* * *
Mac jerked awake in the chair by the fireplace. Someone was knocking on the door.
She glanced at the mantel clock. Ten A.M. So she had slept—for about an hour. Far too long, at that. She struggled to her feet and went hastily to answer the knock.
The bellman was not one she recognized. “Miss MacKenzie?” he said with something like relief. “I have a letter for you.” He passed an envelope into her hands and backed away.
“Wait a minute. Who is this fro—”
He wasn’t hanging around to answer. In five seconds flat he was out of sight. Mac shut the door and tore at the flap of the envelope with shaking fingers. Her gaze went to the bottom of the single sheet of paper.
Perry. She blew out her breath and sat on the edge of the bed.
Rose, the note began:
You are perhaps aware that an emergency called Liam from the ball last night before he was able to propose to Caroline. He was not present at the close of the ball, and did not arrive home until the wee hours of the morning.
Thank God. Liam was all right. Mac read on:
However, this past hour I have confirmed that he has issued an invitation to Miss Gresham to join him this evening at the Poodle Dog for an intimate supper. Her chaperon, Mrs. Hunter, is to escort her. I have no doubt of his intentions.
The Poodle Dog? Mac remembered the name, though she wasn’t sure if she’d heard it here or read it in a book. A fancy restaurant, if she recalled correctly.
This is your opportunity to make good on your hopes of renewing Liam’s interest and showing him the intensity of your feelings. All you need do is follow my instructions carefully, and I will take care of the rest.
So. Perry probably didn’t know about her little attempt last night. Damn.
I have already seen to it that Caroline will not receive Liam’s invitation. I will send a carriage at 6 o’clock to deliver you to the Poodle Dog, earlier than the invitation specifies. A man will take you to a private room, and there you will wait for Liam’s arrival.
I venture to presume that you understand what you must do, and it may be your last chance. Drastic measures, Rose. But it is vital that I know if you are succeeding.
If your attempts have been insufficient to turn the tide, you must let me know at once so that I can be prepared to give any necessary aid. You will do this by summoning the waiter outside the room and asking him to bring in the wine. He is in my employ. You will drink and see that Liam does the same, and by that signal I will know our plan has failed.
Well, some of that didn’t make a whole lot of sense. What was Perry going to do if she did fail? Burst in the room and come to her rescue?
As for the elaborate secret signals—it all sounded very underhanded and… sinister. But she did trust Perry. She had to.
She returned to the last paragraph of the letter.
If you succeed, however, I will declare myself openly to Caroline. I should have done so long ago. We are both taking great risks, Rose, but we are doing what is right.
Mac set down the letter and closed her eyes. If only she knew what “right” was. She certainly no longer knew her own heart.
Chapter Seventeen
Come, fill the Cup,
and in the fire of Spring
The Winter garment of Repentance
fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To flye—and Lo! the Bird is on the
Wing.
—Omar Khayyam
HE WAS EARLY, which was just the way he wanted it.
Liam took the stairs to the doors of the Old Poodle Dog two at a time. All day he’d kept himself busy: running with Norton and looking in on Bummer—who was recovering nicely, thanks to Chen’s and the veterinarian’s quick attention; consulting with Mr. Bauer, who as yet had not found a definite trace of Perry; seeing to his various neglected business interests and fulfilling long-delayed obligations to his associates and investors in San Francisco.