Silence stretched between the small group for what seemed like an eternity. No one said a word, whilst the kaleidoscope of color and chatter shifted around them. Ephraim’s gaze flickered towards the exit. He could not run now, even if he wanted to. Adelaide had seen him. He was no fool, he knew how it looked. No one in their right mind would associate willingly with Lord Rowntree.

Only, he wasn’t in his right mind.

“Adelaide, my dear, I was just coming to find you,” Ephraim lied. He had hoped to dart in and get out again before too many people spotted him. The last person he had wanted to bump into was his daughter. Somehow, he imagined Lord Rowntree had plotted it this way. The villain was toying with him, pulling the strings to make the puppet dance.

“You were?”

He could tell she did not believe him. “Jasper came to the house a short while ago and informed me of where he was going. I thought I might join him, to share in your good news.”

Adelaide frowned. “But nobody knows about the engagement yet. At least, not in an official capacity.”

“You know what the rumor mill of London is like, my darling. I shouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow’s announcement is already common knowledge.”

“Your father is right,” Jasper conceded. “I had some questions regarding investment, and I passed by your house to speak with him. I extended the invitation—I hope you do not mind?”

Adelaide gave a slight shrug. “Why should I mind? I am always delighted to see my Papa, no matter what the circumstances might be.” She shot a pointed look in Lord Rowntree’s direction. A grip of anxiety twisted in Ephraim’s stomach. He did not want anything to rile up the grim fellow.

“I do not believe we have met?” Lord Rowntree took a step forward, a cold smile on his face. He was a smart man of fifty or so, with starkly trimmed, sandy hair that was barely flecked with gray. His beard and whiskers, on the other hand, were reminiscent of a badger. Indeed, the light gray and black stripes were an odd juxtaposition to his fair hair.

“No, I do not believe we have been properly introduced,” she replied evenly.

“Lord Rowntree, at your service,” he purred. With a gruff laugh, he reached for her hand and pressed his lips to her satin glove.

“This is my daughter, Lady Adelaide Colborne,” Ephraim said, stepping in for the master of ceremonies. He did not think it appropriate to seek the man out for such an introduction as this. After all, he did not plan for Adelaide and Lord Rowntree to ever meet again.

“A pleasure.” Lord Rowntree dipped into a surprisingly elegant bow. “Now, if you will excuse me. I have a carriage waiting.”

Ephraim could hardly breathe as Lord Rowntree breezed past, heading for the exit. How had this gone so horribly awry? He had known he was treading on dangerous territory the moment he had received the note. Lord Rowntree had sent it late in the afternoon, requesting to meet at the Assembly Rooms at nine o’clock.

Of course you were going to be seen, you old fool, Ephraim thought miserably. Lord Rowntree never does anything in private. He likes to be seen. He likes to have witnesses, to give him protection should anything go wrong. You walked straight into his trap and now you are going to have to cover your tracks. Adelaide can never find out what trouble you are in. Soon, it will be over. Soon, she will not have to know. Everything will go back to normal and you will continue on, as before.

“Papa, would you care to tell me what is happening?” Adelaide asked, as soon as Lord Rowntree had gone.

“It is nothing to worry yourself over, my dear,” Ephraim replied firmly. “An unexpected encounter, that is all.”

“Unexpected?”

Jasper came to his aid. “Yes, Lord Rowntree heard that your father was something of an expert on the spice trade,” he explained, without missing a beat. “He cornered us on our way in. We were in the process of maneuvering out of the conversation when you passed by.”

Ephraim had to admit, Jasper was an excellent liar. He was not sure how proud he should be over such a disreputable attribute. In that moment, he was simply grateful. Adelaide was far more likely to believe Jasper.

“You are certain?” she asked.

“Entirely certain, Lady Adelaide,” Jasper replied solemnly. “I am only sorry that you had to see us in his company. I can only imagine what you must have thought—what everyone must think.”

She sighed. “No matter. I am sure everyone shall have forgotten about it by morning, knowing Lord Rowntree’s reputation.”

Jasper nodded emphatically. “I pray you are right.”

“Speaking of reputation, there is a young lady in the ballroom who waits in great earnest for your attention.” Adelaide gestured down the main hallway. “And my return is long overdue. Shall we go together, all three of us? That way, we may shield one another from the scandalous gossip.” A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, making Ephraim feel instantly calmer. It appeared he had managed to get away with it.

“A splendid idea,” Ephraim replied. “And who, might I ask, is the most fortunate young lady?”

Adelaide and Jasper exchanged a look that Ephraim did not understand.

“Come along, Papa,” she urged, looping her arm through his.

Together, they walked along the main hall and entered the hustle and bustle of the ballroom. Ephraim did not wish to linger very long, but he realized he had to make his presence seem convincing. His days of ballrooms and dances were long gone.

“Might I fetch a drink for you, Lady Adelaide?” Jasper asked, as they came to a halt on the periphery of the dance floor.

She nodded. “Oh yes, that would be delightful. Might you get one for Miss Green, too?”

“Of course,” he replied. “I will not be too long.”

