Stroke of Midnight by Olivia Drake

Author:Olivia Drake
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781466838932
Publisher: St. Martin's
Published: 2012-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The rest of it proved simple to arrange. After parting from Alex, Laura went in search of paper and pen. She found those items in a quiet morning room off a deserted passageway. There, by the glow of a candle, she sat down at a small desk to compose a note. The message took her a few tries before it was perfect; then she sanded and folded the paper and sealed it with a bit of red wax. Tucking it into her sleeve and out of sight, she returned to the ballroom.

People didn’t seem to notice her so readily now that the cap and spectacles were gone. Laura was able to slip through the maze of guests without attracting undue attention. She spied Evelyn chatting with a group of gentlemen. From her animated expression, it was clear the duchess was enjoying her popularity as the herald of salacious gossip.

She, too, deserved to be knocked off her pedestal.

Laura stopped a harried footman carrying a tray of champagne glasses. She handed him the note. “Pray give this to the Duchess of Cliffington. She’s the auburn-haired lady in the green gown over there.”

From a grouping of ferns, Laura watched as the footman delivered the missive and then proceeded on his rounds. The duchess stepped to the side and opened the paper to peruse it. When she returned to the group, the secretive smile on her lips told Laura the dupe had been a success.

Now, if only the final piece could be arranged, her hasty, improbable plan might just succeed.

Laura approached the group of matrons where Lady Josephine was sitting. Thankfully, her ladyship’s wrinkled features held a cheery smile. These busybodies must have heeded Laura’s warning.

Hovering at the edge of the group, she gave a little wave to catch the attention of the bulldog-faced woman. Mrs. Dorcas Grayling scanned her without recognition; then her eyes widened and she rose from her chair in a hurry.

“My word, you have tarted up your appearance already,” Mrs. Grayling said disapprovingly. “Have you no shame?”

Laura strove for a woebegone expression. “Please, ma’am, I am not feeling quite well. I only wanted her ladyship to know where to find me. I shall be lying down for a short while. If I’m needed, pray send someone to take the back staircase to the first bedchamber on the right.”

“I hardly think you should trouble Lady Josephine if you’re indisposed.”

“Well, at least assure her not to worry, then. A certain gentleman has very kindly promised to stay with me … in case I am in want of anything.”

The woman’s face turned apoplectic. “A gentleman—? In the bedchamber with you—? Who—?”

Pretending not to hear, Laura set off through the crowd. Mrs. Grayling would not be able to resist confiding this latest outrage to the other matrons. They would stew over it for a little while. Then Laura hoped—though she couldn’t be certain—that a bevy of them would take it upon themselves to go upstairs and expose the disgraceful conduct of the notorious Miss Falkner.

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