Mr. Spade may I meet with you in Father Timothy’s office?’ Sybrina calmly requested, her inner turmoil concealed.

Drat! Why do I have to deal with rakes and spades?

‘May I offer you some refreshments?’ Sybrina stalled for time.

‘Nay Sybrina, I’ve come about me rent, tis due, you know it!’

Her stomach felt like everything inside it was on a rollercoaster ride. She did not have the rent, neither did she have a backup plan. He’d been threatening to shut them down for three months now. Some other business people were interested in turning it into an Inn. She’d begged and pleaded up until now to get a reprieve, but how much longer could she stall? There was no money. There was no way to make this week’s payment.

‘Mr. Spade_ please,’ Sybrina swallowed nervously, wishing there was some windfall that could arrive, but alas there was none. She wondered if her father was behind the constant eviction notices. Where would the children go? Where would she go? She could never return to her father never.

‘Could you grant us another week_?’

‘No!’ he cut her off. ‘I need me money. I can make five times more, if I turn this into lodgings,’ he snarled.

Not that he needed the money. He owned the brothel down the street that served drinks twenty four hours a day, and provided employment for working women. He owned the General Stores across the road, and the Barber Shop.

‘Please I’ll do anything__just one more week, please,’ Sybrina begged.

She saw his bloodshot eyes light up. A smile start to form at the corner of his lips.

No not that. Pease God not that!

She could not sacrifice her virtue not even for the orphanage. There was just so far she would go, and hell, if push comes to shove, she could ask Claudia, or she could swallow her pride and knock on her father’s door, like he was expecting her to. But if she had to sacrifice her virtue, it cannot be to this filthy, obese creature in front of her. Sybrina was certain he had not brushed his teeth, or taken a bath in a week.

‘Why I believe you can do something for me lassie,’ he licked his lips in a vile way.

Sybrina shut her eyes for a second, felt nausea fill her stomach, felt bile chocking in her throat.

‘It appears I’ve been invited to a gentleman’s ball.’

Sybrina’s eyes flew open, she stared at the filthy creature in front of her.

‘Excuse me!’ she murmured.

‘Me business associates. Them Gentleman have given me invitation to escort whom I please to the Masked Ball,’ he licked his lips again.

The Masked Ball. That’s was a premier event the Peers of the Ton hosted. Generally it was strictly for Gentleman only, but occasionally they extended invitations to businessmen. Who could have been insane enough to offer this ogre an invite?

‘You want me to accompany you to the Masked Ball?’ she echoed, half relieved, that that was all she’d need to sacrifice. And the other half of her reviling the thought of spending that many hours with this toad. On a positive note, she may not need to dance too many dances with him, other Gentlemen may request her to dance, so it may not be all bad.

‘So if I accompany you to the Ball, you will allow us a week’s reprieve.

‘And that’s all you’ll get miss,’ he warned, ‘I have people awaiting for this property,’ he nodded vigorously.

A masked ball. That meant costumes. And at midnight, all masks to be removed, so everybody could be identified. Sybrina would never want to be recognized, neither would she want a single soul to see her as partner to Giles Spade. The humiliation of it all, she could not let that happen.

‘Mr. Spade,’ Sybrina addressed him, avoiding his eyes, ‘I will accompany you,’ she breathed heavily, ‘but I must be released to leave before the midnight hour,’ she demanded, her eyes finally meeting his forcefully.

‘That will suit me right,’ he grinned, displaying his yellow, unlined teeth.

‘So I accompany you to the Ball, and we have a week’s reprieve?’ Sybrina verified.

‘We have us an agreement miss,’ he wiped his grubby hand on his chest, then extended it to seal the agreement with Sybrina.

Sybrina slowly sunk into Father Timothy’s chair as Giles Spade exited.

One more week!

She covered her hands with her face, saying a silent prayer that they had one more week, when she’d need to come up with not one but two week’s rent. How was she going to do this? Where was the money going to come from?

‘Sybrina__?’ Mother Agnes bustled into the office. ‘Is everything okay?’

Sybrina quickly dropped her hands and tried to school the expression on her face, as she looked up to smile at Mother Agnes, but it was not the dear Mother’s eyes that Sybrina caught but Alexander Chauncey.

