Alice strolled into the room and, spotting her, shut the door. "Ah, there you are. I wanted to come and see you before we returned home."
Victoria waved her sister over, and she quickened her steps. "Look and read this. I think it may be some pages from Elbert Retsek."
Alice frowned, taking the sample and reading it quickly. She pursed her lips. "Well, it certainly reads like him, but what is it doing here?"
"I came in here this morning," Victoria said, standing and smoothing her dress as she paced back and forth to the window, "and found it. I think he may have been a guest at the ball last evening and left this here by mistake." Oh dear, which means he is missing an important piece of his story, for it looked like the hero was in great danger, not that she seemed too worried about the fact. A point for why Victoria loved Elbert's stories so much. She hated weak characters in any story being outsmarted or, worse, killed.
"He'll be wanting it back then," Alice said, sitting at the desk. "What shall we do?"
Victoria made a point of looking at Alice's baby belly. "We will do nothing, but I shall. I will have to do some investigating."
"Hmm," Alice said, staring at her. "Oh, I know what you can do. Check the acceptances for the ball. Maybe your mystery guest replied himself, and the handwriting may be similar."
Hope rushed through Victoria. "Alice, that is brilliant. I shall do that straightaway." Not that she was an expert at comparing handwriting, but it was at least one way forward. What would she do when she found the gentleman who had attended? She wasn't sure. How does one approach a famous, if not closeted, author and tell them you knew who they were and that they had left part of their manuscript in one's library? He may be unsettled knowing that one of his own class knew of his profession. Not that she would ever tell a soul, not if that is what he wished. To remain anonymous would be his choice, and she would respect that.
Victoria strode over to the sideboard and opened the drawer. It was where her mama kept her invitations and responses for the current entertainments. She found the acceptances and picked them up, not willing to let them out of her sight. "I shall take these to my room and go through them. I should think it will take me several hours."
"Do come and see me when you think you've found a match. I would like to help you if I can. You know how much I love a good intrigue."
Victoria chuckled, remembering the many intrigues her sister landed herself in while being courted by Lord Arndel. Many of which Victoria was dragged into and made an accessory.
"I will, I promise." Victoria helped her sister stand and walked her to the door, bussing her cheeks before seeing her off with her husband.
Her mama came to stand beside her, waving off her daughter, and Victoria linked arms with her parent. "Only a few more guests to go, and we shall have our house to ourselves again."
Her mother led her back inside, a small smile playing about her mouth. Her mama was still a beautiful woman for her middle age, and since their father had died, had become a lot less strict with rules and etiquette. She was more carefree, let her children live the lives they wished, within reason, and be happy. Victoria wasn't sure why their mama had mellowed. Perhaps it simply came with age.
"Did you enjoy yourself last night, my dear? From what Lucy told me this morning, you were up all night dancing."
That was true. She had stayed at the ball longer than she normally would, but then, it was a send-off to the Season, and now she could enjoy riding about the estate, looking after her dogs. Some, she knew, spoke about her behind her back, snarled that she did not mourn her husband respectfully enough, but she had. She had spent a year mourning a man who had not shown an ounce of honor during their six-week marriage. That society would judge her for his actions irked. It was one of the reasons she wanted to throw their ideals in their faces and remain a contented widow for the rest of her life.
"It was very enjoyable. Several gentlemen asked me to dance, which was nice of them, " she lied to keep her mama happy. “I was able to catch up with several friends, some of whom I shall not see again until next year.”
Her mother chuckled, her eyes bright with amusement. "I shall live in the hope that the right gentleman is out there for you, my dear. You cannot allow what Mr. Armstrong put you through to tarnish your opinion on marriage.”
Too late for that…
"Just so," Victoria said. "In fact, I wanted to let you know that I have borrowed the acceptances from the ball. I want to match up some writing samples if I can."
They walked up the stairs and into her mama's private parlor, where they would not be interrupted by other guests still staying at the house. "Really, why would you need to do that?" Her mother pulled the bell for tea. "Did a gentleman leave you an inappropriate note to rendevous with him? As a widow, you must protect yourself against such rakes."
Heat kissed Victoria's cheeks, although the idea of a wicked rendevous with a willing gentleman may not be so bad. One thing she would give Paul credit for was his bedroom abilities, and she had enjoyed the short time they had been together. Even if the idea of him with other women now soured that memory. "Of course not. You should know very well that is quite inappropriate. I would not think anyone would dare to try such things with Josh watching
