The Duchess of Newberry listened to the constant grumbling of her mother-in-law, the Dowager Duchess of Newberry, as they sat on the sidelines of a ballroom. Their hosts, Sir John and Lady Ludlow, had put on a magnificent masquerade ball.

The Duchess did not understand how the old lady–gray-headed and diminutive as she was–had the stamina to attend even one ball of the season; the Dowager Duchess, however, had insisted on this particular masquerade ball because her heir, Noah, was attending.

The Duchess would continue to be known as such until her son, Noah, the present holder of the dukedom, married. She knew that Noah had become quite bored of the frivolities of a London season. However, two years before, he had become enraptured with a beautiful opera singer and had enjoyed himself greatly. She had almost lost hope for her only son, when the singer left London abruptly after a scandal. He had sat out last year’s season.

Intent on finding her son a good, amiable wife, whom he would not grow bored with, and one who would assist him in his many duties concerning the dukedom, the Duchess knew that, ultimately, Noah had the last word.

“Dear me, have a look now, Miriam,” the Dowager Duchess muttered, pressing her gold-rimmed monocle to her left eye. “Who is our Noah talking to? I cannot decipher the features from this far.”

“Mother, the monocle is for your near vision, remember?” the Duchess said patiently. “He is talking to Lady Judith Bailey.”

“The Bailey chit!” the Dowager Duchess said, scowling in her displeasure. “Her family does not have enough wealth, you know. Her father, the Earl of Sibsey, lost most of his fortune gambling.”

“But then, do we need more wealth, Mother?” Miriam countered, “We have enough to last us for generations.”

“Keep that view, and we shall be in the same boat as Lord Sibsey!” her mother-in-law snapped in agitation.

“If Noah sets out to find the perfect lady, I am afraid he will have a lot of trouble,” remarked the Duchess. “There is always something lacking.”

“Our Noah is perfect.” The Dowager Duchess did not seem pleased by the conversation. “And if he is, so will his wife be. We will have to find someone worthy of him.”

“My dear Mother, I doubt Noah will let us do anything for him,” the Duchess commented. “He barely lets me manage the household, as he constantly orders me to rest. I am certain he will choose someone on his own.”

“Not if she is unacceptable to us!” the Dowager Duchess said stubbornly.

The Duchess plucked a champagne glass from a nearby waiter and sighed deeply. It was going to be another long night.

They were late, and the fact that Lady Alford was frightened of speeding carriages did not assist their dour situation. Although the streets towards the Ludlow townhouse were mostly full, whenever the coachman found an empty connecting lane, Lady Alford did not let him increase the pace. Emmeline was not as bothered as Ann, who kept anxiously glancing out of the window to check where they had reached.

Lady Alford fanned herself. “Oh, dear! The congestion on the streets is terrible. There are carriages everywhere.”

“The season is in full thrall, after all, Aunt” muttered Emmeline.

Casting a look to her companion, Emmeline admired how lovely Ann looked in her glimmering ivory gown, complemented by a large sapphire pendant and earrings, that matched her eyes. Ann was also wearing a gold belt and cuffs on both arms as she was masquerading as Aphrodite.

Emmeline was dressed as Persephone in shades of russet, her diadem a small sheaf of grain woven into her hair, with a pomegranate cleverly attached to her gown. She noticed that her brother George’s expression was as dour as his dark costume. The Duke of Leverton was completely silent throughout the journey, which was unusual, for he enjoyed engaging and arguing with Emmeline over various topics.

“We will never arrive at the speed at which we are going, Aunt,” George scowled.

“Now, George, you do know that I am absolutely terrified after that accident!” Lady Alford said frantically. “It is better to be safe than sorry, even if that means being late!”

Her unspoken reference to the speeding carriage that had overturned, killing her cousin, Anabelle, was understood by all in the carriage.

“I do abhor being late,” muttered Ann.

George, who was seated across from Ann, glanced at her. If Emmeline was not mistaken, she noticed approval and admiration on his features and immediately wondered what to make of it. Of course, her brother had known Ann for years, as she was Emmeline’s closest friend since they were children.

