Page 50 of An Unforgettable Ball at Bromenville Hall

Feeling her guilt rise up and float away, Eugenia’s eyes misted with tears. “I was so scared to tell you,” she whispered.

“You can tell me anything, Eugenia.”

Lady Helena stood up to bend over the bed and embrace Eugenia, who endured it with only a few winces. But she smiled through her tears and clasped Lady Helena’s hand. “I love you,” she murmured.

“I love you, too.”

Lady Helena sat back down. “Now what are we going to do about finding out who wants to kill the pair of you?”

“You ladies,” Maximilian leaned heavily on his walking stick to stand, “will do nothing. It is my task to find out. Now if you will forgive me, I feel the pressing need to lie down for a bit.”

With a short bow to the pair of them, he limped his way from the room. Lady Helena and Eugenia stared at one another. “He cannot do it by himself,” Eugenia said.

“My father suggested bringing in the constables. Let them investigate.”

“I fear that will drive this villain into merely hiding,” Eugenia said thoughtfully.

“Miss Betham.”

Eugenia glanced at Deryn, whom she had almost forgotten was still in the room. “Yes, Deryn?”

“I must return to the kitchen. May I go?”

“Yes. Thank you for being such a good chaperone.”

With a curtsey and timid smile, Deryn all but bolted from the room. Lady Helena watched her go, bemused. “A friend?”

Eugenia nodded. “Yes. A very sweet girl. She has been quite kind to me.”

“Everyone loves you, you know.”

“I am sure that is not true.”

“Very well, everyone save the person who is trying to hurt you.”

Eugenia smiled. “You just gave me an idea.”

“How did I do that?” Lady Helena smiled back, albeit uneasily. “You have something on your mind. I can tell.”

“You and I,” Eugenia said. “Are going to set me up as bait.”

Chapter 20

Lady Helena gasped. “No! You cannot. I will not allow it.”

“Why ever not? I will be perfectly safe since there will be you and others around to catch this villain in the act. It makes perfect sense.”

“I do not like it, Eugenia,” Lady Helena said, biting her lip. “You could get killed before we catch him.”

“Not if we plan this right.”

“But how do we use you as bait? I mean, we cannot just put a sign around your neck and say, ‘Come kill me.’”

Eugenia grinned. “Why not? Sounds perfect.”

Lady Helena rolled her eyes. “Eugenia.”

“Look, I am already hurt, right? As of this moment, there are only four who know that I am not at death’s door: you, His Grace, Deryn, and Mr. Leary. Perhaps you could speak to everyone about how badly I am hurt, and it will be as nothing to finally kill me. Then we wait until he tries to finish me off.”