“I’m curious as to this sudden change in strategy. It seems…short-sighted, in the grand scheme of trading secrets for secrets. Even you must see the folly in this plan?”
“It was never my plan, Lord Ellington. I was merely a player. And I now have the ability to set things as right as I can.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Interesting.”
She reached into her reticule and pulled out his letter.
“I admit I had thought this all a ruse to get me here and demand something more.” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a bag of coins. “Would you like to count it first?”
“There is no need.” She took the bag and at the same time put the letter into his hand. It would not matter if he shorted her several pounds. She had money. With what she had collected already and what she had from Wild, she had enough now. “Thank you, Lord Ellington.”
He stared at her, a bemused smile on his lips. “I would ask you to dance, and perhaps offer to escort you home after a whirlwind evening, but I am averse to rejection, and can see on your face that you do not harbor a similar curiosity about me.”
Lord Ellington was still flirting with her? After everything that had happened?
“Thank you for the flattering offer.” And she was very flattered. But she only ever wanted to dance with Grae. Only ever wanted his hands on her.
Ellington smiled and bowed. “I find I am almost saddened to be freed from your web, Madame Spider. If you find yourself in need of…anything…in the future, you have but to ask.” He lifted her hand and she didn’t miss the way his lips lingered a few seconds longer than was proper. “Good evening to you, my lady. I wish you luck.”
With a slight bow and a genuine smile, he left her there on the patio.
Arista watched him until he was out of sight. Elation slowly filled her body. She couldn’t stop the smile that spread over her face. She had done it. She had actually done it. In two days’ time, she would be on board Grae’s ship, sailing away from London for good. If Grae were here with her, she would dance until her feet were too sore to move another step.
Grae. Arista wrapped her arms around her middle and hugged herself. Grae was waiting for her; they would leave together. It was almost too good to be true. She pinched herself, and laughed.
Several curious glances were thrown her way, and she didn’t even care. Tonight marked the end of Lady A. The end of her life as a thief. Of being controlled by those who only thought to use her.
A hush fell over the crowd, and Arista looked up. A woman dressed in glittering turquoise silk stood midway up the grand staircase, watching the guests. People called out and she waved, making the bouquet of peacock feathers bounce and dip. It had to be Lady Amanda, Lord Luckette’s daughter. Arista had seen her only once before, at a different masquerade ball. She had a reputation for promiscuity.
The lady’s eyes momentarily settled on someone, and Arista followed her gaze. A darkly clad man stood in a plain black mask along the perimeter of the room. Looking around, Arista could see at least three more dressed exactly the same, spaced evenly throughout the room. Alarm shot through her body.
The Watch? The ones in charge of upholding the law and finding criminals. They were known to be ruthless in dispensing justice, and only their word was needed to send someone to Newgate for life. Arista shivered. There had been many close calls with the Watch when she was younger. Several of the children she had lived with had been hauled away by them, never to be seen again.
The threat of the Watch was only one hazard of their jobs as pickpockets, though. And Bones’s wrath was a worse fate; so each day, they took the chance of getting caught.
Had Wild sent them for her? Though the Watch and the Thief Taker General were separate posts, she knew many of the Watch were also on Wild’s payroll. According to the rumors, at least.
Sweat trickled down the back of her neck. It was time to leave anyway.
Arista skirted the darkened edges of the room, toward the door where she had entered earlier. One of the Watch stood between her and the doors. Had he stared at her a little too long? She forced her steps to slow. The man looked away and Arista moved past, exhaling in relief.
Until a hand shot out of the dark and pulled her into a secluded alcove.
She whirled around, and her knife was out and pressed against the offender’s throat in one fluid movement.
“I see some things never change,” Nic said with an easy grin.
The room suddenly dipped again and she grabbed his arm. Was he really there? “Nic?” She sheathed her knife and threw her arms around him. “Where have you been?”
He took a step back, looking around them. His eyes became guarded. “You got what I left for you, I see?”
“Yes.”