Jade Lee - [Bridal Favors 03] by What the Bride Wore Page A

hair. And they listened to the gossip with a rather distracted air.
    It was nothing they hadn’t expected. After all, this was Helaine’s first ball as Lady Redhill. This was also her first time in society after her true identity was revealed. She was not actually Mrs. Mortimer, dress designer extraordinaire at A Lady’s Favor dress salon. She was Lady Helaine, the daughter of the Thief of the Ton . And the biddies—young and old—were ready to crucify her for that fact.
    Or so it seemed by the murmured talk in the retiring room. Irene absolutely hated that these women could come to Helaine’s ball, eat from her table, and enjoy her hospitality, while simultaneously damning the woman for being common. It was ridiculous, and she burned to give them all a piece of her mind.
    Sadly, she knew that any amount of argument added fuel to the flame. Besides, Helaine could defend herself, especially with the powerful Lord Redhill as her husband. Wendy was the one who needed her attention right now. The girl was still pale and shaking.
    “Come along, Wendy,” she said, pitching her voice to a clutch of shrews. “The air is foul in here. Poisoned by people who know nothing of life because they have never done anything of worth.”
    Wendy gasped at her words, though there was a gleam of delight in her eyes. Irene was a little startled herself. After all, if things had gone how she’d wished so many years ago, she would have been one of those girls. Titled, pampered, and firmly settled in the belief that such things made her a woman able to judge other people. What a shock it was—albeit a small one—to discover how wrong her entire childhood education had been.
    In any event, they were out of the room now. She had perhaps twenty seconds of privacy in which to grill the quiet Wendy. Irene seized it with both hands.
    “Out with it, my girl. What is going on?”
    Wendy shook her head. “I cannot say. Not here.” She looked around. “I can leave, can’t I? I’ve stayed long enough that it won’t reflect badly on Helaine?”
    Irene grimaced. Trust Wendy to be worried about Helaine when clearly she was the one feeling threatened. “Yes, of course you can leave now. It’s perfectly acceptable—”
    “I’ll go then. Thank you, Irene. Thank you for helping.”
    “But Wendy—”
    “I’ll tell you everything later. Maybe tomorrow. But I must go now.” And with that, she rushed for the door. Not so fast as to draw attention, but quickly enough that Irene would have to run to catch up. And that, of course, would draw attention. She gathered her skirts, planning on making an attempt, when Mr. Grant appeared at her elbow.
    “Let her go,” he said softly.
    “What? But she’s—”
    “Safest out of here. Come along. I had a discussion with the rude Mr. Marris. If you would care to walk with me…”
    She nodded, her eyes narrowing as she watched Wendy top the staircase on her way out the door. “I should see that she gets home safely.”
    Mr. Grant saw the direction of her gaze. “I’ll see that she gets into a hackney. She likely walked here.”
    Irene nodded, knowing it was true. “And I’ll tell mama that she’s taken ill and that I’m seeing her home.”
    “Excellent. I’ll call for your wrap and meet you at the door.”
    “Done.” Then just before they separated, she grabbed his arm. “You promise to tell me everything you’ve learned?”
    He flashed her a grin. “Of course.” Just for a moment, she saw the darkness in him again, the predator that drove him. It sparked a shiver of excitement down her spine—part fear, part attraction, and wholly inappropriate. It was what she felt when entering a difficult negotiation. It was the life that roused her from her bed every morning and filled her days with excitement. And here it was with him, except they were likely going to negotiate something a great deal more important than simple money.
    “Very well,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll