Secrets and Lies

Six

Nicole certainly felt like Cinderella, especially now that midnight was nearly upon them. She was certain her relatives would want to leave after the Babcock's guests finally unveiled themselves. So in essence, Cinderella's fairytale night of being with a handsome prince who kissed her until she nearly swooned would come to an end. Soon there would be another assignment for the Secret Service Agents, and she would have to leave Staten Island, anyway.

Getting involved with Mr. Ashton Lee was out of the question, and the thought nearly crushed her. This had never happened before, but she suddenly realized how much she wanted a man in her life...a man she could fall in love with, marry, and have children with. True, the man of her dreams might not be Ashton Lee, but she wanted to get to know him to make sure of it first.

After she'd said the words about wanting to feel special, she wished she could retract them. She especially shouldn't have told him she liked being rescued. He looked at her with such a shocked expression, she worried he might start asking questions now; questions she didn't want to answer.

"Forgive me for speaking my mind, Mr. Lee," she said quickly. "That's one of my worst faults, I'm afraid. I suppose it comes from having only a father and older brother to raise me."

Shaking his head, he stroked her hand resting on his arm. "No need to ask forgiveness. I enjoy hearing what's on your mind. After all, I can only read your thoughts on rare occasions." He winked.

She laughed. She loved how he always seemed to put her at ease.

"However," he added, "I do wonder why you don't think of yourself as special. I knew from the moment I caught you from falling, that you were indeed, very special."

"Oh, Mr. Lee, you are so kind with your words. I assure you, I'm just like any other ordinary woman you have met. Believe me, tonight I'm only dressed this way because of my costume. If we were to meet on the street tomorrow, you would not know me from the next woman."

He stopped their progress as they arrived at the double doors into the house. The light shone on him a little more, and she couldn't believe how incredibly handsome he was. His eyes appeared hazel, and they held her captive. There was a small dimple in his right cheek that flashed at her when he smiled wide.

She chuckled again. "We shall see once we meet up again."

"If you promise to venture into town tomorrow, I shall make it a point to be there. I assure you, I will recognize you immediately."

Her heart flipped. He'd been making her body react this way since they'd first met. "Then I shall come into town tomorrow just to see if you have kept your promise."

"Splendid!" He nodded toward the door. "Will you allow me to accompany you inside?"

Sighing heavily, she shook her head. "You'd better not. My aunt and uncle already had the vapors that I danced the first two dances with you...and that you caught me from falling down the steps."

He frowned. "I understand." He took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. "Until later, my dear."

As Nicole walked into the house, her heart was light and matched her spirits completely. Mr. Ashton had been such a gentleman, even though he did take her into his arms and kiss her. Tonight had been such a magical night. First with the discovery of General Babcock's journal, and then finding her own Prince Charming.

If only things would continue to be so carefree and pleasant in the days afterward, but she knew better than to dream this way. Tonight would be good enough, she was certain.

"Oh, there you are!" Emily ran up to Nicole and clasped her arm. "Mother and Father were looking for you. It's getting time to remove our masks, and they want you with us when we do."

"Of course, dear cousin. I was outside getting some fresh air. The room was just too stuffy to stay inside another minute."

"Yes, it's very stuffy in here." Emily nodded, her curls bouncing in rhythm. "Thankfully, the night is nearly over. I'll admit, I'll be happy to return home."

"Why?" Nicole frowned. "Aren't you enjoying yourself this evening?"

Her cousin shrugged. "Not entirely. At first I was. Once the dancing started, I had five men ask me to dance, but as the night wore on, men stopped coming around." She pouted. "I guess I'm not as lovely as other women, and I'm sure this gown didn't make matters any better." She picked at the skirt of her gown. "Serves me right for wearing a gown my mother picked out."

"Nonsense, Emily." Nicole hooked her arm with her cousin and walked toward Aunt Anita. "You have a beautiful gown."

"But I fear the color makes me appear younger than my true age. The men who I danced with talked to me as if I were still in the schoolroom."

"Well, I'm sure that when they see you without your mask, they shall know what a mature woman you really are."

"I truly hope so."

When Nicole reached her aunt and uncle, the general clicked his champagne glass to get everyone's attention. He announced it was time to take off the masks. Within moments, all the masks were removed, and loud chatter filled the room as people moved about, seeing who was behind everyone's mask.

Many men came up to Nicole and made introductions. She smiled politely, but she wasn't interested in what they had to say. There was only one man she wanted to see, and she frantically searched for him. As each minute passed and she hadn't spotted him, her heart sank. Had he left the party so soon? Although he had removed his mask outside, she couldn't see him very well. Now, in the lighted ballroom, she wanted to see what he really looked like.

Finally, his flamboyant prince's coat grabbed her attention, and her gaze flew to his face. His attention was aimed right at her. He smiled wide, and a dimple on his right cheek flashed.

To say the man was handsome wasn't doing him justice. Ashton Lee was incredibly good looking. His hair was a deep, dark brown and—as she'd already experienced while running her fingers through it—a very soft texture. His eyebrows weren't overly bushy as some men she'd met, but Ashton's were—dare she say—nearly perfect. In fact, if she were truthful, he was more perfect than she had expected. Were men like this real? Or was he just putting on a farce for tonight's event that made him act like a true prince?

Before Nicole knew what was happening, her relatives dragged her from one couple to the next, making introductions until she stood in front of General Babcock and his wife. The middle-aged man's hair was thinning and receding like most men his age, but his mustache and crop of beard only on his chin were much too thick. To look at him now, it was hard to believe he served as a general in the war and was a respected man. Did he even know that stealing tax money from the government was against the law and he'd get arrested? Sad to think he'd done so much in the war and became a great man, only to sink to this criminal level.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Nicole said as she curtsied.

"The pleasure is all mine." The general puffed his chest as his gaze ran up and down Nicole's length. "Many men have asked me about your identity tonight. I'm sure your aunt and uncle will be very busy this week with all the calling cards you'll receive."

She laughed lightly. "Oh, I'm sure you are exaggerating, General Babcock. There are many more women at this party who are prettier, I assure you." She quickly turned to the general's wife. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Babcock. You have a lovely home." Of course, now Nicole knew how the woman's husband could afford to keep his family in such luxuries.

"Thank you, Miss Bastian. I must confess, there has been one man in particular who came around asking about you." The plump, middle-aged woman grinned. Her rouged cheeks grew darker.

Nicole's heart raced, wondering if she knew who that man might be...or at least hoping it was Ashton Lee. "Indeed? Who was asking about me?"

The older woman scanned her gazed across the crowded ballroom. "I can't see him now, but I believe you have danced with him." Chuckling, she shook her head. "He was dressed as a prince—so very dashing, if I must say."

Happiness spread through Nicole. "Oh, Prince Charming?"

The others in her circle laughed loudly. Mrs. Babcock nodded vigorously. "Yes, that's the man. He asked me the strangest question, though."

"He did? What was it?" Nicole arched an eyebrow.

"I don't know why, but he was inquiring about my housekeeper's name, Mrs. Johnston."

Panic gathered in Nicole's chest, making it hard to breathe. Ashton had told her the servant's name was Mrs. Hemsworth. So why was he asking Mrs. Babcock about it? Something didn't seem right, and Nicole's gut instinct told her to be cautious. She always followed her feelings, and right now, they told her that Ashton wasn't being very truthful with her. But why? Indeed, she needed to find out by meeting him in town tomorrow and digging deeper into his secrets.