As a child, Ann’s skin had been covered with freckles, and her frame had been very lanky and thin. By the time her appearance had begun altering, George had left for university, rarely returning to visit his family. He had met Ann again last season.

Emmeline remembered how her brother and Ann had been involved in multiple arguments and heated fights. This season, however, both were reluctant to speak with one another. Emmeline wondered whether she had missed something.

Do the two perhaps have an unresolved quarrel? Has something emerged that I do not know of? she thought, deciding on investigating the matter later.

The carriage came to a halt in front of the Ludlow residence. The ladies were helped out of the carriage by George, and after presenting their invitation, arrived at the entrance of a wide ballroom.

Music emanated from within. As they passed through the doorway, Emmaline studied the purple and gold, silver and blue decorations elegantly arranged in the chamber. She felt a rush of excitement. Most of the ton was unrecognizable in colorful costumes that were vibrant with life and mystery. Many wore elaborate masks over ordinary dresses, but Emmeline had noticed some who were spectacularly costumed.

A lady was outfitted in an Egyptian dress, with a headdress of bronze and gold. Another portrayed the Queen of Olympus. Several of the gentlemen wore particular attachments to resemble tigers and other animals while maintaining their ability to dance.

In the center of the ballroom, a fascinating collection of costumed dancers whirled to a quadrille. Entering, the ladies greeted their acquaintances with bright, amiable smiles, complimenting each other, and discussing various socially-acceptable subjects. Emmeline was acutely aware of eyes following her, as they always did, and felt fear that someone had seen her at Vauxhall.

“It seems the Queen of the Underworld has many admirers,” Ann noted. “And for good reason. You look splendid tonight, Em.”

“Perhaps,” Emmeline said nonchalantly, as she scanned the crowds. “I will be well if there is no Hades to ‘abduct’ me.”

“On the contrary, I’ll be eternally grateful if Lord Coombs does abduct me,” Ann said blithely as she searched for the man in question.

Emmeline felt the hairs on the back of her neck lift and darted her head around to see George glaring at her, and knew he had overheard them. Ann had come to the same conclusion and grabbed Emmeline’s hand.

Ann cleared her throat. “Dear me, my throat is parched. Care to get a refreshment, Em?”

Emmeline accepted the offer, amused at the way George’s eyes narrowed as they moved over to the refreshment room.

“You really need to be careful, Ann,” hissed Emmeline. “I believe George heard you.”

Ann poured some punch for Emmeline. “Oh, do not worry. His Grace can be very thick when the need arises.”

Emmeline frowned. “About him…I have meant to ask you, Ann–”

“Do not,” Ann muttered, and turned around to smile at an acquaintance.

Emmeline’s curiosity was piqued, as she wondered what in the world had happened between Ann and George.

A tall gentleman, hooded, and dressed in black, walked towards them. He held a long black scepter, jeweled with a large red stone at the handle. Emmeline almost dropped the punch goblet.

“Is there something stronger?” Emmeline’s voice was hoarse.

“Whatever is the matter, Em?” Ann demanded, then she caught sight of the gentleman walking towards them.

“I told you I would be in trouble if someone thought to dress as Hades!” Emmeline snapped.

“Calm yourself,” Ann said soothingly. “It will all be good fun.”

“Good evening, ladies,” the gentleman said.

Emmeline’s heart skipped a beat, but she controlled herself, “Good evening, Your Grace.”

Her mouth went a bit dry as Noah drew back his black hood, and placed his jeweled scepter in front of him. His clothes, black breeches, midnight shirt, and coal waistcoat with interlaced threads of blood red, seemed to suck in the light like a spirit from the true abyss. Emmeline barely heard Ann make her pleasantries.

The Duke’s eyes hadn’t left Emmeline’s face although he talked to her friend, which surprised her. She had gotten quite used to gentlemen giving Ann more attention.

“I must say you gave us quite a start, Your Grace,” Emmeline breathed, “Your costume is quite… sinister.”

“Did you wish to be Hades, Your Grace, or is it a matter of coincidence?” put in Ann.

