“The ball tonight. I cannot face such an event in my current state. But if you were to take my place—”

“Anne!” Thomasina burst out, jumping to her feet and backing away from the ridiculous notion that was clouding her sister’s mind. “You cannot be serious!”

“Why not? We have traded in the past,” Anne said with a shrug that dismissed everything ridiculous in this plan.

“The last time we did that we were fourteen,” Thomasina said. “And the larger problem is that tonight is the final ball to celebrate your engagement. It is the ball to introduce you to the society of Harcourt. It is important to your future.”

“It is,” Anne agreed with a nod. “Can you imagine my partaking in my current state? I am in no condition to make a good impression. But you could easily do so, you have always had more tact that I have.”

“The cat has more tact than you do!” Thomasina interrupted. “Anne, this is ridiculous.”

“It is only one night,” Anne said, her voice getting louder and laced with more desperation. “Please, Thomasina, I am begging. I am pleading with you. I need your help—will you not provide it?”

Anne’s dark green eyes were filled with unshed tears and her lip trembled. For the first time, Thomasina fully realized how desperate her sister was. And a desperate Anne was a dangerous Anne. She always had been.

“Do you really think you will feel better if I grant you this boon?” Thomasina asked softly.

Anne nodded. “You would be saving my very life and ensuring my future.”

Thomasina stared at her clenched hands in her lap. Pretend to be Anne for a night. Though it had been a long time since she’d done so, she knew she could. No one could ever tell the three of them apart anyway. And if she did it, if she took her sister’s place, then for one night she could pretend that it was her future that was with Harcourt. She could be close to him in a way she would never dare as mousey, quiet Thomasina the man hardly noticed, especially when compared to the sparkle of his future bride.

It would be a small gift to herself as well as to Anne. She cleared her throat. “I-I would do it if you think it would help.”

Anne let out a yelp and launched herself from the settee and directly into Thomasina’s arms, almost knocking her back on her bottom on the floor.

“Oh, Thomasina, yes! Yes, you would be helping me more than you know.” She kissed Thomasina’s cheek hard and squeezed her so tightly that for a moment she couldn’t breathe. Then Anne stepped back and looked her up and down. “You will pretend a headache, that will be your excuse for not joining us and why everyone will leave you alone tonight. Your maid won’t help, she’s as concerned with propriety as you are. But that’s fine. You’ll just sneak through the adjoining door from your chamber to mine and I’ll have Nora assist. My maid has more discretion, after all. But we cannot tell Juliana. God, she would ruin everything!”