His mouth opened before he knew what to say. Surely she did not suspect his disloyalty. All the guilt for his duplicitous search for the Pimpernel, however insincere, came back to him full force, and it must have shown on his face.

Creating more space between them, she looked away. “I see.” She tried to leave his arms and turn from him.

“No, Scarlet. You do not understand. I feel nothing but disgust for that woman. Question the prince. I dance with her here on assignment from him. But she is a torturous, evil woman and is stripping away my peace every day more.”

For a moment, Scarlet’s eyes held hope. Then her face went blank again, and she stared at something across the room with a vacant expression.

Their song ended, and Lady Pinckney approached. “You have promised me dance after dance, and not one has yet been realized.”

As the music began again, Matteo felt he had no choice. “We are in luck this evening, for I have a free set this very moment, if you would oblige me?”

She giggled and reached for his hand. He winked apologetically to Scarlet, but her gaze had wandered in disinterest. His heart sank a little more.

***

Simon shook his head in disbelief. “The man is a traitor. Too much evidence rests against him.”

Prince George sipped his wine. “Your protective instincts do you justice and serve her well, except in this instance. He is not a traitor. I would place my life in that man’s hands.”

“But I have it on impeccable authority that he is actively seeking the Pimpernel. He told me so himself.”

The prince put his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “He is worried for his friends. Miss Duplay might denounce them. He hopes to give the Pimpernel their names, seeking their protection.”

“A likely ruse. I heard Miss Duplay ask for information. He is answering to her, Your Highness; I know it.”

“Simon, Simon. Have you considered that she might be forcing his hand?”

He shook his head. “How could she? What could she possibly hold over his head? And did you know it was his signature that signed that denouncement for the DuPonts? He is as deeply entrenched in this whole mess as she is.”

“You must learn to trust, Simon. He needs your help now more than ever before. Whatever his reasons for seeking out this information, he will not betray the Pimpernel, mark my words.”

Simon grunted in disagreement but said no more, bowed to the prince, and excused himself. His eyes found Scarlet as they always did. The woman appeared miserable. She laughed and teased as usual, but the spark of her life had gone. He could smash that weaselly Frenchman for being the cause of her misery. Simon wanted to call him out for it—pistols at dawn.