“Show me where this open window is.”
When Lady Melissa located it, he was happy to find it still unlocked. However, when he raised it, there was a squeal from the long-unused aperture. Both Lady Melissa and Frank stood statue still. Nothing moved. All was silent.
Frank climbed through the window, then extended his hand to Lady Melissa.
“Avert your eyes,” she said in a stage whisper.” I am going to have to pull up my gown.”
Eventually, they were both standing in the bare, cold, dark room. “Stairs?” Frank whispered.
“Through here.” Lady Melissa led him out the door to the back of the house. A baize door led through to the servant’s stairway. Keeping close to the wall, in the hope that the stair boards would not creak, they made their way up two flights. Frank’s heart pounded as though he were a convict escaping prison.
Lady Melissa opened the baize door that led to Sophie’s hallway. Again, creeping as close to the wall as possible, they passed two closed doors. At the third, Lady Melissa paused. Frank gestured for her to go in first. Once he was inside the dim room, Frank felt elation rise within him as he quietly shut the door.
Sophie was asleep. Her face, the palest ivory, was tranquil and lovely, her light brown hair unbound and spread across her pillow. The fire had burnt to coals. Frank went over to stir it and added more coal.
Sophie’s friend gently nudged her on the shoulder. “Sophie, wake up. It is I, Melissa!”
Frank stayed out of her line of vision so the sight of him might not startle her. Sophie only tossed her head back and forth and then turned on her side. Lady Melissa put a hand to her friend’s head, then shook her own. “No fever,” she mouthed.
Shaking her friend again, she finally got her to awaken.
“Melissa?” Sophie asked. “Why are you here? Has something happened?”
“No. I have brought you a surprise.”
Frank stepped forward. “Sophie, I have been so worried. I hope you will pardon the intrusion, but I had to see you. You were ill so long, I was afraid I would never see you again. Thank the Lord your fever has broken.”
“Oh, Frank!” Tears spilled over onto Sophie’s cheeks as she sat up in bed and reached out for him with both arms. His own arms went about her and he hugged her tiny form to him. “Angel!”
“Thank you for the flowers,” she said, releasing him. “And your letter was lovely. But please do not go to Oxfordshire. You have forgotten that you are to teach me archery!”
“Ah, yes. A prior commitment. And of course, I must stay to listen to this remarkable trio I have heard so much about. They are playing Beethoven. The Archduke, if I remember correctly.”
Looking down at her counterpane, Sophie began to pleat it. She said in a whisper, “And I have heard tell there may even be a wedding in the offing.”
“Sophie, darling.” His heart sang. That was the only way to describe it. He was in alt. Kneeling by her bedside, he took her in his arms once more. Her heart pounded a tattoo against his chest. “I must get out my tambourine and celebrate,” he whispered.
Her face lit with a rapturous smile, and she let him kiss her. It was heaven to feel her lips under his once more. When she pulled away, Frank kissed her eyelids, both her flushed cheeks, and was beginning to nibble her neck below her left ear when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
“I am sorry to interrupt, but we must get back, Lord Trowbridge.”
“Angel, I must return your excellent friend to her ball. I wish you a speedy recovery, darling.”
“Frank, you were very naughty to come. Do you often visit respectable damsels in their bedrooms?”
“This was a special occasion. Next, I will see you downstairs in the morning room. Take care, Sophie darling.”
Lady Melissa had the door open and was waiting in the hall. Sophie blew her a kiss. Then Frank shut the door and they were again in the dark. He could hardly keep from crowing his joy. How life could pivot from black to white in just moments!
They managed their exit from the mansion without incident and were soon driving down the street, headed for the Fitzwilliams’ home.
“She was happy to see you,” Lady Melissa said.
“I could not have done this without you. You will never know how much it meant to me.”
“It was an adventure,” she said. “After that, a ball will seem dreadfully tame.”
“Perhaps you should arrange to be taken hostage by pirates,” Frank said, his humor returning now that he knew Sophie would live. And more than that, she was to live as his wife. He felt as though he was soaring high above London, looking down at this carriage as it moved slowly down the street.
When they came upon the back garden of the Fitzwilliams,’ it was to see a veritable hive of activity in the garden. At least a score of people were moving about, holding torches. A terrible presentiment gripped Frank.