Page 35 of Red Masquerade

I never paid much attention to the crowds—in such a place, there were so many people, you could see thousands of faces in a day and return tomorrow to a whole new thousand. But I knewhisface,hisauburn hair.

A gasp slipped out of me, and as though I had shouted, he turned from where he stood, eyes catching mine immediately. He startled, glancing twice, before realizing it was indeed me across the room.

“Helena,” he said, and there was no way I could hear it amongst the crowded lobby, but I knew he said it. I had seen those lips say my name so many times now, had memorized the way they moved.

My steps faltered, and Flora seemed to notice, looking to me in confusion—then to him, the young man pushing toward us.

“Is that him?”

He wasn’t wearing the clothes he wore at the printer’s. He was clean shaven, no streaks of ink on his face, his hair clean under his cap. His jacket was the same as the one he’d worn on our first outing—clean, pressed, tidy.

My mouth opened and closed in shock, but no words came.

“Helena,” he said again, smiling, that dimple appearing on his cheek.

It was so crowded here, and he was coming up to me—and Flora was here, what if it hadn’t been Flora, what if it’d been my mother. Wasn’t he working? God, he was so beautiful. If Lucas or any of his friends were here, they’d find out. I’d never see him again—

“How—”

Flora stuck her hand out, as the men do. “I’m Florence Sanford. Nice to meet you.”

He took her hand and shook it, the smile never leaving his face. “Adam Vering. A pleasure.”

“Gosh, you’re more handsome than she let on.” Flora grinned, elbowing me in the arm. She turned to me. “Did you plan this?”

“Entirely unplanned,” I managed to say.

“Well, why don’t you join us?” Flora began pulling me toward the club.

There were already so many people looking at us—did they recognize me? Did they know who I was?

Adam’s eyes were only on me, and though my heart warmed at his gaze, my fear took hold, its grip icy on my neck. Warning me. His smile faltered, that distanced look putting up a wall between us again. “Thank you, but I must be on my way,” he said, his eyes never leaving me, but his words were for Flora.

I swallowed. I wanted so desperately to invite him in, to enjoy our time, but I couldn’t jeopardize this. If word got back—

Flora pouted. “Well, when am I supposed to get to know you, then?”

He turned that charming smile on her then, holding out a hand. She placed her gloved fingers in his, and he brought them to his lips, his roguish smile as endearing as ever. “Someday soon, I expect,” he said.

And then he turned those eyes back on me, and it took everything in me not to throw my arms around his neck and ruin my name. I wanted nothing more than to go out with him, Flora our chaperone, like any normal couple would. Keeping him a secret was eating me up, but I had no other choice.

Turning to Flora, I patted her arm. “Go ahead and get our seats. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Her eyes flicked from him to me, smiling coyly, nodding slowly. “I’ll holler if the food gets cold.”

She slunk away, leaving us alone amidst a crowded lobby, where anyone could see. But it was done now, and if someone saw, we were already damned.

“Why are you here?”

His easy expression cracked just a bit. “What do you mean?”

“You’re not working.” Pointing it out felt slimy, like I was accusing him of something, but I didn’t know what.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“But—we have plans. You’ll see me in a few days.”

Adam glanced around the room, peering over my shoulder at one of the many hallways leading away from the lobby. Hisfingers wrapped around my own, tugging me in one direction. “Follow me.”