CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT – RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

Lightning, split a vivid seam across the inky underbellies of the scudding clouds, casting everything in lurid shades of indigo and pearl for the span of a jarring heartbeat before plunging the world back into murky shadow. "Charlotte!" Richard's voice barely penetrated the thundering pandemonium, but Charlotte whipped her head around instinctively at its achingly familiar cadence. He was struggling against the surging current of panicked guests, his coattails plastered to his legs by the torrential downpour. "This way!" he called, gesturing urgently with one arm even as he was jostled from behind. Securing her footing as best she could in the rapidly churning mud, Charlotte gathered her sopping skirts and propelled herself in Richard's direction. Her shoes squished in a decidedly unladylike manner with every squelching step, spraying arcs of brackish water up the backs of her calves. By the time she reached his side, they were both disheveled and panting, their formerly pristine