Deception at Sable Hill (16 page)

Juliet met her gaze in the mirror. “Any idea with whom you’ll be paired this evening, miss?”

“Not a clue.”

“Maybe it’s that handsome Mr. Gardner.”

Eloisa felt a faint tremor course through her. For some reason, she never felt comfortable around Quentin. “I hope not.”

Juliet looked at her closely, then shrugged. “Well, I’m sure your mother has someone special in mind.”

“She always does,” Eloisa said with a wry smile. “I just hope it isn’t Baron Humphrey again.”

“Remind me who that is?” Before Eloisa could think of an appropriate adjective to describe just how boring Baron was, Juliet held up a pin in each of her hands. “The pearl or sapphire stick pin tonight, Miss Carstairs?”

She didn’t care. She wasn’t sure if she ever had. “What gown am I wearing tonight?”

“Your mother wanted the sea foam, miss,” Juliet said with a hint of a smile.

Eloisa knew that gown. Its hue complemented her coloring exquisitely, making her look even more delicate than her blonde hair, light-blue eyes, and slim frame already did. Its cut was demure, and its fit was forgiving enough that Juliet wouldn’t even have to cinch her corset strings as tight as she usually did.

The dress was everything proper. Everything boring. Everything that would cause a man to notice her but then forget about her easily. She would blend in with the rest of the room. Look pretty but not stand out.

Exactly how her mother believed she should always look.

Exactly the opposite of how she’d been feeling lately.

Perhaps it was the constant nightmares, the lack of sleep? Perhaps it was her time over at Hope House, or even her burgeoning friendship with Sean Ryan.

Whatever the reason, she knew she was tired of being relegated to the shadows. She was eager to be bold. To stand out, at least for a time.

Thinking quickly, she said, “Juliet, what about the ivory gown with the black lace overlay? Is it in poor shape?”

Juliet’s eyes filled with hurt. “Of course it’s not in poor shape.”

“I meant, I don’t want you to have to press it.”

“I wouldn’t have to press it, Miss Eloisa. It is in perfect order.” Her lips curved up, making Eloisa realize that Juliet, too, was eager to shake things up a bit.

“In that case, I would like to wear that gown instead of anything sea foam. And I think the sapphires in my hair.”

“And your black lace fan?”

“Yes, and the black gloves.”

Juliet’s eyes sparkled. “Miss Eloisa, you know your mother prefers you to wear white gloves. She doesn’t feel black gloves are proper for a young lady. Most especially not at a dinner party.”

Privately, Eloisa didn’t think they were either. But she wasn’t a young girl anymore.

“I know she doesn’t. However, the gloves will be on my hands and arms, not hers.”

Their eyes met in the mirror. Slowly Juliet smiled, giving Eloisa what she needed, an ally in asserting her independence.

“I don’t know whether to praise your courage or warn you to prepare yourself, Miss Carstairs. Your mother won’t hesitate to make her displeasure known.”

“We should probably be ready for anything, then,” she said as she watched Juliet carefully place the pair of blue sapphire pins into her chignon. As she imagined, the jewels stood out like fireflies against her hair, drawing one’s attention to how shining and golden it was. “Tonight I find I’m tired of simply doing what is expected of me. There has got to be more to me than just a pretty face.”

“There is much more, miss. And begging your pardon, Miss Carstairs, but it does my heart good to see you smiling and to see you’ve got some of your spunk back. It’s been awhile. I mean, from what I have observed it has been.”

Though Eloisa had never shared with Juliet what had happened with Douglass, sometimes she feared Juliet had guessed. For weeks after her attack, Juliet had stayed close, taking longer on Eloisa’s toilet, brushing her hair with a little more care, fussing over her just a little bit more than she used to.

Juliet was nothing if not an extremely talented lady’s maid, but, still, it had been an odd thing. Though Juliet never said much about her life before she came to service on Sable Hill, and though she was a year younger than Eloisa, Eloisa imagined Juliet was far more knowledgeable in the ways of the world than she could ever hope to be.

All of that was exactly why Eloisa had known her behavior had worried her sweet lady’s maid to no end. “Yes, it has been awhile. But perhaps it is time.”

Crossing to the bed, Juliet carefully gathered the sea-foam gown in her arms. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time, Juliet.”

And for the first time in many weeks, she was actually looking forward to the night out. Surely it wasn’t simply because of the change of gown.

Perhaps, instead, it was because she’d finally gotten herself back. She was going to be a little bit more daring, a little bit more bold. A little bit like the person she thought she’d be . . . before she’d understood what it meant to be Eloisa Carstairs.

And what it meant to be at a man’s mercy.

Eloisa’s new resolve lasted just until the time she walked down the staircase and saw who was waiting for her. Owen Howard. Detective Owen Howard.

Immediately, her thoughts turned to Sean’s warnings about how women still weren’t safe in the city. Had the Slasher struck again?

“Detective,” she said when she reached the bottom step. “Is everything all right?”

Owen, all golden good looks and good manners, strode to her side, clasped her hand, and helped her down the last step.

He’d always been polite. Always exceptionally debonair.

But rarely had he ever looked at her the way he was at the moment—a mixture of adoration and admiration.

“Owen, what is going on?”

He also smoothly ignored her plea. “Eloisa, may I say that you look beautiful this evening? I’m simply captivated.”

She blinked, then became aware of her mother watching them from the edge of the foyer.

Raising her voice, she played her part right back. “You are too kind, Detective Howard.”

He leaned closer. “Please call me Owen. After all, we’ve known each other for a long time.”

She almost smiled. “You know I cannot call you that in public.”

A dimple appeared. “You know what that does, don’t you? You are giving me hope that we’ll be together in private.”