“Good, for I fear my guest is losing patience with you.” Adelaide chuckled and took off towards the far side of the room. Ephraim squinted to try and make out the others who sat with her. He knew of Countess Gaumont and her daughter, but he did not know either of them very well. Miss Green, however, was a familiar face. A nice enough young girl, if a little overzealous.

“You should tell her,” Jasper whispered, distracting Ephraim.

“There is no need.”

“You believe this will work?”

He nodded. “It must. If it does not, I shall be ruined.”

“Your wife and daughter will appreciate your honesty,” Jasper insisted.

Ephraim smiled, “You are still young, Jasper. There is much you do not know about the world, and I am sorry that you have had to see certain sordid aspects of it because of me. I thank you for your continued assistance.” He paused, fixing his gaze on Jasper. “However, when it comes to my family, I know what is best. This will soon be over, and there will be no need to worry any longer.”

“You truly believe so?”

“It is a small task that Lord Rowntree has requested, in return for a large reward,” Ephraim went on. “He has been kind enough to give me half upfront. With that, I may guarantee the happiness and security of a much beloved daughter. It is worth the risk.”

Jasper exhaled anxiously. “If you are sure.”

“I am… I have to be.”

“Well, regardless of what you decide, you may continue to rely on me.”

“I thank you for that, Jasper.”

“I just hope you may extricate yourself from this web, once all is said and done,” he said softly.

“As do I, my boy, as I do.”

Ephraim watched the dancers from the sidelines. It was close to midnight, and he had stayed at the Assembly Rooms far longer than he had intended. There was something about the warmth and the noise that comforted him. It was most unusual, but he was not averse to the pleasant sensation. Indeed, it was rather lovely to see his daughter in her element. She appeared to be the belle of the ball.

“Congratulations on the engagement between your daughter and the Duke of Bradford, My Lord,” one well-wisher said, in passing. He thanked the gentleman and returned to his spectating. There had been several such gestures of congratulations throughout the evening, both to him, and to Adelaide herself. With the evening creeping into the wee hours, she looked positively radiant with joy. If this was the kind of happiness that his risky endeavor could buy, then he was more than willing to do it.

“All the young men are much too frightened to ask your daughter to dance, My Lord,” remarked another well-wisher, a distant acquaintance named George Milburn. “She will soon be the Duchess of Bradford, if I am not mistaken?”

“You are not, Mr. Milburn,” he replied.

“A fortunate match, indeed.”

“Yes, very fortunate. They seem fond of one another.”

“Then they are luckier than most,” Mr. Milburn commended.

Ephraim nodded. “Yes, I believe they are.”

His gaze moved towards Jasper and Leah, who had come to a halt with the fading cessation of the music. They had danced the previous dance together, but a frosty distance stretched between them. Ephraim wondered what might have happened during the dance to leave them looking so melancholy. Whatever it was, it did not seem his place to enquire.

A moment later, Leah strode towards Adelaide, whilst Jasper headed out of the ballroom altogether. Ephraim contemplated going after Jasper, but common sense held him in his place. It was likely nothing more than youthful exuberance and a touch too much champagne.

As a new dance started up and the revelers took to the floor, Ephraim was reminded of his own youth. Times were different then, though high-society courtship rarely changed much. He smiled at the memory of his younger self, looking smart and handsome in freshly tailored clothes. Many a young lady had fluttered her eyelashes in his direction back then. He had been charming and amusing in equal measure.

Truth be told, he had never had much chance to fall in love. Love was a luxury that few of his class were granted. One morning, he had descended the stairs for breakfast and been told of the lady he was going to marry. He had never met her, and nor had his parents. It was a business contract in everything but name.

A sadness drifted through him as he thought back to his wedding day. It was the first time he had met Margaret Delancey—the lady who would become the Countess of Leeds. He recalled turning to look down the aisle, and finding a remarkable angel floating towards him in a gown of cream silk and blushed lace. Lifting the gauzy veil, he had been startled by her beauty and horrified by the look of fear in her eyes. Neither of them had wanted to marry one another. Duty had forced them into it.

In all their years of marriage, he had never asked her if there had been another gentleman. A man she might have loved as he loved her. A mutual adoration. He realized he had never asked because he feared the answer.

In truth, he had never felt as though he deserved her. All their married life, he’d worried that he’d stolen her chance for true love. A romantic notion, but he had always been quixotic in that way. Watching the dancers, he wondered if that was why they had never fallen in love with one another.

Was it all my fault that we ended up this way? he mused. If I had told her of my love, might we have fallen into it? Might we have created something rare and beautiful? I know love can grow like that. Perhaps, I did not nurture it the way I ought to have done. Perhaps, neither of us did.

He had always loved her, in his own way. She had always loved him, too. They had confessed as much to one another on rare occasions. He had heard her whisper it to him once, when she thought he was asleep. If he had only turned around and whispered it back, might things have been different? He did not know. And yet, he was not sure he would give up their companionship for any kind of passionate love. Not now. With her friendship, warmth, and intellect, she completed him.

If only I had listened, he thought. If only I had listened when she told me not to invest in those ships.

It seemed that, even now, he had not quite learnt how to make the right decisions. If Lord Rowntree’s plan did not run smoothly, he stood to lose everything.