‘My lord, you’re still here?’ Sybrina stammered rising to her feet again.

Instead of answering her, the Earl just studied her face, trying to read something from the guarded expression on her face.

What was he still doing here? He should have left more than fifteen minutes ago.

The Earl was at a loss for words as he stared at Sybrina. When he walked in, and saw the forlorn figure, covering her face with her hands, he felt as if somebody landed a fist in his stomach. Why he felt that way, he had no answer. She looked so vulnerable, like a child who’d just lost their parent. Yet she’d stood up, and raised her eyes to him challengingly as if she’d not a care in the word. He marveled at the spirit of the woman. But something was amiss! He knew the man whom she’d just met. What was her dealings with that scoundrel?

Was she his lover? Could they have had a tiff?

Something also told him, he would not get any answers by questioning her, he would have to apply other investigative skills to get his answers.

‘I was just leaving madam,’ he spoke, and saw the immediate relief in her eyes. ‘I’ve just come to bid you farewell. Mother Agnes you will see me out?’ The Earl smiled charmingly at Mother Agnes, who also seemed very eager to want to know the results of the meeting Sybrina had had with Giles Spade.

Sybrina held her breath cautiously appeased that the full mask hid her identity. She confidently worked the room with graceful elegance from years of practice in her father’s house. She knew the etiquette of the ton. She blended right in. Nobody could accuse her of being a misfit. It was a splendor to see all the ladies dressed in a kaleidoscope of fashionable colours light up the ballroom. The gentlemen were very handsomely attired in their fancy about town evening wear. Champagne flowed easily. Gaiety and laughter attested to the ball in lively full swing. Lord and Lady Tyler definitely knew how to throw a party. Some of the distinguished guests only used masks that covered their eyes, others had half masks, wanting to be recognized in their designer regalia.

Sybrina needed total anonymity, she did not want to be recognized at all. Every Lord and Lady of the haut ton seemed to be present tonight and she knew just about every one of them. Though nobody must recognize her tonight. She should not be here. She did not belong. This was no place for the hired help of the orphanage. She wanted to inconspicuously serve her purpose and disappear like Cinderella, before everybody would unmask themselves when the bells would toll at the midnight hour. She’d already in the day arranged for a groom to collect her at an arranged rendezvous. Yes she must do her bit to get a reprieve for the orphanage, and then at midnight she could escape.

She did not lack for partners, waltzing and taking part in one country dance after the other. On occasion, she even innocently flirted with one or two of the young Lords there whom she knew were not brazen enough to enact upon her mild flirtations. When her feet were sore and needed resting, Sybrina carried herself near the balcony, inhaling the fresh air and contributing to artless conversations with the tons débutantes about the unseasonal weather, and the poor selection of the continent’s fashion available on New Bond Street. Mr. Spade thankfully in full mask kept to her shoulder at all other times during the evening.

In a moment of weakness, Sybrina allowed herself the luxury of letting her eyes wander to one specific gentleman tonight. He looked splendidly breath taking, and there was no denying it was him all right. Without a shadow of a doubt she’d known it was him, even without catching a glimpse of his face. Like most of the gentlemen tonight, his mask covered just his eyes, and swooped a little over his sculptured cheekbones. He’d certainly made an entrance. He had that kind of persona that just oozed charisma, without him even trying to seek any attention. He commanded everyone’s presence, men and women alike when he entered a room.

Tonight as he’d strode in, Sybrina had been at the balcony, inhaling the fresh evening air, only her profile visible to him, but as if in a trance she had been drawn to his arrival and like every other young maiden there had gasped at the sight of him, so dashing and debonair.

Disappointingly, to her and all the other gushing maidens, he had eyes not for one of them. He graciously took the hands of his hosts, Lord and Lady Tyler, and had given them his undivided attention, until it seemed his personal butler had presented him with a drink to which he momentarily looked to the servant, thanked him, and proceeded to return his attention to his hosts. The session before the dance began, he proceeded to socialize with more of the distinguished guests who seemed to be old enough to be of the age of his parents. He had come alone, Sybrina observed. There was no lady at his elbow, nor any débutante that seemed to have caught his attention tonight either. Perhaps the Rake did not show his true colours to the polite society, perhaps the Rake only revealed himself in the dark to those he cavorted with.

