How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,95
her teeth into her lower lip, Caroline tried to keep the smile off her face, but couldn’t seem to manage it.
“I can see that you want to come,” the other woman observed joyfully before reaching out to grasp Caroline’s hands. “Please, do!”
“What about Pierce? Will he not realize that you’ve left?” Caroline asked, feeling her pulse speed up as she realized she was truly considering Miss Palmer’s request.
“Oh, he’s already at the masquerade,” Miss Palmer replied without a hint of concern.
Caroline stilled. “But…but then we’ll surely be discovered.”
Miss Palmer leaned forward, grinning. “Well, it is a masquerade.” Her eyes narrowed in thought, and yet, the teasing smile remained on her lips. “Still, are you not curious to see if he will recognize you?”
It was madness, to be sure, but Caroline’s heart longed for it. For a night of reprieve from the life she’d forced on herself. To be someone else. Someone she’d never allowed herself to be. To be free.
To meet Pierce with a mask of her own.
Her thoughts were drawn back to the dark alley where Pierce had first kissed her. In that moment with him, she’d felt liberated from the shackles of her life and the feeling had been exhilarating. She’d been daring and bold, and she’d loved every second of it.
But it had not been enough.
Miss Palmer nodded eagerly. “I think it’s about time the two of you spoke to each other.” Her grin widened. “I have the perfect gown for you. I swear it will not fail to catch his attention.”
Caroline’s breath shuddered past her lips at the thought of wearing anything but the high-collared, grey dresses she’d been hiding behind all her life. Her hand moved upward and tugged on the high collar around her neck, for it suddenly felt too tight, almost suffocating. She remembered the night Pierce had ripped her dress and then kissed the bare skin on her neck, demanding she never again wear such a high collar.
A smile teased her lips at the thought of what he might say seeing her in an altogether different gown. Would he truly recognize her? Or would she need to help him along?
“Will you come then?” Miss Palmer asked, correctly interpreting the expression on Caroline’s face.
Caroline nodded. “I cannot believe I will, but, yes. I’ll come with you.”
Surging to her feet, Miss Palmer clapped her hands together. “Oh, this is wonderful! And if we’re to be the best of friends, you must call me Charlaine.” She pulled Caroline off the settee and looped her arm through hers as she drew her toward the door. “Everything is prepared. We’ll change and then we’ll be off.”
Overwhelmed, Caroline allowed the young woman to guide her feet. “How did you know where to find me?” she asked belatedly, wondering what Pierce might have told Miss Palmer—Charlaine!—about her.
Charlaine laughed. “I enlisted Albert’s help,” she whispered, casting a watchful look around the hall as they proceeded toward the stairs. “He, too, wishes to see Pierce happy, and he is very fond of you as well, dear Caroline.”
Caroline couldn’t help but smile. Never would she have expected the turn this night had taken. And more were to come. She could only hope Pierce would be happy to see her.
She, at least, had missed him dearly these past few weeks.
And she couldn’t wait.
Not after what Charlaine had told her.
Chapter Thirty-Six
No Expectations
The moment Pierce handed Mr. Caswell the simple black mask, the other man stilled, an incredulous expression coming to his sharp features. “What is this?” he asked, reluctantly taking a hold of the item in question. His blue gaze narrowed before he turned to look out the carriage’s window. “Where are we going?”
Leaning back against his seat, Pierce chuckled. “I’m afraid I’m taking you to a masquerade.” He lifted his hands in appeasement as Mr. Caswell’s head whipped around to face him. “On your brother’s orders, I swear.”
Mr. Caswell’s jaw tensed. “I appreciate your efforts. However—”
“Why?” Pierce interrupted, curious to see in what ways Pembroke and his brother differed from one another, especially since they shared the same outward appearance.
Mr. Caswell frowned. “Why what?”
“Why did you come to England?”
The man’s jaw worked as he leaned back, distancing himself from the world around him. “I came to see my brother, to meet his wife, to wish them well.” By the time the last word had passed his lips, the man’s teeth were ground together so tightly that Pierce feared his jaw would snap in half.