Chapter Seventeen

S affron fled her aunt's side and made her way around the room, sticking close to the walls. Her ankles pulsed with pain, her neck ached, and there was a ringing in her ears that wouldn't go away. Every flash of a blond head had her pulse racing.

Then Simon Mayweather caught her as she paused at the refreshment table.

"Stroll with me, Miss Summersby?" he asked, holding out an arm. "You look like you need a break."

She accepted, and as they walked away, asked, "How did you know?"

He chuckled. "You nearly stamped your partner's foot in the last set."

The orchestra started up, but he did not lead her onto the dance floor, to her relief. She didn't want to risk being partnered with Canterbury or, worse, Leo. What would she say to him? That he had burrowed his way so deep into her heart that she could not bear the thought of him courting another? They had never spoken of commitments. It was her own fault for expecting more of him than he could give.

Simon squeezed her hand. "I am surprised I got you before my cousin. Haven't a clue where our host has gotten himself off to. You'd think he'd be in the middle of this."

Saffron steered him toward the doors to the terrace. "The better for you, Mr. Mayweather. I assume you wish to discuss Angelica?"

As expected, the conversation shifted easily to her sister.

"I cannot understand why she is so cold," he said as they walked out the doors to the terrace. They were close enough to the dancers that she was not worried about calling her aunt to accompany them.

"It must be something I said," Simon continued. "The curse of it is, I can't remember what."

She folded her fingers over his arm. "If you are looking to catch a glimpse, she has been spending her mornings with the horses. She loves to ride."

Simon nodded. "Well, I'm a bit of a rider myself." After a brief pause, he added, "Has she said anything about me?"

"She said you are not seeking a wife."

Simon winced. "She might have misconstrued my intentions, but I am willing to make amends."

She squeezed his arm. "I will speak to her."

"She's a remarkable woman," he said, staring out at the dark gardens. It was easy to guess what he was thinking.

"But you are worried about the Duke of Canterbury."

The muscles of his arm tensed. "I take it you did not have the pleasure of meeting his late wife?" His lips thinned. "She was a beautiful, spirited woman—before her marriage. It was awful to see her change, night after night, retreating into herself. His Grace treated her like a wild mare to be broken and bred. I cannot see that happen to Miss Angelica."

A shiver traveled down her spine. His assessment matched with her feelings about the man. "I agree with you, sir. The problem is—"

"Money. I know. Your sister explained. I do not have the means to provide Miss Angelica with all that she deserves." He closed his eyes. "I had a fortune once. But for my hubris, she could be mine."

The anguish in his voice resonated within her. Like Simon, she longed for someone who felt out of reach. The difference was that Simon now seemed willing to marry her sister. All she had to do was nudge them and her problem with Canterbury might be solved. She would still search for Basil, but she would not need to rush.

"There you are."

Leo stood in the doorway to the ballroom, dressed in dark-blue livery. His arms were tucked behind his back, his hair perfectly coiffed. His lips turned down as he looked beside her to where Simon stood.

"Evening, cousin," Leo said. A palpable tension formed between the two men until Simon released her and bowed.

"If you will excuse me, I promised Miss Morgan a dance." He strolled off with confidence and what Saffron thought was a new sense of purpose, leaving her to shuffle awkwardly before their host.

"I saw you dance," Leo said.

She swallowed the saliva that suddenly flooded her mouth. He had been watching her, after all. But why? To ensure she was completing her end of the bargain?

"I have not yet questioned everyone," she said. "Have there been any other attempts to steal the painting?"

Leo prowled closer. "No. What did the Duke of Canterbury say to you? I tried to follow, but Simon spilled champagne on my trousers."

She swallowed again. "He wanted me to know that if I made a scene again, he would cut us off, financially, after he marries my sister."

It would have been easier to lie, but a small part of her wanted him to get angry on her behalf. It made her feel special, wanted. Like she was back by the fountain, being comforted instead of shouted at.

But rather than explode in a burst of temper, Leo closed the distance between them and tucked her fingers into the crook of his arm, then goaded her back toward the bright lights of the ballroom.

"I won't let that happen. You are far too important…"

Her lungs seized, her heart thumped, and she nearly reached for her head for fear it would float away.

"I've never met anyone so good at solving problems," Leo continued.

She crashed back down to Earth. Of course, that was what he wanted. Practical Miss Summersby. Always putting others' needs first. Never thinking about herself or pursuing her own desires. Her entire world revolved around her family. She had no actual plan for her own future beyond finding Basil and preventing Angelica from marrying the Duke of Canterbury, because saving her siblings was all she cared about.

For once, I wish someone would put me first.

She noticed her aunt sitting with Lady Allen and was about to head toward them, when a waltz started. Leo led her to the dance floor, his hand splayed on her hip, pulling her close as they swirled around the other couples.

"I have news," Leo said. "There is an injured man in town. The constable suspects him of being the one who broke in. I thought we could question him when he awakens."

It was hard to focus when Leo clutched her so close. She wanted to drape herself over him, thrust her hands into his thick hair and lose herself in the pleasure of his kisses.

"What do you say?" Leo asked.

Saffron wrenched her mind back to reality. "I agree. As long as we set out when we will not be missed." A sudden thought struck her. "Should we be concerned that he might escape after he awakens?"

Leo shook his head. "Sinclair informed me the man has knocked his head and broken both of his legs. He will be abed for months, assuming the constable doesn't send him to the gallows for whatever other crimes he committed." The hand on her back tightened. "This is dangerous, Saffron. I am only asking you to come because I know if I don't, you will find out and follow me anyway, as reckless as that would be."

