She put up a hand to stop the charade. Spencer could go to the devil and take his threats with him. Jasper Warren was nothing more than a bored gentleman skirting scandal for fun.
Elizabeth would throw a tantrum, but if they packed tonight and left first thing in the morning, they could be in Bath by teatime.
Annabel swept her gaze across the crowd, all of whom were being far too obvious about ignoring her. Elizabeth wasn’t in the room. “Where is Miss Spencer?” She counted the heads of every man at the party, only relaxing when they were all accounted for.
“I believe she and Charlotte had words. Their heads were together for several minutes before she left the room.” Fiona’s voice had lost its sparkle. “Elizabeth’s color was quite high.”
“Thank you.” Annabel strode into the hall without looking back to meet the gazes she felt at her back. She ignored the whispers hissing behind her.
At the top of the stairs, she found their maid in the hallway. “Follow me, Ruth.”
Wide-eyed, the girl curtsied before hurrying forward. Annabel followed at a quick pace. Perhaps Elizabeth would be more circumspect if there was someone else in the room, especially if she’d had another row with Charlotte.
The maid waited at the door, and Annabel swept in without knocking. “Elizabeth?”
The room was empty. So was the adjoining dressing room. There was no one on the balcony. Annabel’s heart hammered against her ribs. Where else would Elizabeth go? Had she arranged an assignation while Annabel had been too busy fighting a battle she’d been lured into? Had that been Jasper’s plan all along?
She turned to the maid. “Have you seen Miss Spencer on the upper floors during the dancing?”
The pale young girl bobbed her head in a near fit. “Yes, miss. She was h-heading down the other h-hall.”
Jasper’s private rooms were in that direction.
“Where?” Annabel grabbed the girl’s shoulders and shook her. “Explain.”
“She b-begged me not to tell. Sh-she said it was a surprise.”
Blast. “Pack everything but our night clothes and traveling dresses for tomorrow. Miss Spencer and I are leaving in the morning.”
Annabel raced from the room and across the landing. The candles sputtered in their holders, casting irregular shadows across the dark-paneled walls. The thick carpet muffled her steps.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, making it possible to see the glow under the door at the end of the hall. She lengthened her stride and pushed the door open with a whoosh that ended with a bang as the latch hit the wall.
Elizabeth stopped wrestling with the ribbons at her back and spun with a shriek.
“Get out of this room.” Anger and fear added an unfamiliar gravel to Annabel’s voice. “Now.”
“I will not.” Elizabeth tilted her chin at a stubborn angle. “Charlotte has done nothing but tease me for weeks, that I was too young for Ramsbury to notice me, that he only invited me so you would come. She said he wouldn’t even kiss me if he found me naked and waiting. I’m going to prove her wrong.”
Annabel couldn’t believe her ears. “You are going to ruin yourself to spite Charlotte Bainbridge?” She gathered Elizabeth’s slippers and shoved them into her hands. “Are you daft?”
She pushed Elizabeth’s shoulder, urging her to the door. The girl dug in her heels.
“You just want Ramsbury for yourself. You’ve spent the last two weeks turning his head, teasing him, and keeping him from us when we’re the ones he’s meant to choose from. He will never choose you for anything honorable.” Her eyes widened. “Is that why you’re here?”
“You foolish, foolish girl. I am here to keep you from making the worst mistake of your life.” Annabel shook Elizabeth until her curls trembled. “Do you really want to marry a man whom you’ve trapped? To have every woman in Polite Society either cut you directly or whisper behind your back? To walk into a ballroom and wonder how many of the women in attendance have warmed your husband’s bed?”
“They wouldn’t dare cut a marchioness.” Despite the tears in Elizabeth’s eyes, her mouth was still set in a stubborn line. “I would be—”
“A laughingstock? Married to a man who only takes you to bed because he needs a legitimate heir and exiles you to the country once you’ve given him one? Who spends his nights away from home because he doesn’t love you, will never love you because of what you forced him to do?”
Tears slid down Elizabeth’s cheeks as she shook her head, either in agreement or denial. Annabel wasn’t certain of which, but she took advantage of the weakness and shoved the girl toward the door. “Go to our room and have Ruth get you ready for bed. Wash your face. We’re leaving as soon as it’s light enough to travel.”
“No. There’s not a reason—”
Charlotte would make sure this tale was well known before breakfast began, and Elizabeth wouldn’t be able to fight it. “There is every reason, Elizabeth. Go to our room now. You were never here.”
The girl was halfway out the door when her hand flew to her ear. “I’ve lost an earring, Annabel.” Her eyes widened. “I don’t know where.”
She’d been wearing them both in the ballroom, and Annabel hadn’t seen one sparkling on the stairs or in the hallway. Granted, she hadn’t been looking. But now she’d have to search this room to make certain it wasn’t left behind.
“Go. I’ll find it.”
Annabel closed the door and dropped to her knees, sweeping her hands over the carpet and looking for the sparkle in the firelight. She found nothing where Elizabeth had been standing, but flattened herself to look under the bed to be certain the diamond hadn’t rolled there.
A dark box caught her eye. Her heart thumping in her ears, Annabel pulled it to her and out into the light. The metal was warm against her fingers, and the latch gave easily.
Guilt spread over her skin like ice on the Thames as she lifted a letter from the top of the papers and coins—francs and gold.
Dearest Jasper, Though I am nervous of my role in Cardiff, I will do as you ask and hope it makes a difference. Please tell Kit that his work has reaped rewards in Spain, and I look forward to sharing the tales with him. I hope your mission in London is bearing the fruit you hoped for. With all the love I can spare, Claudette
It was just enough of a love letter to make reading it embarrassing, and it contained enough hints of work and missions to be concerning.
Annabel rifled through the box. Hand-drawn maps were well creased and heavily marked with notes and runes. Were they really spies?
Tears clouded her vision. She would have wagered money she didn’t have that Jasper was more bored than treasonous. She would have lost everything because of a respectable title and a winning smile.
Just like her father had done.
