Chapter 29

Nate woke up the morning following the masquerade ball with a head that felt like someone beat it with a sledgehammer throughout the night and was beating it still.  He struggled to remember the events of the evening, but was only able to assemble bits and pieces together.  If he was not mistaken, he was assisted home by the very amiable and understanding Mr. Alexander Smithfield.  He was also coerced into drinking an abundant amount of whiskey by that same Mr. Smithfield and his circle of friends.

He crept downstairs in hopes of avoiding his mother and sister.  He had no desire to converse with anyone, especially giddy, talkative females.

“There you are, dear,” Margaret Kimble called to Nate as his slippered foot touched the highly polished bottom stair of their elegant foyer.  “I was beginning to wonder if I needed to send George up to check on you.”

“It was a late night,” Nate explained.

&ldq