She was not surprised when an hour later, Charlotte knocked on the door while the finishing touches were being placed to her hair. Charlotte drew in a startled breath when she noticed the black domino cape laid out on the bed, along with Constance’s golden masquerade mask. “Constance, have you lost your marbles?” Charlotte hissed.
Constance waved her hands, dismissing Anne, and rose from in front of the vanity to face Charlotte.
“No, I have not,” Constance said brusquely.
“Where are you headed? Lord and Lady Radcliffe have retired for the night. So who are you heading out with and to where?”
Constance ignored Charlotte’s strident demand and took up the cape. “Help me.”
“Constance,” Charlotte snapped in exasperation. She helped Constance into her cape and Constance turned to the mirror and slipped on her mask.
With the wig borrowed from her mother’s chamber covering her golden hair, she was not recognizable. She took a deep breath and turned to face Charlotte. “I made this decision two days ago, but I am just finding the courage to act on it, Charlotte. I must see Luca—the duke or I will forever live with this wealth of doubt, pain, and anger inside. I doubt you will understand, but that is all right. I expect no one will understand what I am feeling. But I do ask you to keep my confidence.”
“You cannot head to his residence alone,” Charlotte breathed in shock. “You court complete ruination.”
Constance frowned. “I am already ruined in society’s eyes, and I will not let my actions be dictated by them. Besides, you are forgetting I am in masquerade.”
The silence in the chamber was pronounced.
“Connie…”
“I will be fine, Char. Mother and father are sleeping, and I will be going through the back entrance. When I made the decision to leave, I ordered the carriage to be ready. I have also ensured the crest will be covered. Do not wait up for me. I will be back in a few hours.”
“I think not. I am coming with you.”
“Char—”
Charlotte raised her hand to halt Constance’s speech. “That is the only way I am letting you out of here without raising a ruckus. Allow me to get my domino and mask, and we will be off.”
“I am heading to his club, not his town house,” Constance confessed.
“I suspected as much,” Charlotte replied, before sweeping out of the chamber.
Constance felt a deep sense of relief curling through her. Though she had been sure of what she had to do, she had felt trepidation about her chosen path. The support of Charlotte meant everything, and Constance would tell her so.
The clock struck midnight as they crept down the back stairs, careful to be quiet. They exited to the back gardens and walked with swift steps to where the carriage waited. Her heart thundered, and she prayed she was not making another foolish decision as Charlotte feared. A decision that would complete the breaking of Constance’s heart. But she needed to understand. If only to rout Lucan from her heart, a place she feared he had already been deeply embedded.
Chapter Eleven
Constance walked up to the most luxurious gaming club in all of London as if it were a normal occurrence to do so and knocked. A man who seemed to be the majordomo opened the door. He was dressed in a black evening coat, snowy white undershirt, and white bow tie, with his hair slicked back without a strand out of place. He would have looked elegant and dashing if not for the cold, hard expression on his face.
He raised a brow and ran an insolent gaze over her length. His regard switched to Charlotte and a quick frown chased his features.
“I… We…” Constance bit her lips hard wondering if she should simply say the secret word.
“Your rings?” he asked in a silted voice, his question encompassing her and Charlotte.
Constance swallowed and prayed Lucan had not been jesting. “Revenant.”
The man stiffened, peered at her for a few long seconds, and then sketched a deep bow. “Lord Ainsley, at your service. This way ladies,” he said after taking their coats and dominos and handing it to another man.
The Earl of Ainsley? She wanted to question why he had been the one to open the club door, but she kept her nose firmly to herself. He prowled ahead of them at a leisurely pace. Charlotte adjusted her mask and glanced at Constance. She lifted her chin and walked after the man. They traveled through a long hall, passed several doors, and Constance could hear the din of laughter filtering to the hall. They came upon a massive door, which swung open without the man even knocking. He waved them through, and Constance stepped into the sheer opulence of a grand ballroom. She grounded to a halt and Charlotte almost ran into her.