How to Turn a Frog into a Prince - Bree Wolf Page 0,20

questions aside, Nathanial fastened the mask to his face, knowing that if he overthought this as he often did, he would never do it. Perhaps it was time to plunge ahead without thought. Perhaps he simply ought to take a leap of faith.

Only for tonight.

“Tonight, you’re not you,” Lord Markham said as though he had read Nathanial’s thoughts. “Tonight, you’re not Nathanial Caswell.” As though Fate had meant for this to happen, the carriage drew to a stop in front of an imposing townhouse and the two men disembarked. Nathanial forced all doubts from his mind as they proceeded upward the few steps to the large entrance. “There are no expectations here tonight,” Lord Markham continued in a hushed, but insistent voice, “no identities, either. Tonight, you can be whoever you choose to be. Say what you wish, do as you please, and forget about tomorrow. Perhaps in doing so, you will remember the man you once were.”

Squaring his shoulders, Nathanial drew in a deep breath and then stepped across the threshold, wondering if this was the worst sort of plan anyone had ever thought up.

Only here and now, he did not care.

Tonight was tonight.

To hell with tomorrow.

Chapter Ten

Two Women

Charlaine stood by the fireplace in the drawing room as she heard the dim sounds of someone sneaking across the foyer. A slow smile danced across her face as she turned to watch the door handle slowly being pushed down from the other side. Then the door slid open, revealing Miss Caroline Hawkins in its frame.

The young woman’s eyes were wide as she moved cautiously into the dimly lit room as of yet unaware of Charlaine’s presence. To Charlaine’s great surprise, the woman’s eyes were not hidden behind those thick spectacles she usually wore. Indeed, there seemed to be a lot more to Miss Caroline Hawkins than met the eye.

The young woman’s jaw dropped in shock the moment she beheld Charlaine, her eyes widening as though looking for a way out of a trap.

“I’m so glad you’ve received my message,” Charlaine exclaimed, smiling at Miss Hawkins reassuringly. “Please, do come in.” All would be lost if the woman were to bolt.

“Your message?” Miss Hawkins croaked as her face paled.

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Charlaine admitted, then quickly crossed the small distance to Miss Hawkins’ side, took hold of her hand and pulled her into the room, swiftly closing the door. “I need to speak with you.”

Miss Hawkins’ eyes remained wide as she allowed Charlaine to urge her to the settee. She shrugged out of her cloak and then reluctantly took a seat, all the while watching Charlaine like a hawk, concern lingering in her pale eyes. Of course, if she were discovered here on her own in the middle of the night, she would most likely be ruined!

And yet, she had come.

“You need not be afraid,” Charlaine assured her as she sat down on the other end of the settee. “I swear I have no intention of harming you in any way.”

“Then why did you send a note in Pierce’s name?” she asked, suspicion still clinging to her words.

Charlaine’s heart rejoiced. “You call him Pierce? That sounds most promising.”

Miss Hawkins flinched, and more color drained from her face.

“I had hoped that there was a deep affection between the two of you. Pierce is utterly smitten with you, and I feared you might not reciprocate his feelings.”

At Charlaine’s confession, Miss Hawkins’ face finally regained some color, darkening her cheeks as she briefly dropped her gaze. “He is?” she asked almost breathlessly, telling Charlaine all she needed to know. Still, if they loved each other, what on earth was standing between them? It was about time someone helped them along. “Do you love him?”

Miss Hawkins flinched yet again.

Charlaine chuckled. “Do not worry. I asked him the very same thing, and the way he refused to answer was very telling.” She smiled at the young woman. “As is yours.”

Since Miss Hawkins continued to stare at her in utter shock, Charlaine went head. “Well, to answer your question: I sent the note in his name because I feared that otherwise you might not come, and I do need your help.”

“My help?” The trance seemed to fall from her limbs as her eyes began to move over Charlaine in a more lively manner.

Charlaine grinned at her guest. “To tell you the truth, I intend to sneak out of the house tonight and I want you to come with me.” After all, Miss Hawkins seemed to have ample