“True.” He straightened and took her hand, leading her to the chairs by the side of the room. He sat her down in one and took the next chair for himself. They could hold hands but no more than that. “I’ll be glad when the Duchesses’ Ball is over. No matter what the outcome, at least it will be behind us.”

She nodded, holding his hand tightly. “I feel as if I’m in limbo. We’ve invited our list of willing witnesses and know what they’ll say. We’ve worked out how you will present the evidence.”

“We might want to revise that,” Lucas said. “You handled a difficult situation brilliantly tonight. Are you sure you don’t want to state your own case?”

She shivered. “I’m sure. Tonight’s confrontation wasn’t about me, but about you and Godfrey Rogers. It was easy to keep the discussion under control.”

He laughed. “You managed it all like a really good nanny. I’m impressed that you got the two Rogers brothers to come in here.”

“It’s my nanny voice,” she said sternly before returning to her normal tone. “I’ve had some possibly foolish thoughts about how my case should be presented,” she said hesitantly. “Not as a mock trial, but as a performance.” She sketched out her idea.

“That’s brilliant, Kendra!” Lucas exclaimed when she was finished. “This will take some planning and rehearsal, but I think it will be more effective than our original idea. We need to talk to your allies, particularly the Ashtons, since the ball will be at their house. And all your Fencing Females.”

She smiled crookedly. “I just hope I can make it to the ball without expiring of nervousness!”

He lifted their joined hands so he could kiss her fingers where they were linked with his. “We’ll go on day by day, hour by hour. We’ll both continue our volunteer work at Zion House and the infirmary. We’ll come here for more fencing exercise. I shall hope I won’t be challenged to any more duels by any more Rogers brothers. If we think of any more ways to improve our performance at the ball, we’ll add them in.”

He leaned across the space between the chairs and brushed a tender kiss on her lips. “And after the ball, perhaps we will both be free.”

Her breathing caught as she looked into his eyes. She was beginning to think that perhaps she did know how he really felt about her.

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 32

The fateful night had arrived. Grand carriages rolled between the gates of Ashton House, home of the Duke of Ashton and the largest private home in London. The drive was lit by torches, and a scarlet carpet had been rolled down the steps to where guests would step from their carriages.