'I am a gentleman who will have the power to ruin you in a few years' time.'
I made a frosty bow. 'Then for a few years at least, you will do some good by these ladies.' I sheathed the sword. 'Good night, Mr. Summerville.'
I left him cursing as I walked out of the room and hobbled back down the stairs and into the rain.
The next afternoon, I found Lady Breckenridge at Lady Aline Carrington's garden party, as I had known I would. The rain had gone, and the sun shone at last, chased away from time to time by a breath of cloud.
'There you are, Gabriel,' Donata Breckenridge said as I walked to her. 'Thank God. Sir Neville Percy has been following me about in attempt to engage me in conversation, and he is so very bad at it. Pretty to look at is Sir Neville, but a ghastly bore. He ought to stand under an arch for full effect and keep his mouth closed.'
'I am pleased to be of some use to you,' I said, making a bow.
'Do not be sardonic, Lacey; it doesn't suit you. Leave the mockery to me.' She smiled as she spoke, a genuine smile, and warmth stole through the chill I'd carried since leaving Mrs. Chambers's house the evening before.
'I have something for you,' I said.
'Truly?' Lady Breckenridge forgot all about Sir Neville and turned her full attention to me.
I slipped a small parcel from my pocket and handed it to her. Lady Breckenridge peeled back the cloth in which I'd wrapped the gift, and gazed in some surprise at the gold chain with its tiny bell that lay on the piece of blue velvet.
I leaned down and murmured into her ear. 'For your ankle.'
The look Donata Breckenridge gave me said that she did not find me as old or weary as I felt. She turned and strolled away from me, giving me a little smile over her shoulder.
I caught up to her under the shadows of the ivy, where she stopped and raised her lips to mine.
