercy bit her lip. She thought of all the time she’d spent chasing him down and lying in wait for him during her adolescence and blushed. “If he stepped away from the ball for some peace and quiet, then he likely wouldn’t want to be disturbed.”

Amy watched the conflicting expressions crossing her rival’s face and instinctively sensed that she was close to being able to spring a trap that would, once and for all, take Mercy out of her way. All the years of feeling second best rose up within her, banishing even the tiniest protest from her conscience.

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