To Leonora, the idea of marriage had always been represented in her parents’ union. Nothing else had ever entered her mind.
At least, not before.
Before, she would not have even considered a marriage not based on true love, that all-consuming feeling that drew one to another. Now, however, she had come to fear what lay in her future.
We should never make decisions out of fear, was that not what her father had said only moments ago?
“What about Lord Pemberton made you think your father would do something foolish?” her mother asked then, curious eyes looking into Leonora’s.
Leonora licked her lips and then told her parents how she had first met Drake, how he had simply known and what he had said.
Tell me who hurt you, and I shall put a bullet between his eyes.
Her father’s jaw tensed. “That is not the way to handle things.” He frowned, his gaze taking on a faraway look.
“What is it, dear?” her mother asked, a measure of concern in her eyes.
An unpleasant thought lingering upon her father’s face. “I merely found myself wondering if perhaps Lord Pemberton is connected to any of the duels I’ve read about in the paper. It seemed that the frequency with which they occurred has increased over the past few years.” He shook his head. “Do you think he has challenged men as retribution for what they might have done to others?”
Leonora felt her heart pause, her thoughts returning to the day she had first met Drake as well as to the day he had spoken to her about his mother. He had confided in her that day and told her what he had done once he had learned why his mother had taken her life.
He had killed his own father. In fact, he had challenged him to a duel.
Indeed, if she could say anything with certainty it was that Drake was loyal to a fault. From the beginning, he had stood at her side, shouldering her cause as though it were his own. He cared, and he did what needed to be done for those he protected.
Leonora felt warmed by the thought of his devotion; yet, she could not help but wonder if the devotion he felt toward her was the same kind he had felt toward others before her. Was she only one of many?
“What will we do?” Leonora’s mother asked, looking from her daughter to her husband. Her hand once more tightened upon Leonora’s, and utter sadness lingered in her eyes.
Leonora’s father rose to his feet and began pacing around the room, a deeply contemplative look upon his face. “Unfortunately, there is not much we can do,” he mumbled, thinking out loud. “We know not who attacked you; therefore, there is no one to confront.”
Leonora shot to her feet and stepped toward her father. “But you must promise me that even if one day we shall find out, you will not challenge him to a duel! And that you will forbid Troy from doing so as well!” She swallowed hard, a new cold trailing over her skin and making her hands tremble. “After everything, I could not bear the thought of anything happening to those I love the most.”
Her father inhaled a deep breath, and for the first time that night, Leonora could see a spark of anger in his eyes. Indeed, never had she seen him lose his temper. He always seemed in control, calm and collected. Every once in a while, Leonora had found herself wondering if he never felt these overwhelming, all-consuming emotions. It would seem that he did, though, that he merely knew, had learned how to handle them, how to rise above.
“I give you my word,” her father vowed, reaching for her chilled hands and wrapping them in his own. “Duels solve nothing. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore what happened. As much as I want you to feel free in your choices, I cannot allow you to go anywhere alone. Do you understand me?”
Leonora nodded. “Believe me, Father, I have no wish to do so.” Leonora felt a twinge of guilt at her words, knowing that they were not entirely truthful. After all, even now, in this very moment, she felt an almost overpowering pull to slip out of the house and sneak through the gap in the hedge.
Her parents might have observed Drake looking at her as well as her looking at him. However, they could not possibly know how much time she had spent in his presence over the past few months.
Alone.
Unchaperoned.
Leonora wondered if they would object. Yet, she was not willing to risk it, and so she said nothing.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Back at the Masquerade
Drake knew he had to be mad to allow her to accompany him. Yet, when those wide blue eyes looked into his, he felt utterly powerless, unable to refuse her anything.
Over the past fortnight, nothing unusual had happened. After Leonora had had her notebook returned to her, no one had tried to approach her in any way. Whenever she attended a ball or another societal gathering, she was constantly flanked by her family, countless watchful eyes observing the crowd, looking for the one who had harmed her.
Drake had seen with one glance that something had changed within her family.
They knew.
He had known that they did even before Leonora had told him so. It was only too visible in the way they never left her side, concern and no small amount of anger etched into their eyes. Especially her brother seemed to have trouble maintaining an outward calm. Drake was surprised to see him thus, for he had always appeared rather stoic, the look upon his face rarely whispering of any emotions lingering below. Now, though, he almost growled at each and every gentleman to glance in his sister’s direction, guarding her with a fierceness that surprised Drake.
“When will we be there?” Leonora asked, seated beside him in the carriage. She wore her dark cloak, the hood pulled up over her head and deep into her face. A black mask covered the upper half of her beautiful features, hiding her from those they would encounter.
Drake cleared his throat, unable to shake the feeling that they were making a monumental mistake. “It’ll only be a matter of minutes.” He touched his fingers to his own mask, ensuring it was in place. “You can still change your mind,” he reminded her, his gaze falling to her trembling hands.
Tensing her jaw, Leonora shook her head, something determined flashing in her blue eyes. “No, I need to do this. Even if we do not find him, I need to do this.”
Silence lingered between them; their thoughts drawn into different directions. And then, the carriage drew to a halt outside Lord Hamilton’s imposing townhouse.
Drake alighted without hesitation, knowing that lingering inside would only cause doubt. He turned back and held out his hand to Leonora, assisting her as she stepped down onto the pavement. “If you wish to return home, all you need to do is say so.”
With her eyes fixed on the darkened house, she nodded, then followed him inside without hesitation.
Drake wondered if it was her determination that propelled her forward or perhaps his presence that gave her courage. He knew what he preferred; only he did not dare ask. Still, his fingers closed more tightly around hers, still holding on even after she had found her footing.
Leonora did not seem to mind, her gaze wide as it swept over her surroundings. They stepped through the wide door and into the hall. Music and voices echoed to their ears, countless lights burning here and there. Yet, shadows dominated this night.
Shadows and masks.
A group of men sauntered out of the ballroom, each one wearing a black mask like his own, their faces hidden, their identities concealed.