The Engagement

lking

parlor in Wickhurst merely months ago, Cole felt his entire being stiffen

eamy state. The feeling was undeniably familiar that he almost believed he was back in the life before Leah's dea

him of what he did not choose, of th

id, snapping Cole back to what n

before he tore his eyes off the only w

cessary for a casual greeting." Without another word, he turned his back at the

*

would still allow it. Her heart was beating hard a

conds of looking into his eyes

e wall and leaned against it to catch her breath. She brushe

pose h

s eyes. Surely it was but mere illusion. H

he hissed at herself. "Yo

she straightened her back

. "He blamed your brother over his sister's demise. He

she would have to postpone it now for there was another

*

rge to panic. Mayhap she had tightened Tori's stays too much earlier, she thought. But it was part of their plan. After Lord Ch

about to faint," Tori answere

don't look fine, Lady Victoria." He turne

to interrupt. "Please, do get her to

eyes narrowed. He now knew this was part of their plan. His eyes

riend could very well be a pi

ght," Wittlock said when Tori swayed. Wi

hastily said. "Allow him to help," she added

argaret. This is fooli

d before she walked away and as she did, she threw Tori one last look

pportunity with Lord Wittlock. The man's eyes had never left Tori since her friend entered the ball. He was well-traveled and from a good f

en?" her mother's voice said

Mother! Do forgive me. I was with Levi

spotted Cole standing at the far end of the floor, talking to the same young man she saw ea

she absently answer

t with

the treasure was

edge did not

at a woman such as Lady Gedge could keep such a secret to herself. Mayhap she would not

" she

ou all

her fingers to her temple. "Would you e

o back to our

u be all

mother leaned closer and whispered, "Another pianoforte player in the mus

merely glad for my sufferi

Margaret, dear!" her m

e barely knew, hiding as her mother found a friend and both ladies walke

aunter away. She paused and slowly rejoined the group with a smile. The o

another lady said under her breath as she sighed. "Wh

e asked, looking around th

the nodding

h one of them. It was the hi

of Courts in Wickhurst?" Margaret f

other lady, her voice dreamy. "

stare at Cole's back. "Who is tha

I do not care," mut

arely out of the schoolroo

son," Margaret found herself sayi

heads at her with interes

h him personally?" on

read it on the Herald. Was he

cle that drew my attention to him. Good of him to

ked. Cole drew the attention of the He

ot an Everard yet b

r ladies

erards' governess?"

nt before she became a g

in the topic had c

e once again and she frowned as he walked off with the young man, t

ally, so why would Cole be spe

that you

to walk to the door. She looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was about. The corridor was empty; the distant noise from the ballroom the on

Marg

eaping to her throat. And she was quite certain it stopped

m Wake

tled me!" she said

ent. Levi's infamous rake of a friend caught her snooping around an empty

a bow, "but I was meaning to enter through the very door

for Levi," she said, "and I was not certa

el

d, walking over to the door, his han

him but it was too late. Her eye

kefield said, his arm spread o

m paused and turned their heads to stare at her, Cole

an old man while the young man was stand

dared not meet Cole's eyes as she composed hers

l, I am afraid my b

ed as her late father's friend said, com

his hand coming to rest under her elbow. "And worry not

of Cole's gaze, b

she cursed in

she said, taking a step forward into the gaming hal

aid her father's old

oductions, Lord Humphrey?" she braved to ask

o

loudly. "Of cou

as being held. The men had once again resumed their games, pausing only as she passed by to offer a small smile. The noise began to fill the room once again,

rd to another, stopping games for introductions, their names barely brushing her consciousness, most of them awed by the mere mention of

tt had been sitting and her heart uncontrollably hammered against

t could literally feel his gaze seeping into her skin. And as the old

look. Why in tarnation did she follow them here? She asked herself. And where the bloody hell

egan but Margaret decided to ta

brow twitched, but nothing more, and he offered a small

ord Humphrey as

wered. "Yes. Lord Ashmore is the new He

hest when she saw the relief on his face. D

ake your acquaintance,

surging to her ears, Margaret managed a curt nod and took her eyes

mphrey led her to the next tabl

ng man