Page 5 of A Duchess to Unravel (The Devil’s Masquerade #3)

Tristan guided her out of the carriage and into their house.

He gave her another hug and a kiss on her cheek when they reached the door to her private quarters, then bid her goodnight a final time before departing for his own.

For a long moment Theo stood outside her door, her brother’s jacket tucked around her, her mask hanging limply in her hand.

Her sense of identity felt out of grasp, impossible to reach.

Tomorrow they would start fresh. She would start fresh. But what did that even mean to her?

Eventually she went inside her quarters, taking a long look around the rooms she’d designed and had decorated to her liking. The walls that once felt welcoming and embracing now felt unfamiliar and wrong.

Everything felt wrong.

“Thank you all for coming,” Theo said. Her smile felt brittle. Fake, but she kept it in place.

None of her friends smiled back but looked on at her with great worry from across the table. Ophelia reached for her first, clasping Theo’s hand in her own. She barely felt it, as if an invisible barrier had wrapped itself too close to her skin preventing her from truly feeling anything.

She had sent out the invitations for tea just an hour ago, and they had all arrived with a haste that was most impressive.

“Of course we came, darling,” Ophelia said softly, her tone not carrying its usual confidence. “We have missed you. Greatly.”

“We truly have,” Seraphina spoke up.

“Very much so,” Amelia agreed.

“Thank you for sending for us,” Rosamund added.

“I have wanted to do so for some time,” Theo told them, “I have been--” she paused. Tristan had urged her to be honest. Something she used to never have trouble with. “Struggling,” she finished.

They all nodded their heads, waiting for her to continue. The trouble was, though, she did not know how to anymore. Her numbness had returned with a vengeance within the night and talking with them, with anyone, now felt so odd.

“Help,” she breathed, feeling panic push into her chest. Tears pricked her eyes at her own helpless tone, and she bowed her head.

At once her friends were out of their seats, their arms all coming around her. Her tears fell faster then, as she felt their loving embrace melt away that layer of numbness, and she leaned into them.

“We have you, darling,” Ophelia stated with her usual confidence. “We will fix this, whatever this is. Will we not, ladies?”

“Certainly so,” Rosamund agreed, placing a kiss atop Theo’s head.

“Right then, if you cannot yet speak, we can at least goad you into fun,” Ophelia went on. “A distraction is what you need, I believe. What say you all?”

“Oh, I know,” Amelia offered, tilting Theo’s chin up so that she’d meet her eyes. “Let us play a trick.”

Through her tears, Theo laughed, and it felt genuine.

“What sort of trick?” She asked.

“On the four devils we hold dear, of course,” Amelia replied, a twinkle of wickedness gleaming in her eye.

“They’re all here attending a meeting with your brother in his office, are they not?”

Theo nodded, relieved none of them were attempting to force her to talk.

“Yes, but they are probably discussing something important,” she replied. “I … I have been a threat to their businesses lately with my carelessness. I am not sure we should interrupt them.”

It was the most Theo had shared with her friends in nearly a year, and though their eyes all gleamed with questions, none of them asked for a further explanation.

“Of course we should,” Ophelia replied, “They take things far too seriously. Let us cause a little chaos and have a giggle.”

“Like what?” Theo asked.

“Something that will disrupt them.” Rosamund offered.

“Something that will force them out of the office,” Seraphina added.

Ophelia snapped her fingers, a smile spreading across her face.

“I think I have it,” she stated. “Theo, your brother’s office has a side door, does it not?”

More curiosity and humor continued to eat away at Theo’s numbness.

“It does,” she agreed, “It leads into a closet that is shared by the adjoining library. Why?”

“Mhmm,” Ophelia hummed, pulling Theo to her feet. “Come, ladies, I have just the thing. To the kitchens!”

“The kitchens?” Theo laughed, letting her friends lead her out of the sitting room. “Whatever for?”

“Oh, certain rank bits. Old fish. Soured yeast,” Ophelia replied cheerily.

Amelia gasped, then laughed.

“I see where you are going with this.”

“Oh, this is going to certainly disturb them,” Rosamund laughed.

“What is it?” Theo asked, her happiness growing with every step they took.

“You’ll see,” Seraphina sang, looking as if she too understood where Ophelia was heading with the trick.

Twenty minutes later, with their trick in full effect and the five of them peering around the corner of the hall, Tristan’s office door burst open.

