“Oh well, at least it cannot rain inside.” Zehra turned away from the window. “Let’s get you dressed.”
“I really shouldn’t go.” Sabrina touched the faint swell of her belly.
“Oh, I insist,” Zehra said. “You asked me to let you stay here as your prize for winning the scavenger hunt. Now I’m asking you as a friend for a favor to keep me company tonight.”
With a sigh, Sabrina retrieved the old silver court gown that had belonged to her mother. She slid the fabric over her arms and onto her shoulders, and the gown settled into place. A shiver shot down her spine. The silver embroidered bodice glinted, and the hundreds of pearls sewn into the fabric seemed to draw in the light and glow.
“You look radiant. Truly ethereal,” Zehra said as Sabrina looked at herself in the full-length mirror. This was only the second time she’d worn her mother’s gown. The first time it had gifted her with a night of passion beneath the stars. What more could it give her? Surely there was no magic left in the threads anymore, not for her.
“Here.” Zehra placed the silver-and-gold mask in her hands. Sabrina hadn’t been able to part with the gown or mask, and she’d kept both ever since she’d fled from her brother’s home. She felt foolish, but some part of her believed the gown and mask contained the strongest memories of that night beneath the stars. Even now, as she brushed her hands down the gown, she could feel and hear everything she had that night . . .
Peregrine’s teasing laugh, the way they’d walked together in perfect step in the gardens, how it had felt to lie back upon his coat in the grass and surrender herself to him. Everything had been burned into her heart and mind, each second of the two precious nights they’d spent together. It would never be enough for her, yet she had to make it last, and if that meant carrying the gown and mask about with her as talismans for the rest of her life, she would.
“Let’s go downstairs.” Zehra retrieved her emerald-green mask from the bed and tied it to her face before she looped her arm through Sabrina’s.
They descended the stairs and joined a crowd of eager guests, all in exquisite costumes and wearing masks. Lawrence stood at the front of the crowd, his own mask resting on top of his head as he directed the mass of chattering attendees toward the ballroom. Rafe stood beside him, his mask also pushed back on top of his head, watching the proceedings with an unamused scowl.
“Ah, my darling,” Lawrence greeted his wife.
“Has everyone arrived?” Zehra asked.
“Almost. We should go ahead and start the first dance.” Lawrence gave Rafe a nudge and shot a look at Sabrina. Rafe dutifully held out his arm.
“Sabrina? A dance?”
“Yes, that would be lovely.” Sabrina let Rafe lead her into the ballroom. When they were away from Zehra and Lawrence, she leaned in to whisper, “You don’t seem pleased to dance with me. I release you from your obligation if you feel it is improper.”
“It isn’t that,” Rafe said. “I am displeased with Lawrence, but that is a private issue between us.”
“Ah, I shall not pry, then.” Sabrina was curious, but she knew better than to keep asking questions.
Rafe relaxed once they lined up to dance, and he even managed a smile. Sabrina enjoyed herself for several dances before she finally needed a moment to rest her feet. She found an empty seat in the corner and caught her breath, leaning back and stretching her feet out with a little sigh. The musicians played a few lively quadrilles that had the entire room buzzing with excitement.
“How about a waltz?” someone called out to the orchestra when they finished their last song.
Unable to help herself, Sabrina let her mind and heart drift back to that night at Lady Germain’s ball, to how she’d first glimpsed Peregrine in the crowd. He’d looked so dashing in a black mask, almost like a wicked highwayman, yet he’d been the most wonderful gentleman and lover.
Her heart gave a twinge, and she instinctively put a hand to her belly. Would their child favor him or her? No matter what, she believed their child would be a wonderful dancer and a master of riddles. Before she realized it, she was smiling. But the smile faded as something across the room caught her eye. A man in a black domino was watching her. Her heart jolted against her rib cage. She had to be seeing things. He couldn’t be here. Zehra would have told her if he was coming. She stood up, but her feet wouldn’t move.
He continued to stare at her as the waltz began. He was still like a statue, and she continued to question if this moment was a dream or reality. What did he see when he looked at her? To him, she might still be the mystery woman from the masquerade ball and not Sabrina.
Her heart quivered, still wounded. She held this man’s child within her, the spark of life created between them, and he didn’t even know it. Sabrina was torn between running to him and sinking to the floor in a puddle of tears.
He came toward her, uncaring that he disrupted the path of many young couples as they danced. He halted a few feet from her and slowly extended his hand. She put her hand in his without a thought or word. She dared not speak lest he recognize her voice.
As they began to dance, he pulled her close to whisper in her ear. “I never imagined I would find you again, not after that night.” He guided her with such grace and ease, it was as though they danced in a castle in the clouds and not upon this mortal ground.
“These last months have been empty, until I found you. Will you finally tell me who you are?” Peregrine asked.
“No,” she whispered, still afraid her voice would betray her. She pulled free of him, the warmth and comfort of his touch too much to bear. She fled the ballroom, desperate for air, and burst out onto the terrace. Rain cascaded down on her, but she didn’t stop despite the icy chill of the water sinking into her skin and dampening her dress.
“Wait!” Peregrine’s shout came from behind her, but she didn’t dare heed him. A hand caught her arm and she spun to face him.
“Please, I can’t lose you again,” Peregrine said.
Sabrina was glad she couldn’t see half of his face due to his mask. Looking at him made her weak, made her want to throw herself into his arms. That was the one thing she couldn’t do, not if she wanted to stay strong and survive without him.
“You don’t know me,” she said quietly, making her voice more breathless to disguise it.
He smiled a little, the expression full of sorrow. “Don’t I?” When she didn’t respond, he continued. “I have one last riddle for you.”
The rain was still pounding down on them, but Sabrina didn’t move.
“What is an empty shell that once flowed with life, but now is shattered, and has but one force in all the world that can mend its fractures?”
She swallowed thickly, unable to speak. She’d never heard that riddle before.
“I don’t know.”
Peregrine took one of her hands in his and slowly got down on one knee. “It is a man with a broken heart, on his knees, praying that the woman he loves will give him a second chance.”
“A second chance?” Her voice was faint now.
“Yes. I should have asked you to marry me that night at Lady Germain’s ball. I never should have let you leave my arms.”