“And we shall drink and compose epics in her name tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve somehow fared this long without you, and I’ve so much extra help for the ball already. How about you take the night off tomorrow? Consider it a celebration of your health.”

“How generous of you, my lord.”

Lowry turned back to Wren and clasped her hands beseechingly. His rings, glinting clinical and cold as stainless steel, dug into her skin. He was unrecognizable from even a few moments ago. As if his outburst had exerted him, he wilted like an underfed plant. “My dear, I’ve frightened you. Please forgive me. I fear I’m not myself. There’s been a tragedy in your absence.”

“A tragedy?”

“Yes.” He held her tighter, bleeding the heat from her skin. “The Duke of Matthonwy—Fitzwilliam Barrett, my dearest and oldest friend—was kind enough to help me put together a search party. They went looking for you last night, but something terrible befell them. We’ve only recovered two of them. One man is dead, and the other is barely holding on. We found them only hours ago. Barrett is distraught.”

“What happened?”

“It’s far beyond me to know exactly.” His breath smelled of rich red wine: sharp with alcohol and warm with black pepper. And beneath it all, that cloying, repulsive stench of formaldehyde. “Although when I last checked on him, he seemed to be experiencing early symptoms of renal failure. It’s passing strange.”

Wren squeezed her eyes shut to fight back the hot prickle of tears. There was no way he’d know that. Not unless he’d done something to induce it himself. Once, Lowry had told her he was no scientist—that had no interest in his father’s arcane medical texts. Wren did not know if she would ever strike the bottom of his lies.

“I see.”

Lowry straightened to his full height, again the picture of flustered anguish. “I hate to demand more of you than I already have, but…”

“Take me to him at once.”

“As you wish.” Lowry ascended the stairs, trailed by his long tailcoats.

Wren tentatively placed one hand on the banister. Before she could take another step forward, Hal reached out to her, his face drawn with concern. “Don’t. This can bring no good.”

“I know.”

But she couldn’t let someone die on her watch. And until they had the evidence they needed, what other choice did she have but to play Lowry’s games? She rested a reassuring hand on Hal’s shoulder before following Lowry upstairs.

It was far, far worse than she expected.