Page 115 of Devil in Her Details

Lilly arched a brow, twisting the ribbon between her fingers. “Saw what?”

“I saw you both had a connection.”

“I know,” Lilly murmured. “You also pretended not to notice. Well, for the most part.”

Allie nodded. “That’s because I want you to experience your adventures without my judgment.”

Lilly’s brows furrowed. “I appreciate your opinions. Always.”

Her friend gave a wry smile. “Yes, but even now, you flinched when I said that it was good you’d broken ties.”

She had? Her brows knit deeper. “You weren’t, perhaps, testing my response, were you?”

Allie laughed. “Of course I was! Would you tell me the truth any other way? You can be annoyingly closed-lipped at times, you know.”

Lilly did know. It came from keeping all the secrets of her clients.

“You were busy with a commission for that man,” Allie added. “Did you finish the piece?”

Lilly nodded. She had. She didn’t have the heart to send it yet. That dagger strap was the last connection she had to him. “What about your piece? Had fun?”

“Oh, tons! I would advise anyone to follow suit.”

Lilly shook her head, the corners of her lips lifting. She wouldn’t mind Dagger in such a thing, quite frankly. He wouldn’t like it, she imagined, but he’d indulge her, she was sure. Her smile froze. Not that that would come to pass. Ever.

“So,” Lilly said, changing the subject. “The ball.”

“Ah, yes,” Allie said. “The Countess of Avondale is hosting in a few days. Since she is mired in controversy, I suggest that we attend that one.”

Lilly nodded. She’d met Lady Ophelia a few times before she’d married the Earl of Avondale. A bright woman with a love for taunting fortune-hunters. She’d also stolen the betting book right out of White’s and made all the ladies aware of their husbands’ wagers. Other, less savory wagers as well.

Thanks to that, Lilly’s presumed scandal was nothing but a tiny mud stain splattered on a boot. The woman was a blessing to London society. A curse on the men, however.

“What shall you wear?” Allie asked.

Lilly stared at the black ribbon. “Oh, I have the perfect dress in mind.” A certain panther’s words came to mind.

A moment of your life. You’ll have many more after this. Moments that have nothing to do with Brighton or Calvington.

Hah. What did that devil know?

“Let me ask you something, Allie. At what moment did you know that Leo was the man for you? I don’t think I ever asked.”

Her friend’s eyes widened before turning thoughtful. “The moment I knew Leo was for me? I suppose you could say it was the very first.”

“The first?” As in love at first sight? Lilly regarded her friend doubtfully. “Didn’t you loathe him at first?”

“Well, yes, but you know that’s because of a misunderstanding.”

“You still didn’t like him.”

Allie rolled her eyes. “My heart knew, even if my head hadn’t caught up yet. My heart knew from the first moment our eyes locked. Why do you ask?”

Lilly shook her head. “No reason.”

“You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?”

How could she deny the truth to Mrs. Perception over here?