Rising from the desk, she paused to blow out her candle. Once the wick was sufficiently cooled, she resecured the taper and the holder to her crinoline and prepared to make her exit in the darkness. She’d already been away from the performance too long. Any longer and her absence would be remarked. A lost hairpin could only explain so much.

She was just making her way back through Lord Compton’s bedroom, preparing to slip out the door, when a male voice sounded in the hall.

Effie froze where she stood. Her heart leapt into her throat. Good lord. It was a servant!

Her gaze darted about the darkened room. With only seconds to act, she did the only thing she could. She dashed behind the heavy curtains, hoping against hope that there would be a window seat she could squeeze into. It was the only way to disguise the fullness of her skirts.

But there was no window seat.

And the windows weren’t windows, either. They were tall glass doors leading out to a stone terrace.

Effie tried the handle of the first one. Relief flooded through her to find it unlocked. Pulling the door open, she slipped out onto the terrace. There was no time to shut it, for in that same instant, the door to Compton’s chamber opened and a servant entered the room.

Cold night air washed over Effie. With the moon hanging overhead, it was lighter outside than it had been in Compton’s room. Anyone might see her. She hastily backed to the edge of the terrace, as far away from the open glass door as she could, until she felt the low stone railing press at her back.

A cool breeze passed over her, stirring her skirts. The same breeze rustled the velvet curtains, catching the servant’s eye.

“Now who left that open?” the man muttered to himself.

Effie held her breath, listening to him cross the room to the terrace doors. She waited for him to pop his head out. To see her and sound the alarm. A dozen excuses for her presence ran through her head in a furious rush.

But the servant didn’t look outside. He only pushed the glass door shut. There was a dull clunk as he locked it.

Effie’s hands gripped the railing behind her. Minutes later, she heard the man depart. Only then did the reality of her position hit her. The terrace doors had no proper handles on the outside. She’d been locked out here. Left out here.