The Earl of Harcourt had nearly kissed her. Not in a dream, not in a wicked fantasy she could pretend had never happened, but in reality. He had pinned her against a terrace wall and leaned in until his face had gone blurry and her whole body had tingled with anticipation and a load of other sensations she dared not name.

Even now, just thinking about it, her body traitorously softened and her hands clenched at her sides with a want unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

He had done it because he believed her to be Anne. Not that Anne had ever talked about the man kissing her. She always dismissed him as cold, but the way he had moved on Thomasina and the feel of his breath on her skin had been anything but that.

Still, he had done no wrong, because he didn’t know the truth. She, on the other hand, knew everything and the fact that she had nearly lifted into him and surrendered her mouth was most decidedly wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. She was a liar and a betrayer and a whole lot of other words that pinged around in her mind like billiard balls hit too hard during a game.

She burst into Anne’s room, hands trembling. The only thing to be done now was to demand her sister get up from her rest, her break, put on her own damned gown and go back to deal with the consequences of what had nearly happened. Maybe she could kiss Harcourt then.

Thomasina’s stomach twisted at the thought.

And twisted further when she realized that her sister’s room was dark. No fire blazed in the hearth, no candle by the bed so Anne could read one of the gothic novels they all loved so dearly. Her sister’s bed was neatly made with no indication anyone had rested on it since that morning.

Anne was not here.

Thomasina shook her head. She’d left Anne here, not more than an hour ago. Her sister had waxed dramatic about taking to her bed. But then, she had been pretending to be Thomasina, so perhaps she had gone to her room in order to keep up the ruse.

Thomasina drew a short breath and moved into the next chamber. Harcourt had placed the sisters in three adjoining rooms so they could enjoy their tight bond during the last few days of the engagement. A kindness to be sure.

She entered her own room and it was as empty as Anne’s. A brief glance through Juliana’s door revealed more of the same.

Her heart throbbed as she trudged back to Anne’s chamber, confused and feeling a twinge of dread that could not be denied. Where could Anne have gone? Roaming the house when she was meant to be Thomasina and unwell to boot was not likely.

She leaned against the edge of the bed and her eye caught something in the dark. A corner of an envelope stuck out from behind Anne’s pillow. She tugged it out—her name was scrawled across the front of the folded sheet. Her sister’s hand, which was normally so confident, was slightly shaky.