“God in Heaven,” Hugo gasped, then gagged, stumbling out.

“I am too hungover this,” Everett groaned, stumbling to the nearby large vase. He sagged over it, his head disappearing into the opening, and the sound of retching echoed through the hall.

Theo’s giggle bubbled in her throat, and she clamped her hand over her mouth to stop it.

Dominic came running out next, his hand over his mouth and nose.

“What in the Devil did you eat, man?” He demanded, then coughed, waving his hand through the air, as if trying to dispel something.

Tristan came running out last, his eyes watering as he tried to breathe through his mouth and gagged.

“I swear it was not me!” Tristan said through heavy breaths. “Nothing that evil has ever left my body. It had to have been one of you!”

“I am a heathen in many ways,” Dominic countered, going to the hall windows and throwing them open, “But not like that!”

No longer able to contain themselves, Theo, Seraphina, Rosamund, Ophelia, and Amelia all burst into laughter. All four men turned toward the raucous sound of their jubilance, and the five women stepped out from their hiding spots.

“What have you done?” Dominic demanded, a look of disgust still on his face. It only served to make them all laugh harder.

“Just a simple trick, really,” Ophelia answered, shrugging her shoulders.

“Evil, evil woman,” Everett groaned, his head still in the vase.

“Some foul odors and proper gust of wind was really all we needed,” Rosamund added.

“Why?” Hugo groaned, looking at Seraphina with a look of such betrayal. “What did I do to deserve such a mean trick?”

Theo and her friends’ laughter grew louder, and they leaned into one another as they four men began stalking toward them, rueful smiles spread across their faces. They all shrieked and began to run away. The men were faster.

“You will pay for that, darling,” Dominic promised, sweeping Amelia into his arms.

“A unified punishment, I believe,” Hugo agreed, whirling Seraphina around.

“Do. Not. Dare.” Rosamund warned Everett, backing up with slow steps as he stalked toward her.

“Oh, but I must have my vengeance,” Everett replied, then pounced. He caged his arms around her, then blew his hot breath into her face. Rosamund gagged as she pushed him away, then burst into laughter as she shouted “Disgusting!”

“Oh, do not think you two are going to get away with it, either,” Tristan said, capturing the waists of both Ophelia and Theo.

“Unhand me, you fiend!” Ophelia shouted, pinching at Tristan’s hand.

“This is your doing,” Theo giggled squirming in her brother’s grip, “You told me to call upon my friends again!”

All the men froze, turning an accusing if not comical gaze toward Tristan.

“So, this is your fault, then?” Dominic said, Amelia’s back caged against his chest. He dropped a kiss to her neck then spun her out so he could move toward Tristan.

“Easy, men,” Tristan warned, letting go of Theo and Ophelia so he could put his hands up.

Theo watched with great amusement as Tristan’s three friends turned on him, giggling madly as she felt a sense of normalcy return to her.

“My sister needed cheering up. How was I to know she would use us as a means to do so?” Tristan asked, his tone purely innocent.

“When these five come together they are diabolical,” Everett retorted, “You know that.”

“True,” Tristan noted, pointing a finger toward Theo. “But look. She smiles again.”

Tristan’s friends turned their gazes to Theo then, a softness touching their hardened features.

“Well, well,” Everett mused.

“It is indeed good to see,” Dominic admitted, then sighed, giving up his pursuit for revenge.

“I suppose we could forgive such a trespass,” Hugo admitted, smirking as he winked at her. “Since it was for such a good purpose.”

A happy glow radiated from within Theo, seeing now just how much she meant to those surrounding her. Though they’d been strangers once, Tristan’s friends truly now felt like brothers. She hadn’t just ignored her friends, she realized. She’d ignored them too--and she’d missed them all.

“Thank you for being our victims,” she said, smiling as Ophelia wrapped an arm around her waist, and hugged her.

“Oh, do not thank us yet,” Everett warned, “We will get you back for this. What did you sneak into the room that was so utterly foul?”

“A lady never reveals her secrets,” Ophelia answered, raising her nose in the air as she shimmied her shoulders.

“Well, whatever it is, do please get rid of it,” Tristan implored. “We accept the jest in good fun, but we do have to get back to work. We’re planning a business dinner for our new associate.”

Theo turned to Seraphina as she heard her gasp.

