The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson (grave mercy .TXT) 📕

He pulled me into the shadow of one of the columns.“Now is the perfect moment to approach Honora. Do you think you can get Lord Kendal to ask you to dance?”

I sank against the wall. “I don’t know. He seemed amiable enough when we arrived, but I can’t help but worry.”

“I’m going to make my way over to Honora during the next dance, hoping I might delay her afterward. She wouldn’t dare takea turn with me on the dance floor, but she owes me a conversation at the very least.”

“And that is when I should seek out Lord Kendal?”

He nodded, but his eyes seemed to say just the opposite.

“You don’t think I’m in any danger, do you?”

He rested his hand on my shoulder as if he were privy to my secret. “I won’t let you out of my sight. Not for one solitarymoment.”

He meant to encourage me, but the gravity of his words only caused my fear to escalate. Could I do this? Could I wander the gardens with a gentleman I barely knew? The calm I’d felt only moments before on the dance floor disappeared into thin air, my muscles tightening in turn.

What was I thinking coming here, acting as if it was so long ago? Everything about my relationship with Piers was complicated,and he had problems of his own. True intimacy would always be a great unknown for me. I was a fool to think otherwise.

He’d told me he had no intention of taking a wife, but convincing his heart might be an entirely different matter. Piers andI had been drawn to each other since we were children. Nothing would change that but time and space, and the only way I couldbring myself to leave Loxby Manor was to uncover what happened to Seline.

I took a measured breath. “I’ll get Lord Kendal to speak with me, one way or another.”

We shared one last long look before setting off on our separate missions.

Seline had been in love with Lord Kendal for as long as I could remember. He was suave, handsome, and titled, and he’d neverspent one minute thinking of me. So why on earth would he ask me to dance? He’d never done so before.

Chairs squeaked in the corners of the room. The musicians rearranged their instruments in the balcony. Boots scuffled acrossthe floor as the roar of conversation pressed against my ears. Where was Lord Kendal? I scanned the throngs of people millingin every direction before a stream of cloudy moonlight caught my eye, pouring in through the floor-length back windows, illuminatingour illustrious host. I flicked open my brisé fan. It was now or never.

Carefully I pretended to search for someone in the crowds as I made my way closer and closer to the earl, stopping but a step away. I took a few calculated glances across the dance floor before settling my hand on the edge of the white wainscoting circling the room.

Lord Kendal watched me for a moment before rather slyly edging closer. His expression remained one of haughty indifference.“Lost your escort?”

I batted my eyes as I’d seen Seline do hundreds of times before. “Not at all. I was merely looking for Avery Cavanagh. Wearranged a dance, and I’m afraid he may have forgotten.”

There was a bend to Lord Kendal’s dark brow, followed by a heart-wrenching second of indecision, but I simply waited for himto appraise me, hoping my ploy would not go awry.

Finally he gave a sigh of amusement, his attention narrowing in on my face. “Well that will never do now, will it?”

I had to stay close to him if I was going to hear his words accurately. “It is neither here nor there. I suppose I shall simplyhave to sit this one out, unless you can suggest an alternative.” I moved as near as I could while staying within the boundsof propriety.

Of course the sudden familiarity I’d been forced to create inadvertently played to his never-ending vanity. A wry smile slidlike satin across his face, and I was reminded of how easily Seline’s charms could get under one’s skin.

He offered me his arm as if he was doing me a great favor. “Would you do me the honor instead?”

A strange mix of emotions hit me as I accepted his offer. I suppose a part of me was giddy—the young dreamer from long ago who was rarely given any attention, particularly by a noted Corinthian. Over the years I’d grown and changed. I was no longer a slave to societal expectations, not really. I’d seen the dark side of a person, and I would carry the scars for the rest of my life. Fear, anger, disillusionment—all fought for the balance of my attention.

And then I looked up. Lord Kendal was just a man, and Piers would be watching us—he’d promised me he would. My body stiffened,but I affected an innocent smile. “Would you prefer to take a turn in the gardens instead? I believe I need a breath of freshair.”

Piers had timed his own walk perfectly. As Kendal took a sideways glance at the terrace doors, he was struck dumb by the sightof Honora embarking on her own garden stroll—with Piers, no less. Kendal’s eyes narrowed and the grooves in his chin dimpledas his jaw clenched. Yet he was far too practiced at deception. His evident shock subsided as quickly as it had come, andhe casually touched my hand. “I daresay I could stand for a stroll myself.”

He redirected our path toward the French doors with a sharp turn, and a lady and gentleman were forced to jerk out of ourway. Kendal thrust the left side of the door wide, and we erupted into Whitecaster’s renowned garden, swept silent by thequiet hand of night.

On the terrace stood a couple in deep conversation, and to their right, a pair of friendly bachelors, but there was no signof Piers and Honora. I took a long breath of dampened air, the stilted breeze abuzz in my ears. The rolling gray mist hadthickened over the course of