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Contents (55)
  1. Shades of Milk and Honey
  2. Table of Contents
  3. One
  4. Jasmine and Honeysuckle
  5. Two
  6. Doves and Roses
  7. Three
  8. Nymphs at the Ball
  9. Four
  10. Neighbours and Salts
  11. Five
  12. Art and Glamour
  13. Six
  14. Strawberries and Bonnets
  15. Seven
  16. Nymph on the Hill
  17. Eight
  18. Flowers and Novels
  19. Nine
  20. A Tonic in the Maze
  21. Ten
  22. The Broken Bridge
  23. Eleven
  24. A Dinner Invitation
  25. Twelve
  26. Beast and Beauty
  27. Thirteen
  28. The Beast Upset
  29. Fourteen
  30. Curiosity Unrequited
  31. Fifteen
  32. A Book and a Gift
  33. Sixteen
  34. Change and Fury
  35. Seventeen
  36. Leaves and Confession
  37. Eighteen
  38. Order and Disarray
  39. Nineteen
  40. Trust and Distractions
  41. Twenty
  42. Packing and Discovery
  43. Twenty-one
  44. Wolves and Muses
  45. Twenty-two
  46. Leaving the Maze
  47. Twenty-three
  48. The Box on the Mantel
  49. Twenty-four
  50. Duels and Deals
  51. Twenty-five
  52. Snake in the Grass
  53. Twenty-six
  54. Solicitations
  55. Acknowledgments

When she returned her attention to the group, she found Mr. Dunkirk staring at her. For a brief moment his face was unguarded, but Jane hardly knew how to read what she saw there before it vanished. He had already turned away and begun a conversation with Miss FitzCameron before Jane could be certain that she had seen anything at all.

Then her attention was taken by Miss Dunkirk, who wanted to know all of the particulars of how the disappearance had worked. The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of simple pleasures as they enjoyed the meal set out for them by the servants. Mr. Vincent appeared only once more, quite suddenly, as he released the ties on the folds masking them. He had donned his coat and packed his box of paints and his easel.

“Oh, Mr. Vincent, you are not leaving us, are you?” Lady FitzCameron said from her place on the blankets. “I had hoped you would join us.”

He hesitated. Some of the tension came back into his shoulders as his patroness made claims upon his attention. “Of course, Lady FitzCameron.”

“Oh, good.” She smiled, well aware of her power. “What I should like most to complete this enchanting afternoon is a tableau vivant.”

Mrs. Marchand looked up from her strawberries. “What a marvelous idea, Lady FitzCameron.”

Mr. Ellsworth said to Captain Livingston, as if they were discussing a horse and how well it trotted, “Jane is uncommonly good at tableaux vivants.”

“I do remember that, and can only imagine that her talents have improved with the passage of time.”

From where she was sitting, between Captain Livingston and Mr. Ellsworth, Melody said, “Oh! They should do a tableau vivant together.”

Caught by the words of her family and neighbours, Jane tried to find a way to politely refuse. Her every interaction with the man had only angered him. She was certain that only the desire to avoid being paired in tableaux vivants united them. “I would only hamper Mr. Vincent’s efforts.”

“Nonsense.” Mr. Vincent bowed to Melody. To Jane’s deep astonishment, he said, “I think your sister has hit upon a splendid plan.”

Seven

Nymph on the Hill

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Trying to mask her dismay and astonishment, Jane rose and went to where Mr. Vincent stood by his paints. So quickly that she could not see him do it, he raised and thinned a fold of glamour. She was at first uncertain as to what he had done because she could still see the party, but it became apparent from their actions that they could not see her. Then he cast another fold around them and the sounds of the party vanished. Both tricks were astounding enough in themselves, but the speed and ease with which he did them was more so. Even if Jane could understand how he had quieted the world around them, she could never match his speed.

“My apologies, Mr. Vincent, I—”