Lord Cavendish stared at the stunning beauty standing at the balcony, only her profile on view to him, as she looked down at the enchanting garden, casually feeding her lips through the mask, as she sipped from her champagne flute. Why had she not been presented before? He would have remembered such a beauty. He held his breath as his eye slowly ran the length of her attractive hourglass figure wrapped in a gown of shimmering silver, like silk tissue. A mask of shimmering green dust fully covered face, and a matching jade spencer stole over her chest ending just below her bosom. His hands twitched to remove that mask right at this second. He wanted to crush her in his arms, pound his lips over hers and feel those delicious curves entwined to his body. He looked at his watch and smiled.

Tis not long now my Lady, and I shall have the pleasure of unmasking you in the garden.

The earl couldn’t remember the last time a women had his blood and veins so turned on that he felt a film of sweat above his upper lip. The last woman__.

No it can’t be her!

She wouldn’t be here. This was a Gentleman’s Ball and only for Peers, and a few select businessmen. The woman that stood there was a Lady of the ton, without a doubt. So regal, confident, and blatantly aware of the power she exuded over every male here tonight. The Earl shook his head slightly, as if discarding the apparition that was forming in his mind.

You need a stronger drink squire!

‘If I was a dying man my lady, it would be my last wish to have the strength to carry you in my arms and steal you away in my chariot,’ he whispered in Sybrina’s ear provocatively.

Sybrina pressed her fingers firmly around the balcony rail. Too awestruck to utter a single word, she held on tightly, and kept her eyes shut. He should come with a health warning, if she dare open her eyes she might topple over. She was that affected by his presence. He was so close, she was sure if she just leaned her head back, his lips would touch her earlobe.

‘I __am Artemis my lord,’ Sybrina changed her accent to sound like she was from up north of the country, drawing on bold strength she contrived from the protection of the mask, ‘so how can I put a dying man out of his misery?’ She waved her fan flirtatiously.

‘Pray tell me you won’t turn me into a stag,’ his husky voice drew a little closer.

Sybrina giggled, ‘then I won’t,’ she spoke again with the false accent.

‘I am Alexander Chauncey, Earl of Cavendish,’ he whispered.

‘I know who you are my lord, and you know, I am __Artemis,’ she was having trouble keeping up the pretence; she was relieved the mask hid the true colour of her eyes. She wanted to turn and lean her body into his.

‘Sweet Artemis,’ he groaned, ‘will you save every waltz for me?’

‘I’m afraid almost every one of the gentleman have made the same request tonight my dear Lord Chauncey,’ she waved her fan again, and looked up at him teasingly from beneath her fringed eyelashes.

No doubt every gentleman tonight would want to claim this beauty, who wouldn’t? She was clearly the most stunningly attractive lady here tonight, and she was definitely the most beautiful lady he’d ever laid eyes upon.

‘So how many are left?’ he enquired dejectedly.

Just how many dances could she risk with him? Surely being in his arms was courting danger. Perhaps one dance would not get her compromised.

‘I can offer you one waltz my lord,’ she breathed softly, her warm breath caressing his cheek.

‘You are so beautiful, my dear Artemis,’ his hand lifted and closed over the silk ribbon around her neck, his finger brushed at her throat.

Sybrina almost choked on her saliva, quickly she smacked his hand with her fan, ‘you wouldn’t want to join the ranks of a stag now, would you, my lord?’

‘You’d turn me into a statue?’ his thigh pressed against her back, his breath made the hairs stand at the nape of her neck. She shivered involuntarily.

‘They’re looking for half the male population of the last city I just departed from,’ Sybrina threw again in that fake accent.

‘They could not have been as handsome as me.’

Off all the arrogance!

The music started, a country song that had all the couples lined up and continued to exchange partners. His identity properly hidden behind his mask, Giles Spade laid claim to Sybrina, guiding her by her elbow. The steps of the dance allowed Sybrina to move as far away from Giles as she could possibly desire, but the Earl was never far from her, skillfully swopping partners, so he stayed close to her. Their eyes never left each other for long. Even with their backs to each other, they hurriedly stole glances over their shoulders at each other. Sybrina knew she was courting trouble, but just this one night, she aimed to make it her own. Just once in her life, she will do something for herself.

