The Lady in Disguise

Chapter Thirty-Two (part one)

A masquerade!

Byrne wasn't certain how to feel about the suggestion, and not just because it was coming from Miss Hartley.

"A masquerade ball, to be precise," Miss Hartley went on. "What a wonderful idea, Prudence!"

"Y-yes. Thank you, Mary," Miss Crewe said, smiling stiffly.

He didn't believe Miss Hartley at all when she said it was Miss Crewe's suggestion, so why was she going along with it? Miss Crewe had been a lot more convincing when she'd been telling the girl off.

"A ball!" Mrs. Baddeley gasped. "Oh, what a lovely thought. Why, everyone could craft costumes and we could invite all the... Oh, no." She shook her head. "There's no ballroom to speak of and—"

"Yes, there is," Mr. Walford pointed out. "I've investigated the space myself. With some repairs—"

"That just might work," Tony said, tapping his chin.

"The repairs you speak of would take a month," Mr. Byrne said. Someone had to. "That room is missing half a wall and part of the roof. It's a ruin."

"Only half a ruin," Tony said, smiling widely now. "I mean, aren't ruins all the rage anyhow?" He suddenly ran from the patio.

Everyone stood there, staring at each other... until he ran back, appearing in the doorway.

"I'm sorry. I meant to say 'follow me,' before rushing off." Tony gestured with his hands. "This way!"

The party followed, some curious, some grumbling — that was mostly Mrs. Fernside and Mrs. Garvey, who'd become quite settled with their tatting and didn't like being hurried about.

Mr. Byrne drew up beside Miss Crewe as they all shuffled down the long portrait gallery, ready to offer his arm, also ask her why she was going along with Miss Hartley's scheme. He knew quite well how she felt about the girl.

But she stilled and turned. "Oh, Mr. Browning. So sorry to have abandoned you." She moved back to take his arm. "And just after you aided me in my... my victory."

"I did nothing but talk," Browning said. "It was your listening that won the day."

"Which is easy when the one speaking is so very nice to listen to," she said.

Byrne held in a growl, letting them pass him. Wasn't the game over? Did she have to keep flattering him?

As they all spilled into the dusty ballroom, Mary let out a gasp. "Oh, my. All of these little rocks. I shall surely fall. Mr. Byrne, will you come and aid me?"

Mr. Byrne held in another growl, moving to take her arm and help her over what were really just a few damned pebbles.

"Just look at it," Tony said, spinning about. "Yes, it's a ruin, but it could be beautiful one. I mean, if we clean up some debris, make certain the rest is sound..." Tony grinned, turning to the rest. "It's been a long time since this house had some real merriment. Half the people around here likely think it's full of ghosts. I'd like to see a little life breathed back into this haunted place!"

"Tony, it is not possible." Mr. Byrne shook his head. "The staff have enough to do without—"

"But we can do it all." Tony rushed to Walford. "You can inspect everything to be sure it won't tumble around us, can't you?"

Walford nodded. "Yes. Indeed, I have inspected much of it already and—"

"I'm sure us manly men can cart a few rocks and broken bits away. And I'm certain the ladies could make some improvements." He rushed to his aunt now. "Aunt Dotty, I'd wager you have many ideas to make the place look absolutely magical!"

Mrs. Baddeley looked doubtful, but strode the room. "I suppose I could craft paper flowers and hang little streamers." She smiled. "Perhaps with some candles in the holes and paper lanterns along the crumbled bits... The chandeliers could still be lit and... Why, it could look like a fairyland!"

"Precisely!" Tony grinned. "With a bit of moonlight shining through..."

"Oh!" Mrs. Baddeley gave a giggle of delight. "We could call it The Moonlight Masquerade!"

"That's the spirit, Aunt Dotty!" Tony beamed, clasping his hands together as he looked about the ruined room. "It could be the grandest party this place has ever seen!"

Byrne had never seen Tony so enthused, not about anything. Still, someone had to be the voice of reason. "Pardon me, Miss Hartley, I must inspect a... er... dangerous area," he said, prying her arm from his and approaching Tony, saying lowly, "You can't just declare a ball and imagine it magically happens."

"But it can! If we all work together. If it's the expense you're concerned about—"

"Hang the expense!" Byrne hissed. "Even if this ballroom is made sound enough, we can't have all of the county—"

"But it's not like we'd be inviting all of Cambridgeshire," Tony said, "just a few students and respectable couples and—"

"That's even worse," Byrne hissed. "My servants have never thrown an evening's party one could call... respectable until now."

Tony nudged him, chuckling, "Then it's high time they did, if you are to take a wife, eh?"

Damn it, the man did have a point.

The rest of the party seemed to become more and more excited at the prospect, discussing costumes...

Lord Swinton thought he might dress in sparkling green, like a housefly. Miss Poole seemed to think they should all take their cues from literature, Canterbury or Shakespeare. Miss Marbury thought the drama of opera would be best. Miss Hartley's only concern was that her costume be a color she found flattering.

"You can all dress as you like," Tony said. "Be wild and creative! That's the fun of it!"

Byrne had to admit that he'd not seen the guests so excited about anything thus far. Even Miss Crewe seemed to be quite intrigued as the girls all discussed their costumes.

Perhaps this masquerade ball wasn't such a bad idea after all.

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Emilia wasn't certain this ball was a good idea. She knew very well what Mary was trying to imply with that suggestion when she made it.

But was she about to speak more plainly? Would she reveal it all now?

And maybe that would be for the best. Maybe it was time for this to end.

So why did the idea fill Emilia with dread?

Possibly because she was still not certain what Mary's object was. For now, she crept out behind the other girls, still talking about costumes as the ballroom emptied, happy that Mary was expounding on her most flattering colors rather than looking back at her.

She'd dearly like to speak to Prudence about this, but since she was still actively avoiding her...

"Oof!"

Emilia found herself pulled behind a curtain at that moment.

TBC

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So sorry for the delay on this. I was unable to update last week and this week has also been hectic, so I thought I'd give you a little something rather than nothing. 

I'll be back in a few days with more!