“I admit to the second guess, Miss Benwick,” the Duke admitted. “My valet did not find a devil’s costume, for I believe that would have suited me more, wouldn’t you say, Lady Emmeline?”

Emmeline could not hold back her smile, “I believe so, Your Grace. You do have the wicked attitude of Old Nick down to a science.”

“I find it very fitting,” Ann said innocently. “Just as it is fitting for the two of you to be wearing costumes that are a historic match. Perhaps you should dance with her, Your Grace.”

Emmeline glared at her friend, whom, in turn, gave her an angelic smile.

The Duke noticed the exchange but only smiled. “I was going to ask her in spite of your suggestion, Miss Benwick. May I have the honor, Lady Emmeline?”

Emmeline swallowed. “Of course, but perhaps we should inform my aunt?”

“I have already asked her, My Lady,” the Duke informed her stately while holding out his hand.

Emmeline placed her hand into his, feeling breathless and invigorated at the same time. The Duke was ludicrously wonderful at dancing. He led her through the music, and she followed his silent instructions without a qualm, losing all her nervousness.

“You are quite silent this time, Lady Emmeline,” he remarked.

Emmeline had been avoiding looking at him, for the warmth in his eyes was a contrast to the mischief they usually held, and his unnerving look was evoking strange fluttery sensations inside of her.

“I am not generally a talkative person, Your Grace,” she informed him, “despite the heated riposte.”

His eyes gleamed, and Emmeline’s breath stuck in her chest. Dear Lord, he is handsome!

“Where is your fan, or pebble-loaded reticule now, My Lady?” he teased.

Emmeline smiled, remembering their conversation in the library and grateful that he had left out their meeting at Vauxhall. “I have left both behind, Your Grace.”

“Then how would you react if I make an inappropriate comment or gesture?” he asked, deep gray eyes lit with humor.

“I would stomp off and leave you gaping on the dance floor,” she replied while impishly elevating her nose.

The Duke laughed, his voice a deep rich timbre. “I am afraid I will not allow you to do that, Persephone. It will also do you well to remember that it was I who abducted you, not the reverse.”

Emmeline sighed dramatically. “I warned Ann that if someone who decided to be dressed as Hades was here at the ball, I would be in trouble.”

“Trouble is necessary sometimes,” he said.

Emmeline shivered under his soulful gaze. This Duke was drastically different from the young man of the past couple of seasons. It was if he had switched places with the Noah of long ago, the one she had admired and yearned to know better. His eyes met hers–he touched her very soul–and she felt the barriers she had put up against him slowly fall away.

The sounds of chatter, laughter, and music faded in her ears as all of Emmeline’s senses were taking in only him. Unknowingly, she spoke. “Let us be friends.”

The Duke smirked, “Friendship is constant in all other things

save in the office and affairs of love.”

Why oh, why, did he choose that particular line from the play? Emmeline groaned as a warm rush claimed her chest, further fueled by the smoldering look in Noah’s eyes.

“I’d rather be your friend, than fight you as an enemy, Your Grace,” Emmeline replied softly, as she pulled away and curtseyed. She barely managed to hold onto him as he escorted her to her Aunt.

Emmeline’s legs felt weak as they walked across the floor, and as she sat, her insides were turning so fiercely she felt ill. Lady Alford, in concern, touched her niece’s clammy forehead.

“Emmeline, darling,” she declared, “are you ill?”

Swallowing bravely, Emmeline shook her head, “It’s just the heat, Aunt. Let me have a drink, and this spell will pass.”

Ann miraculously materialized at her side, “I’ll accompany her, Lady Alford.”

The two made it to the refreshment table where Emmeline poured herself a glass of water. Looking up, she briefly spotted the Duke speaking to a lady in a gorgeous peacock mask, with ripples of golden hair flowing down her back.

A spark of jealousy cut through her, but she didn’t want to believe that she was envious of the lady, and decided that heat was addling her mind.

I don’t fancy him, she resolutely told herself as she swallowed. I certainly do not!

She turned away, in the very moment, when Noah’s eyes flitted over to her.