Ignoring the warning bells that went off in her head, Leonora found herself turning away from the window and striding from the room. She did not say a word to anyone. She simply left, afraid that if she paused to think about it even if only for a moment, she would lose her nerve. So, she kept her thoughts focused on the steps ahead, not on what she was doing or the consequences of her actions, but simply on the next step and then the next and the next.
In the hall, she donned a cloak, pulling it tightly around her shoulders and slipping the hood over her head. Then she proceeded to the back of the house and sneaked out the back door. An icy chill brushed against her skin as she pulled the cloak tighter around herself. Then she hurried onward, down the few steps and along the path until she came to stand in front of the gap in the hedge. She paused for no more than a split second, her mind still focused on nothing beyond the next step.
And then she was through and found herself in a garden she had seen many times before. It had not changed since she had last been here, and it was enough to reassure her, to hurry onward still.
Leonora slipped inside through the side door, one she had opened and closed and stepped through countless times. Of course, more often than not it had been Harry and Chris to sneak over here, but every once in a while, in years long past, Leonora had accompanied her two younger sisters. The memory of their childhood adventures brought a smile to her face, and she wished she had been able to hold on to these innocent times.
Glancing around, Leonora noticed that Lady Hartmore’s elaborate style had been replaced with simple furnishings. Of course, Leonora could not speak to the rooms, however, the hallways no longer seemed to be overpowered by countless colors flowing into one another. More often than not, Leonora remembered thinking that Lady Hartmore should simply decide on a color and then take it from there.
In the distance, the soft sound of footsteps echoed to Leonora’s ears, and she paused in mid-step, her breath lodged in her throat. What if someone were to come upon her? Her mind suddenly screamed, reminding her of the consequences she had ignored thus far. Indeed, venturing over here by herself had 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 nodded, then stepped back and gestured toward his study. “Would you like to come in?”
Leonora hesitated for the touch of nervousness she felt was nothing in comparison to the blind panic she had so often experienced over the last few months. And so, she moved one foot in front of the other and slipped into his study, careful to maintain a certain distance between them, afraid that if she did not, she might lose this last ray of hope. Perhaps if she could find out why she had come to trust him, then perhaps she could find a way to recover.
Perhaps.
“Would it make you feel better if I left the door open?” Lord Pemberton asked as he stepped into the study after her.
Leonora knew that no one could know she was here, not even his servants. Especially not his servants. And so, she shook her head and watched him close the door behind them, leaving them alone in a room and a house with no one to protect her...
...but him.
Indeed, it would have made sense, perfect sense for her to lose her nerves now, to fall into panic, start trembling and sobbing hysterically. Yes, such a reaction would have made sense. Instead, however, Leonora found herself facing him with a calm she could not explain. It was deeply irrational. Especially after what had happened, she ought to feel afraid to be alone with a man, any man, particularly in his home. Why did she not? When being at a crowded gathering with her family around for safety had her on edge.