“Is it my cousin?” She asked, “Has he finally arrived in town?”

Hugo grimaced and turned Seraphina in his arms.

“Did I not tell you this morning?” He asked, adding a tense smile.

Seraphina laughed at his expression and swatted his arm.

“You did not!” She replied, “Tsk tsk, you promised you would let me know when you got word he was in London!”

“I am sorry, my love,” Hugo apologized, raising her hand to his mouth to kiss.

“I was busy gathering my reports for the breweries the four of us have invested in thus far. He only just arrived a couple of days ago. If we are to ask your cousin to join us, we have to be thorough and transparent with our success.”

“Indeed we do,” Tristan agreed, “Which is why we need to finish these reports and get this dinner coordinated.”

He turned back to Theo, a brow raised as he swept a hand toward his office. “So, if you would please…?”

“Yes, yes,” Theo sighed, “We shall remove the trick. More information first though, please. When is this dinner party? And where are you hosting it?”

“Two days from now,” Tristan answered, a tinge of guilt lacing his voice. “And we are hosting it here.”

Theo’s smile faded a little, sensing that there was something more to this business dinner.

“And you are inviting other gentlemen beside the new Duke of Caldermere, I imagine?”

Tristan sighed.

“I was thinking so,” he agreed.

“Tristan,” she whispered as their friends respectfully moved away, “I know I agreed to look for a husband, but this is happening rather fast, don’t you think? I only just reconnected with my friends. Now you are shoving a mating ritual upon me?”

“No, you attended that last night, remember?” He remarked quietly, so the others would not hear.

Theo’s cheeks flushed at the insinuation, but she had no retort.

“It is just a dinner,” Tristan sighed. “If you do not find an interesting match that is fine, but you must break out of this shell you’ve enclosed yourself in, Theo.

It is time. And, just so you know, the gentlemen I am inviting are quite remarkable.

They all want to partake in business with Lord Alistair Harleigh, the new Duke of Caldermere and Dominic has warned me he holds his associates to very high standards. ”

“Remarkable enough to ignore any rumors that may be circulating about me?” Theo asked pointedly.

“We will find out,” Tristan replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“Whether you find a match or not, we still need to have the dinner. All four of us want to invest in more of Caldemere’s breweries.

They are most famous in Scotland. We’d make a fortune.

But there’s more. The prior Duke of Caldermere’s holdings were left standing idle for too long.

Many of his businesses reached a stasis and partners fled.

There are new seats on these boards available, ones we hope to claim to reinvigorate profits as the new duke breathes life back into them.

He is known for turning failing projects into gold mines, so do not fight me on this, Theo. Please.”

Theo pursed her lips as she looked away from her brother and toward his office. Her friends were coming out of the adjoining library, their trick wrapped up in multiple cloths to take it back to the kitchen.

“They are all coming to the party as well, correct?” She asked, nodding toward them. “Even Ophelia and Rosamund?”

“Of course they can,” Tristan replied.

“Very well then,” Theo sighed.

“It will be wonderful,” Tristan assured, swooping an arm around her. He kissed her forehead once more and then gave her a little squeeze. “I promise.”

Theo nodded but did not entirely believe him. It might not be as large of a soirée as a ball, but the idea of a dinner party still felt overwhelming. Especially since she knew her brother was hoping that she find a suitor.

“Do you need any help?” She asked.

Tristan shook his head.

“We have it handled. Go, enjoy the day with your friends. Perhaps adventure outdoors for some shopping. Purchase a new gown for the occasion. Just, no more tricks until after the dinner, I insist.”

She let out a small laugh, pushing out of her brother’s embrace.

“No tricks,” she promised, and let him go back to work.

Her anxiety swirled in her stomach. Theo wrung her hands together and she bit her bottom lip, walking down the hall. She gasped, startled, when she found her friends waiting for her around the corner.

“It will be fine.” Ophelia stated confidently.

“We will make it fine.” Rosamund added. “Fun, even.”

A smile tugged at her lips as they circled around her, ensuring her that she would not have to face the party alone.

“Come,” Seraphina urged, “Let us take your brother’s advice and go shopping.”

“And talk,” Amelia added. “Tell us of you and this renewed insistence from Tristan to find a suitor.”

Realizing that she was ready to do so, Theo nodded and let her friends lead down the stairs.