Saffron huffed. "You underestimate me, my lord."

Leo smiled and his eyes crinkled at the edges in the way that made her heart flutter. When the music faded, he took her hand and put it on his arm.

"People are going to think you've taken special interest in me," Saffron said. As they passed Mrs. Morgan, the woman gave her a frightful glare, then turned on her two daughters, barking like a seal.

"They can think whatever they want. After all, I have taken a special interest in you." They approached the musicians, who had started up again, much louder than before. As if knowing that the sound was more than she could bear, he held her tightly and did not speak again until they were on the other side of the room.

"By the way, that gown is marvelous."

"You can have it when I'm done with it," she replied tightly. "Though I don't think it would look as good on you."

His strangled response was cut off by an ear-piercing scream.

Saffron spun and raced toward the source of the noise. Memories of her parents' fevered cries in the night filled her thoughts. It couldn't be Angelica. She had warned her sister countless times not to walk too close to the gaslights. And Rosemary's bad hip made it unlikely that she had moved so far from her seat.

Still, her heart thundered as she pushed her way through the crowd, with Leo following behind her.

When she arrived at the scene, the worst of the damage was done. Lady Allen was bent over double, her hands clutching at her gown, still smoldering from where it had caught a spark from the fireplace.

Relief flowed through her like cool water on a hot day. Not Angelica. Not Rosemary.

Then she realized no one was helping. A ballroom full of men and women, and none stepped forward to aid Lady Allen. She shoved her way into the clearing and kneeled beside the woman, who sobbed loudly as two footmen stamped out the remaining flames.

"Come," Saffron said. "Let me help."

The woman lowered her hands and opened pale-gray eyes. "All right."

The crowd grew louder, women muttering to their friends and husbands behind their fans as Leo attempted to move them away. To prevent her charge from further embarrassment, Saffron hurried her off into the retiring room. Only when they were safely within the small space did she examine the damage.

It was horrific. The smell of burning fabric filled the room, and small, blackened clumps split from the dress and splattered on the floor.

"How bad is it?" Lady Allen asked, tears forming in her eyes.

"I won't lie to you. It's unsightly. But if you would allow me, I think I can fix it."

The woman let out a low moan.

Taking the sound as permission, she went to the door and asked one of the maids hovering outside to bring her a sewing kit. A young girl ran off and returned in moments with a bulging, cloth satchel.

Saffron withdrew a set of shears, as well as a needle and thread and set to work. It was not a simple task. Some embers were still fresh, singeing her fingers.

"I don't know what happened," Lady Allen said as Saffron snipped through the carnage with the shears. "One minute I was standing there, and the next, I could feel the heat of the flames licking my skin."

Saffron mumbled an apology.

Lady Allen sighed. "I have suffered no significant injury, thanks to the footman who batted out the flames. But I still do not understand where the flame came from. I was quite a distance from the fire and any gaslights, I made sure of that. But at least your aunt was not harmed."

Saffron's hands stilled. "My Aunt Rosemary was near you?"

"That's where it happened. I was sitting beside her on the couch by the fireplace."

Exactly where I would have gone if Leo had not swept me into the dance.

Were it not for his intervention, it would have been Saffron set aflame. A coincidence, or something more? In other circumstances, she would have brushed it off, but there was another fact that made her pause. After the initial shock of the carriage accident, she thought back to the moments before the wheel had broken. There had been a sound. The report of a rifle, nearly drowned out by the hammering rain. Then there was their driver. Would a man who was not a criminal have abandoned them so easily?

It couldn't have been an accident.

Someone had shot out their wheel, perhaps expecting the horses to spook and send them crashing into the river.

Her first instinct was that she needed to tell Leo as soon as possible, but then she remembered how he had hovered over her in the studio, and how he had enveloped her in his arms when he'd thought she'd had a chill. Would he continue to help her if he knew someone had tried to kill her? Or would he instead become even more protective and demand that she allow him to continue the investigation alone?

No, it was best to keep her suspicions to herself.

The rest of the work continued in silence. When all the damage was removed, Saffron turned the new, raw edge over to create a smooth hem, then set to ripping the wide band of lace from the bottom of her own gown. She would apologize to Leo later.

"Oh, no." Lady Allen gasped. "Not your lovely gown!"

"Trust me," Saffron said through a mouth full of pins. "I know what I am doing." She affixed the band to the inner layer of the gown, settled the fabric on the floor, then stood back and admired her work. The gentle sweep of the fabric fell to the floor with no sign of the damage that had been done. Without a balayeuse, or dust ruffle, the gown would not survive the night, but it was enough.

"There," she said, wiping sweat from her brow.

Lady Allen reached down and touched the work, her eyes sparkling. "You are a miracle worker. Not even my most experienced seamstress could have done such lovely work in such a short time. Can you also embroider?"

Saffron wiped sweat from her brow. "Of a fashion."

Lady Allen hummed an appreciative sound. "You would make a wonderful lady's companion."

Only a few days earlier, those casual words would have sent Saffron's pulse racing. Here was the opportunity she had been looking for, a way to support her family if her search for Basil ended in disappointment.

So why aren't I more excited?

"I hope you are right," Saffron said, with a smile that felt mostly forced. "I have been seeking a situation."

"Why didn't you say so?" Lady Allen clasped her hands. "You must join me as a companion. It would be my pleasure."

Saffron bit the inside of her lip, compelled to comment despite her situation. "I didn't help you in exchange for anything."

Lady Allen sighed. "Think about it, my dear." She fluffed out her skirts. "Now, let's return to the ball so everyone can see what a marvelous job you have done."