The walls in this portion of the maze were too tightly woven for her to slide through without noise. If only there were a way to see what was happening inside without entering the center of the maze.

The cool night breeze carried with it the sound of lighter footsteps approaching from the true entrance, which could only be Melody. By their sound, Jane judged that Melody had entered the Spider’s Colonnade. Jane had perhaps two minutes before her sister gained the center.

She wished for nothing more than to be able to see through the wall. It struck her, then, that Mr. Vincent had offered her a solution with his explanation of lointaine vision. She need only work the light folds with care, bending them over the hedge to carry the scene within to her. Jane sank to the ground, knowing that this would take more energy in her exhausted state than she could maintain while standing. She reached out for the folds and began to weave them together.

Throwing the skein of glamour over the hedge, she saw the image of rose blossoms at her end of the folds. Carefully, she cast about like a fisherman until the end of the skeins found a man whom Jane had no expectation of seeing. Waiting in the center of the maze stood Captain Livingston.

A sweat stood out on Jane’s brow that even the night air could not cool.

Livingston paced across the garden such that Jane had to push the folds of the lontaine vision after him to keep him in her sight. Her breath came yet more rapidly. Jane wiped her brow with the back of her hand.

Then Melody entered the image.

“Henry!”

Captain Livingston embraced her—embraced her!—as if he did not have an engagement with Beth. “Dearest, forgive me for not coming sooner.” He bent to kiss her.

Melody pushed away from him. “You might have at least sent a note.”

“Please, you must forgive me. Banbree Manor is full of servants who want nothing more than to carry word of my actions back to my aunt. She holds the keys to any inheritance I am to receive.”

“My father will settle us with a handsome sum.”

“So you have said, but is it not more prudent to delay but a little while longer, so that we might live in a lifestyle more suited to your beauty?”

“Oh, stop. What do I care for such things?”

He laughed and drew her close. “You might care very little now, but I would not want to see you in a cottage without a maid to do the work for you. I have a plan, my love, and it will only take but a little while longer. I beg you not to betray me with your looks or your actions in the next days. In Bath, my aunt will expect me to flirt with every pretty bonnet that walks past, and so I shall, but I love only you.”