Page 27 of How to Tempt a Duke

“Have you ever considered approaching the Countess of Westix for them?” Lottie asked.

He gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. “And have Lady Eleanor discover who I am?”

“She’ll find out eventually. Do you truly think you can keep up this charade and fool her forever?”

“It was your decision to introduce me as Lord Charles.”

Lottie threw her hair over her shoulder and gave him a saucy look. “I hadn’t planned on you getting so close with her.”

The doors opened, saving him from having to respond. The subject of their conversation entered in a whisper of silk, her cheeks pink from the chill of the night air.

“I have been invited to Lady Covington’s masquerade ball this Tuesday. Do you think I might be ready in time?”

“I have no doubt you will,” Lottie answered with great enthusiasm. “Being masked will make it all the more convenient. It will keep you from being overly formal, help you to be more yourself. You will be wonderful.”

“Wonderful” was not a word in Charles’s vocabulary at present. After all, a suitor would distract Lady Eleanor from Charles and impede his opportunity to become well enough acquainted to beseech her for the journals.

“My mother is delighted with the change she claims she sees in me already,” Lady Eleanor continued, oblivious to his lack of enthusiasm. “She is convinced I’ll be an enormous success and has already secured a time for me to meet with a modiste tomorrow afternoon, to have a new costume fashioned.” Lady Eleanor hesitated and bit her lip in a rare show of nervousness. “Are you quite sure I’ll be ready? I’ve had more failures than successes, and I don’t think I can carry a kitten with me in my reticule.”

Lottie settled a comforting hand on Lady Eleanor’s shoulder. “We have several more lessons before the night of the masquerade, and your mask will help embolden you. Mark my words, you’ll be magnificent.”

“Have you chosen your costume?” Charles asked, more boorishly than he’d intended.

Something rather unpleasant knotted in his stomach, and he didn’t like it any more than he relished the opportunity slipping through his fingers.

Lady Eleanor had distinctly caught his note of disapproval, because her attention fell on him and her brows flinched. “An Ice Queen.”

Lottie clapped in pleasure. Charles drowned a groan with some brandy. He could envision her all too well, sparkling in a wash of white, pale blue and glittering crystal, and giving the brilliant smile that transformed her prettiness into real beauty. Suitors would be crawling about her like ants on a dropped pastry.

Even in his fog of personal misery he couldn’t ignore how clever the costume truly was. After all, what better way to make her entrance into the good graces of the ton than by throwing their own very moniker for her in their face?

“Pray tell, what do you envision for your gown?” Lottie asked, with excitement gleaming on her face.

Charles did not bother to listen to the reply—not when his mind was spinning around the discomfort of his own internalizations. He had several days before the ball. If he pressed his luck the odds might be in his favor. But if he pressed too hard he might ruin his chances.

There was always the option of the truth, of course. Lady Eleanor did not yet know who he was, nor what his identity might mean to her family. He was unsure how Westix’s family regarded his father.

So, either he could tell Lady Eleanor the truth and ask her outright for the journals, while hoping for her compliance.

Or...

Or he could have Thomas find out when Lady Eleanor would be at the modiste and he could go to Westix Place to meet with the Countess. Lady Eleanor need not ever be aware of their meeting.

Once he had what he required, and if the information necessary was indeed in the journals, he would be gone once more and the deception of Lord Charles would be inconsequential.

“Lord Charles, are you well?” Lady Eleanor’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

“Of course.”

He set his unfinished brandy down. If he was going to call on the Countess of Westix the next day he had to begin preparations. After all, Thomas was good, but even he needed time.

“If you’ll excuse me? I must take my leave.”

Lottie’s mouth fell open. “Now?”

“Yes. There are matters which require my attention. I am unsure if I can make it tomorrow evening. Or the night following that.” Charles straightened the lapels of his jacket rather than allow himself to meet the shocked stares of the two ladies. “Forgive me.”

“Please do stay, Lord Charles.” Lady Eleanor approached him.