Masquerade Secrets by Janelle Daniels Read Free Book Online

least now she could keep her dignity. And her dreams.
    But they were a cold comfort.
    “Ladies and Gentlemen, the music will begin shortly. Please take your seats,” their hostess, the rather plump Lady Penfield, announced.
    Loud applause followed the lady’s request, and the remaining people standing moved toward their seats.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw three people moving into her row to fill the empty chairs.
    Her training would get her through this. It had to. She needed to be the perfect companion to whoever sat next to her. She couldn’t let her unhappiness interfere with her duty.
    Fixing a bright smile onto her face, she looked to her new companion, gasping as she stared into smiling hazel eyes.
    Bradford was sitting next to her, just as she had dreamed, but it was all wrong. She wanted to close her eyes and weep. He wasn’t sitting next to her because he wanted to be close to her, to whisper words of longing. He sat next to her because it had been convenient.
    The word convenient felt like a dagger twisting into her heart. Was that all her life would be?
    “Good evening, Your Grace,” she finally choked out.
    “Good evening, Lady Aubrey.” He smiled in politeness but quickly scanned the crowd again.
    Was he still looking for her? “Are you waiting for someone?”
    His attention jerked back to her. “No, indeed. I was only wondering if one of my friends was in attendance this evening.”
    “I have been here for some time. Who are you looking for? I might have seen him.”
    His brow wrinkled slightly, clearly trying to think of a name. “Viscount Gloucher.”
    “I don’t believe I have seen him this evening.” She scanned the crowd as well to make sure. In truth, she hadn’t noticed anyone’s arrival unless they had been directly involved with Bradford. “I hope there was nothing of importance you hoped to speak with him about.”
    He shook his head, quickly dismissing her concern. “Not at all. I just haven’t seen him in some time.”
    “I see.”
    Hearing voices on the other side of him, Aubrey leaned forward slightly and was annoyed to find Lady Victoria and her brother sitting in the remaining chairs. At least Viscount Lawrence was sitting directly next to Bradford and not his sister. If she had, any conversation with the duke would be impossible.
    Turning her attention back to Bradford, she determined not to give Lady Victoria any notice. “Are you fond of Lady Elinor? I heard she had a private concert for the Queen not long ago.”
    “Yes. Although I must admit I’m not usually a connoisseur of opera. As a soprano, I’ve never heard better.”
    “Nor I.”
    “So you enjoy the opera or only Lady Elinor?” he asked with a smile. His full attention was on her and she felt her stomach twist into a knot. Before last night, he had never been this attentive.
    “Lady Elinor is without equal. However, I do enjoy the opera on occasion. I can’t say I would wish to spend more than a night or two a month there, as my ears ring for days afterward.”
    He laughed in pure amusement. It was a full-bodied laugh, one that seemed to start from his toes and echo through his body. It was hard to remember when he had ever laughed so freely. “I confess, my ears also ring after such performances. It is enough to make me want to hide my head under a pillow for days.”
    A chuckle escaped from her lips before she even thought to stifle it. His body froze next to her, he quickly took in a breath. She paused, clearly realizing that she had misstepped. Was it possible that he remembered the sound of her laughter from last night?
    His eyes jerked to hers, looking at her as if he had never seen her before. Did he know? Could he possibly suspect that she was the masked woman?
    She swallowed heavily, bracing herself to act as if she didn’t know what was going through his mind. “Is something the matter, Your Grace?”
    His eyes narrowed a bit, analyzing her before turning away. “Nothing. You just