Whispers Behind the Curtain

The ballroom had begun to clear as the evening wore on, but Evelyn's heart remained heavy with unease. Lord Davenport's probing questions lingered in her mind, and Theo's tension had only grown since their brief encounter. The air was thick with something unspoken, something dangerous lurking just beyond her understanding.

Evelyn excused herself from the dance floor, slipping past elegantly dressed guests until she reached the side corridor that led to the library. She needed a moment to think, to breathe. The dimly lit hallway was lined with portraits of past Whitmores, their painted eyes watching her as she moved.

"You shouldn't be wandering alone."

She spun around to find Theo standing in the shadows, his expression unreadable. His midnight-blue coat blended into the darkness, making him appear more like a specter than a man.

Evelyn exhaled sharply. "I needed a moment. Too many eyes, too many questions."

Theo's jaw tightened. "You handled Davenport well, but he won't let his curiosity fade. He has a way of uncovering secrets."

Her pulse quickened. "Then we need to be ahead of him."

Theo stepped closer, lowering his voice. "That's exactly what I intend to do."

Before she could ask what he meant, a rustling sound came from behind a velvet curtain at the end of the hall. Both of them turned sharply. Evelyn felt Theo's hand on her arm, steadying her as he took a slow step forward.

"Who's there?" Theo demanded.

A tense silence followed before a young woman emerged from behind the curtain. She was petite, her golden hair swept into an intricate braid, and her emerald-green gown shimmered under the flickering candlelight.

"Lady Rosaline?" Evelyn recognized her from earlier in the evening, though they had yet to be formally introduced.

Rosaline's eyes darted between Evelyn and Theo before she took a cautious step forward. "Forgive me. I— I didn't mean to intrude."

Theo's gaze remained sharp. "Then why were you hiding?"

Rosaline hesitated before glancing down the hallway, as if to ensure they were alone. When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper. "Because I know who you are, Miss Evelyn. And I know why you're here."

Evelyn felt the world tilt beneath her feet. The air crackled with the weight of Rosaline's words. This was no longer just a game of deception—someone finally had answers.