been a ludicrous thought. Even knowing that, though, Leonora could not bring herself to turn back. She knew she could not go on as she had thus far. She needed help. She needed peace of mind…even more than she needed to maintain her reputation.
Fortunately, the footsteps retreated after a while, and so Leonora moved onward, heading toward where Lord Hartmore’s study had once been. Of course, she could not know where Lord Pemberton was at present; however, it was a reasonable assumption that he would retreat into a personal space upon returning home. Men often spent their days in their study, did they not? Her father and her brother often did, discussing family matters and seeing to the upkeep of the family’s estates.
As Leonora drew closer, she suddenly heard the sound of a man’s voice. A man who was not Lord Pemberton.
An ice-cold shiver trailed across her skin, and Leonora felt her teeth grind together and her hands ball into fists as she paused outside the door.
“It shall not be easy,” the unknown man said with a scoff. “I assure you I shall do my very best. However, with as little information as you have provided me, I must tell you quite frankly that I do not entertain high hopes of returning to you with satisfying information, Lord Pemberton.”
A moment of silence followed before Leonora could hear footsteps. Then Lord Pemberton’s voice drifted through the closed door. “Do what you can,” he instructed the other man, his tone hard and determined. “I require a guest list. A complete guest list. The Hamilton masquerade will take place in a matter of months yet again.” Leonora drew in sharp breath. “If you are unable to acquire it by then, I suggest you as well as a few of your associates attend that night in order to procure the necessary information.”
“As you wish,” the other man replied, a mixture of eagerness and annoyance mingling in his voice.
Leonora was all but frozen to the spot. However, the moment she heard footsteps drawing closer to the door, her limbs—to her utter surprise!—suddenly moved without conscious thought. She dashed away and hid behind a heavy curtain, its dark coloring hiding her from sight.
In the next second, the door to Lord Pemberton’s study opened, and the two men stepped outside. They bid each other farewell, and then Leonora heard the receding footsteps of Lord Pemberton’s visitor. She held her breath, suddenly terrified to be discovered. How did Lord Pemberton know about the Hamilton masquerade? Never had she spoken to him about what had happened to her. Never had she given him any details. Then how could he know? Had she misjudged him? Was he not to be trusted?
Again, silence lingered and Leonora realized that she had not heard Lord Pemberton return to his study when his voice suddenly spoke from only a few paces away. “Do you wish to remain behind that curtain, Lady Leonora? Or would you rather come inside?”
The shock of being discovered slammed into Leonora in a way that made her sway on her feet. Her hands grasped the fabric of the curtain and curled into it, holding on as she fought to steady her nerves. How had he known she was there? Yet, it did not matter. He knew, and she could not remain where she was.
Inhaling a deep breath, Leonora lifted her chin and then pushed away the curtain and stepped out of her hiding place. For a moment, she kept her gaze averted, not certain she wanted to see his face. Would he look different to her now? After what she had learned?
“You are free to leave if you so choose,” Lord Pemberton said into the stillness, his feet still firmly planted on the floor. Again, he remained where he was, not drawing closer but maintaining the distance between them.
Comforted by that familiar tone in his voice, Leonora finally lifted her gaze and looked up into silvery-gray eyes. What she saw there was what she had always seen there: genuine concern mixed with a hint of suppressed anger. Was he still the man she had thought him to be?
Lord Pemberton moved his hands behind his back, shoulders drawing further back. “Perhaps you should return home,” he suggested, concern instead of disapproval in his voice. “It would not be good for you to be found here unchaperoned.”
Leonora nodded. “I know.” Yet, she did not leave. Her gaze remained on his, and she could see him contemplating her words.
After a while, Lord Pemberton