Cinderella in the Regency Ballroom: Her Cinderella Season / Tall, Dark and Disreputable. Deb Marlowe

corner of the garden.

      The paths here, like the garden itself, lay in an elliptical shape. It did not take long to turn a curve and find herself alone. She breathed deep. This morning a parcel of forwarded mail had arrived from home. And in it had been a letter—slanted across with Matthew’s familiar bold handwriting.

      Lily’s hand shook as she reached into her pocket to pull it out. Quickly, furtively, she broke the seal.

       Dearest Lily,

      In that moment, she knew the tidings could not be good. Every other letter she’d ever had from Matthew had been addressed irreverently to Lilikins, his childhood name for her. Her eyes filled, making it difficult to read on.

       I don’t know what you might have heard, if indeed you would have heard anything at all. But I want you to know—a good reason lies behind my actions. I cannot explain now, but all will be clear when next we meet. I’ve only just left Le Havre, and I know not just where we will go. Please don’t believe the worst of me. I will contact you again when I can.

       Yours,

       Matthew

      Lily raised shaking fingers to her mouth. Jack could not have been right. She would not believe it.

      But wait a moment. His story coloured her interpretation. This told her nothing, really. She braced herself against a tree, sucking in air. She could not tell Jack about this letter.

      Would he understand? She suffered a pang of doubt. The intensity with which he spoke of the danger to his friends suggested otherwise. She drew away from the tree, folded the note and stood upright. She would make him understand. Surely he was not so insulated behind his walls of intellect and scorn that he could not understand loyalty.