The first waltz she danced with Giles, as he twirled her around the floor, she constantly sought out the Earl, who’d chosen to sit this dance out. He stood near the drinks stand, his eyes trained on her, a sensuous smile on his face every time their eyes made contact.

When the next waltz started, he placed his glass on the table, and gallantly strode to her, tapping her partner on the shoulder. As the Earl was senior in rank, the younger peer dutifully relinquished his claim. This was not the waltz, she’d reserved for him.

‘I’ve waited the whole night to have you in my arms,’ he drew her tightly against his body , clasping her palm into his and raising it slightly in the air.

Sybrina gasped as she felt her soft flesh being crushed against sinew and bulging muscles. His thighs artfully draped around her legs, sweeping her across the ballroom. She was mesmerized, unable to draw her eyes away. She was convinced he could read in her eyes who she was, even more persuaded her body communicated to him, who she was.

‘You’re a very patient man,’ she flirted with him, her fingers entangling at the nape of his neck.

She heard him sigh. He pulled her even closer against his chest. She could feel her soft bosom, press against his muscular rock hard chest.

‘I am a patient man sweet Artemis, but at midnight, I shall have my fill of you,’ he promised as they moved into the shadows, or did he engineer that?

Sybrina felt his lips brush softly against her throat, she pulled him closer. Surely she should halt such lack of decorum, but she was too weak, her neck arched, allowing him more access. His tongue escaped, caressed against her earlobe, tearing her control to shreds.

‘Alexander__’ she whispered, as her fingers tore into his hair.

The Earl stopped.

Did he recognize her? God, she’d called his name! Had she spoken in her own accent? Oh this was it, this was the end of it!

She was going to be ruined. And then she heard the applause around them, and Alexander was clapping as well.

Oh right the waltz had stopped.

And by the Lord’s mercy, she was whisked away into another country song, and then another. Then she was claimed by Giles for the next waltz, and pleading for a breath of fresh air, she declined the next dance with Giles, and as she stood at the balcony, sipping on fruit punch, she heard the first gong of midnight.

‘It’s time for me to unmask you Artemis, and this night you will be mine,’ Alexander was behind her, his arms curving around her waist.

‘Not yet my Lord,’ she teased, pushing him away.’

‘Oh yes yet!’ he laughed, reaching out to grab her arms.

But all he got was the silk ribbon, for Sybrina, pushed through the crowd and disappeared out one of the side doors. She heard the Earl call out to her, pleading to her to stop, but she kept on running. She knew where she was going, because all the times she’d scanned the area from the balcony, she was memorizing her exit route. She’d already during the day, made arrangements with one of the grooms on a rendezvous point and ran as fast as her legs could carry her in the tight fitting silk gown, and velvet slippers.

‘Go Thomas go! Hurry!’ Sybrina hopped onto the chariot, clutching her chest, as she tried to feed her starving lungs.

She risked a look behind her and saw only darkness. Nobody following, and slowly began to relax. She removed the mask, and slipped it into the bag she’d kept in the cart earlier in the day. The fancy gown she had on was a work of art, the shimmering layers of silver could be peeled off, to reveal just plain layers of silk in a flesh colour. She peeled those off as well, and neatly hid them into the bag.

‘Where’s the fire Sybrina? Why are we riding like the wind?’ Thomas grinned.

‘The fire’s back at the Tyler Castle young Thomas,’ she laughed, ‘so I guess you can ease up a bit if you like.’

‘Seeing the lateness of the hour, I’ll get you to bed as quickly as possible Sybrina,’ Thomas cracked the whip, so the horses would not lessen their speed as they hastened back to the orphanage.

‘Thank you kindly Thomas,’ Sybrina murmured sleepily, as she waved to Thomas, who went off to park the horses in the stables.

She tiptoed upstairs to her chamber, looking forward to sinking into her hot bath courtesy of the Earl. Sybrina peeled of the last of her garments and groaned with pleasure as she felt her body submerge beneath the soothing hot water. It was pure heaven, and it had been so pure heaven being in his arms.