It was with great reluctance that Verity accepted the gentleman'a coat. (Could he even be called a gentleman after causing such an awful turn of events? Her dress and pin were fine before his clumsiness ruined her evening.) Still, she had little other choice. His coat was the only barrier between the outside world and her petticoats. Merlin knew what would happen if Ford or Mama caught her like this. And their outbursts would be preferable to anything anyone outside of their family might say.

She nearly collided with him again in the darkness as she struggled to find which way he was pointing. Her hand grazed what she hoped was his arm in an attempt to steady herself before turning and moving towards the back of the hallway. Without her small light navigating was nearly impossible, a fact proven by what would be a hideous bruise on her thigh from walking into the corner of a table. "This way you said?" She asked quietly, fearful of who else might be lurking in the shadows.