A Certain Want of Reason Read Online Free

we’ll walk together to an empty room where we can have the gown mended in private.”
    “I suppose that does make more sense.” Lucia slid carefully from her leafy bower, planting herself firmly in front of her friend. The two of them shuffled slowly down the hallway, away from the ballroom.
    “You can take bigger steps, you know. I can keep up.”
    “I just don’t want to get too far—ouch. You stepped on my heel.”
    “Sorry. Let’s try this room.” Together, they shuffled to the first available door, but as Lucia reached for the knob, the sound of laughter made her reconsider. “Next room, I think.”
    “Yes. Wait, now you are getting ahead of me. How on earth did you—”
    Lucia waved for her to be quiet. “I’ll tell you when we get inside.” She reached for the handle of the next door, pausing to listen before she opened it. This door opened into a small parlor decorated in a garish combination of red and gold, completely devoid of human company. “This should work. Hopefully this room will not be wanted for a few minutes. Does your maid carry needle and thread with her?”
    “Of course! Do you suppose yourself to be the first ever to stand in need of an emergency seamstress? Though I confess, I’ve not known anyone to be in such dire need.” Eugenie cast an appraising gaze at Lucia’s gown. “How did you…?”
    “I backed into the knight.”
    “What?”
    “That suit of armor near the punchbowl. I stepped back to allow Mrs. Bracegirdle to pass before me.”
    “Thoughtless old biddy.”
    “She did not realize, I’m sure. In any case, I stepped back too far and felt cold metal on my back. I immediately jumped away, but the back of my gown had grown rather attached—caught on a gauntlet or something. And so, we—my gown and I—separated.” Her lips puckered in a giggle. “I suppose you could say we had a falling out.”
    “Yes, I’d definitely say that!” Eugenie snickered. “So before you fall out any further, I shall go fetch Peggy.” She flounced out the door, still giggling but taking care not to open the door any wider than necessary. Just before closing it, however, she stuck her head back inside. “Do not go away.”
    Lucia grimaced. That obviously wasn’t an option. In fact, the only option was to either sit in one of the ugly clawfooted, red upholstered chairs or stand and gaze at her wavy reflection in the hideously ornate, gilt framed mirror. Since this latter option would leave her exposed backside open to view from any who might open the door, Lucia chose the former and seated herself in one of the creaking old chairs.
    The Adringtons seemed to keep a lot of ancient furnishings about, though the larger rooms she had seen certainly contained enough modern furniture and décor to indicate the family’s ability to maintain the latest fashions when they so chose. That suit of armor in the ballroom, though, was purely gothic. Very odd. Now that she remembered, it had been arranged to look as though the knight was reaching to grasp a cup of punch.
    Lucia started to giggle again.
    The door burst open and a young man hurtled into the room, slamming the door closed behind him. He took a deep breath, leaned against the door, then started when he caught sight of Lucia in the chair.
    Neither of them said anything for a moment.
    “Good evening,” Lucia said at last. Though she had never made this young man’s acquaintance, it seemed rude not to say anything under the circumstances.
    He brushed an unruly shock of dark hair from his face and bowed. “Good evening.”
    “I think he went in here!” The door burst open again, this time admitting two more gentlemen, one of whom she recognized as the host, Lord Adrington.
    The young man who’d first entered immediately dropped down on all fours and howled.
    “He’s barking mad,” Lord Adrington’s companion whispered.
    The howling ceased, and the young man looked at the occupants of the room with sad puppy eyes for a moment,