A bolt of alarm shot through her. Though, of course, he meant nothing nefarious, she couldn’t help the shudder of revulsion that coursed through her. Afraid he noticed, she forced herself to giggle. “I am shocked, Owen.”

Yet again, he directed their repartee. “No worries,” he whispered as he bent his head closer to hers. “You have to know half of what I say is all for your mother’s benefit.”

“Of course.”

As if her mother knew she was being summoned, she stepped forward. “Eloisa, I saw Owen’s mother at a charity event not a week ago. When we realized that the both of you had received an invitation to the Lawrences, we decided it would be a wonderful thing for him to accompany you.”

“It is wonderful. So wonderful.” Eloisa barely controlled her temper. This, this . . . date had been planned for days, and her mother had never found it necessary to inform her of it? Of course, on its heels was the awareness that she’d told her mother time and again that she had no interest in either her social calendar or who escorted her to events.

Wisely ignoring Eloisa’s sarcasm, her mother gazed at her dress with a critical eye. “I wanted you to wear the sea foam this evening. I spoke to Juliet about that myself.”

“Juliet did have that gown laid out. However, I changed my mind.”

“Black lace is almost inappropriate for the occasion. Dear.”

“But not quite,” Eloisa returned, her voice firm.

Just as her mother was drawing in a breath to continue their pointless squabble, Owen interrupted.

“I, too, was just informed of our partnership for the evening, Eloisa, but I must admit to being relieved. We know each other well enough to be able to relax, don’t you think? Accompanying you is my honor.”

Ignoring her mother, she gazed at Owen and realized that she felt the same way. Owen was different from the other gentlemen of their circle. His insistence on having a job—and a dangerous one at that—created quite an aura about him. One of confidence and mystery.

He also knew when to speak, when to gloss over things, and how to go about doing so in an unobtrusive, refined way. He was the antithesis of Sean Ryan.

Eloisa didn’t mind Owen’s company. He was a family friend, knew Sean, and could be depended on to keep her safe in any sort of situation.

But she still was confused as to why anyone thought she needed such protection beyond their driver, who would take her to and from the Lawrences’ home. And why Owen was looking at her in such a protective way.

“Has something happened?”

While Owen averted his eyes, her mother spoke up. “The Slasher has struck again.”

“What?”

Owen placed his hand on her waist. “Easy, now. Everything will be okay.”

“How do you know that? How can you know that?”

“Because you have me by your side, and I refuse to let anything happen to you.”

Looking into his eyes, Eloisa knew Owen was being completely sincere. Though they’d never been more than friends, she trusted him implicitly. “Who was it?” she asked, pleased that she was getting her bearings again. “Who was attacked?”

“Millicent Bond.”

Eloisa felt dizzy. “Millicent? Is she . . . is she alive?”

“Eloisa, control yourself,” her mother cautioned. “Millicent’s misfortune is none of your concern.”

“Of course it is. Mother, the girls being attacked are my friends.”

“Millicent was hardly that.”

Eloisa inhaled sharply. “Was?”

“Millicent didn’t survive the attack,” Owen said quietly as he wrapped his arm more tightly around her, pulling her closer to him in a way that was completely inappropriate. However, his body’s warmth served to remind her that she was not alone. As his brown eyes skimmed over her face, he frowned. “You’re not going to faint on me, are you?”

“Of course not.” Though she was having difficulty catching her breath.

“Forgive my familiarity, but do we need to loosen your corset?” he whispered into her ear. “Can you breathe?”

She was tempted to admit that she was having difficulty breathing, to say she needed to summon Juliet and return to the safety of her room. She ached to retreat to someplace within herself and forget about everything. But she’d learned the hard way that leaving reality for a little bit was a double-edged sword. A few hours of blissful relief made the return to reality even harder.

“Thank you for your concern, but I am fine.”

“Of course she is,” her mother said, her tone now filled with ice. “Mr. Howard, I wouldn’t have thought a gentleman like you would have ever stooped so low as to start discussing such things.”

Eloisa’s patience broke. “Mother, such things hardly matter. After all, Millicent was murdered.”

Owen didn’t even bother to respond to her mother’s comment. Instead, he smoothly ignored her protests and escorted Eloisa to the small receiving room. After helping her to the chair, he knelt in front of her. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked. “I can ask your mother to summon your maid, if you wish.”

She smiled softly. “There’s no need for that, though I’m starting to regret my choice of gowns. This one was definitely not made with comfort in mind.”

“If it’s any consolation, please know that you do look lovely. Exquisite.”

His kindness and compliments warmed her. She placed her gloved hand on his arm. “Owen, are you certain you aren’t needed elsewhere?”

“You worried I can’t do my job?”

“I’m worried that you are too much of a gentleman to cancel at such a late date.”

“I didn’t want you to have to go out without an escort.”

He truly was so very gallant. “How about this? How about I stay home?”

“How about you desist in attempting to send me away?” he countered, humor lighting his eyes. “I promise you, there are several officers on the case. I know, because I was with everyone earlier. If I was needed, my captain would have requested I stay.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am more than sure. Lieutenant Ryan will continue to work the investigation tonight.”

“He’s at the scene?”

“Ah, yes. When I told him we had this evening already planned, he said I could have some time off. I’ll catch up with him either late tonight or tomorrow morning.”

“That sounds terribly inconvenient for you.”

“Maybe it is for Sean.” He smiled. “For me, however, it is a stroke of luck.”

Escorting her still didn’t seem like the best use of his time. “I am honored by your kindness, but if you need to be someplace else . . .”

“I spoke to Sean. He and I both agree that you are a person worth looking after, Eloisa. Please let me do this.”

Sean knew Owen was with her. He not only approved but supported it. Unaccountably, she felt disappointed. She could have sworn there was something special between them.

“I’m only going to let you because, if you did leave, I know my mother would send me on my own.”