Page 82 of A Single Thread of Moonlight

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

By the time I had put everything away it was almost dinner. I let Matilda choose an evening gown for me – an indigo dress, draped in tulle, and embroidered with a design of silver flowers.

I made my way downstairs a little earlier than usual, and I was walking past the door to the billiard room when I heard my own name – or rather Serena’s name – being mentioned.

“… eye on Miss Fox, have you?” I heard the colonel’s braying voice ask.

I hesitated, wondering who he was talking to.

“Certainly, Miss Fox is a very lovely young woman,” Stefan replied, and there were the sounds of billiard balls being hit across the table. “Though I rather thought you might have your eye on her, Nick.”

“You know me, Stefan,” Nick replied noncommittally.

“That I do, my friend, and I think I have never seen you so taken with a young woman,” Stefan chuckled.

“After all, dear boy,” the colonel blustered, “everyone must settle down some time. About time the pair of you were looking for a wife.”

“Preferably one for each of us,” I heard Nick murmur. “And so I think the prince’s luck may be out.”

“Oh, do you now?” Stefan asked. “Well, I say you should not be so hasty. I think Miss Fox will quite enjoy the idea of becoming a princess.”

“She’s very beautiful,” the colonel put in.

“That she is, Colonel, that she is!” Stefan exclaimed. “What say you, Nick? Isn’t Miss Fox as pretty a piece as you’ve ever laid eyes on?”

There was a pause.

“I think,” Nick said dangerously, “that her looks are the least interesting thing about her.”

I felt my heart quicken at the words. I pressed my cool hands to my cheeks.

“Rich as Croesus too, I’m told,” the colonel put in.

“Oh, yes,” Stefan laughed again. “What did you say, Nick – one of the largest fortunes in England? But you have no use for that Earl Wynter, spare a thought for those who do.”

“Well, I think she’s a nice little thing,” the colonel said stoutly.

“She’s not a nice little thing,” Nick snapped then. Clearly our last conversation had left him rather uncharitably disposed towards me. I suppose I couldn’t blame him, but it was strange to hear a man, usually so poised, sound so ruffled. “Nice little thing? Ha! She’s an infuriating baggage.”

I stepped away then, before I could be caught, but not before I heard Stefan crow, “My god, I think Lord Wynter’s in love at last!”

I tried desperately to ignore the throb of my pulse, so loud I was sure it would draw them from the room after me. It was just a game, I reminded myself. Just part of the plan. There was no more sure-fire way to drive Stefan into my waiting arms than for Nick to pretend to be in love with me. He had said it himself; that the next push had to come from him. This must be what he had meant.

Still, I had trouble meeting Nick’s eyes when the group finally assembled for our usual pre-dinner drinks. Fortunately, Cassie and Sophia had descended on me as soon as they arrived, teasing me about my fall in the river.

“We shouldn’t laugh,” Sophia said, though her eyes were doing precisely that. “It looked as though it was a shock, and the water was so cold.”

“Oh, yes, we should laugh,” Cassie interjected. “Because it was so funny, with you going head over heels and Lord Wynter trying to play the gallant hero, and what did you do but pull him straight in after you. The look on his face! I’ll never forget it! So outraged.”

All three of us dissolved into giggles, and I felt a warmth spreading through me like sunlight. So this was what it was like to have friends. I’d never really had any, even as a child. I had been happy to spend time with my father and had been kept at home without the company of other children until Cassie and Agatha came along. It hadn’t seemed strange to me before, but now I realized that it was part of a story I was only just beginning to piece together.

We made our way through to dinner, and there was plenty of talk about my and Nick’s accident, as well as an extremely delicious treacle tart, served with thick clotted cream. From here we proceeded back to the drawing room for cards and conversation, and to listen to Agatha play the piano and sing for us.

I had to admit that she sounded like an angel, even if she did make ridiculous cow eyes at Stefan the whole time.

The rest of the evening passed without incident – until, that was, Stefan gently took me aside.

It was late and everyone was beginning to withdraw to bed.