Page 36 of Kiss a Rake at Midnight

Evennow, did he observe Siobhan from the shadows?

Andwhere was Fletcher?

Thesecret passage to his office was mere inches from where the viscountess stood.

“I wasn’t, following you, that is.” Siobhan fluttered her hand, pretending stupidity. “I fear I have lost my way. I have no sense of direction.”

Theviscountess’s disconcertingly sudden appearance troubled her.

Onemoment, she hadn’t been there, and the next, she was.

Equallyalarming was Fletcher’s men's peculiar absence.

Tastingfear on her tongue, bitter and acrid, Siobhan fisted her hands against the urge to turn tail and run.

Whyhadn’t she listened to Fletcher?

Becauseshe’d been unable to shake the feeling he was in danger.

“And your wanderings just happened to be along the same path I took?” LadyHuxley certainly was a suspicious sort. With good reason, but she didn’t know that.

“I meant to use the ladies’ retiring room to lie down and rest my ankle. It throbs something fierce, but I seemed to have become turned around.” Siobhan mustered a wobbly smile. “Perhaps you could point me in the right direction?”

Anasty smile arching her rouged mouth, LadyHuxley shook her head.

“Did you truly think I would not recognize you?” She pointed her attention toward a wall sconce before flicking it back to Siobhan. “It was a corridor much like this where I passed you the letter to deliver to Fletcher.”

Siobhanbarely suppressed a gasp.

Asneer contorted her features. “You clean up well for a street urchin.”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

LadyHuxleyhad recognized her.

Whatgame did the woman play?

“AsI said before, you are mistaken.” Siobhan lifted her chin. She would not give this addled woman the satisfaction of knowing how frightened she was. “Excuse me.”

“Fire! Fire!” a man bellowed from the ballroom’s direction. “There’s a fire next door.”

Paddy!Kimber!

Adeafening cacophony of shrieks and cries followed the unknown man’s announcement as chaos erupted immediately. Everyone knew the horror of the GreatFire of London in 1666.

Siobhandidn’t hesitate a heartbeat before spinning around, prepared to dash back into the ballroom. To get Paddy and Kimber out of the building. To find Fletcher.

Thiswas why the Huxleys were here. The fire was what those men had been about. The monsters had planned this bedlam.

Why?

Asa distraction?

Thatmust be it.

Wherewas LordDarius?

Theother guards?