She was obliged to repeat her assurances before her host would leave her, but at last he allowed Wolf and the lady to bear Grace away from the ball room. They found the sitting room empty, candles glowing in the wall sconces and a good fire in the hearth. The lady released Grace and gave a little sigh of relief.
‘This is perfect,’ she said. ‘We shall be able to talk in here quite freely.’
It was only then that Grace realised how tightly Wolf was holding her. She put one hand against his chest. ‘Thank you, sir. I am very well now, I assure you.’ He was still pale and when he looked at her his eyes were oddly bright. She said gently, ‘The gentleman is your brother, is he not?’
‘Yes,’ said the lady, when Wolf remained silent. ‘He is Richard Arrandale, and I am his wife, Lady Phyllida.’ She chuckled. ‘I vow I have never seen two men so dumbfounded.’
‘Nor I,’ murmured Grace.
The door opened and Richard Arrandale came in, kicking the door closed behind him.
‘I thought we might all need to be revived,’ he said, nodding at the tray in his hands. It held a decanter and four glasses.
Lady Phyllida went across to take the tray from her husband, murmuring, ‘I will deal with this while you greet your brother in a more fitting manner.’
Grace eased herself free of Wolf’s arm and stepped away. For a moment the two men stared at each other before coming together and embracing silently. Lady Phyllida caught Grace’s eye and smiled.
* * *
Wolf cleared his throat. ‘By George, Brother, this is the last place I expected to find you. Atoning for past sins, Richard?’
They were sitting opposite one another, a glass in hand. Emotions were running high, and Wolf kept his tone light. Richard answered in the same vein.
‘It is my wife’s doing. I am a reformed character.’ He smiled and put out his hand to Lady Phyllida.
‘How long have you been in England, Mr Arrandale?’ she asked as she sat down beside her husband.
‘Pray, ma’am, call me Wolf,’ he said. ‘I have been in the country just over a month.’
‘A month!’ exclaimed Richard.
‘I want to prove my innocence. I wrote to you two days ago, but I sent the letter to Brookthorn Manor. By heaven, Richard, when I met Cassandra in Dieppe last autumn she said you had just become a father. I did not expect you to be jauntering to London so soon!’ He added awkwardly, ‘I should congratulate you.’
‘You should indeed. We have a healthy son, who I hope is sleeping peacefully in his crib in Mount Street. We had business in London and did not intend a long visit, but we did not wish to leave little James behind us.’ The soft look fled from Richard’s eyes and he frowned again. ‘You have been in England fora month, Wolf, and you did not think to inform me before yesterday? I don’t doubt it will be another week before your letter reaches us in Mount Street!’
‘I told no one, save Miss Duncombe’s father.’
‘And Miss Duncombe, apparently.’ Richard exhaled, as if reining in his temper. His blue eyes moved to Grace and a smile flickered. ‘Forgive me, ma’am. I am a little acquainted with your father, but you and I have never met before tonight. I have no doubt Mr Duncombe would prefer to keep you away from the infamous Arrandales.’
‘No, sir. It was his wish that we should help your brother prove his innocence, if we can.’
Wolf glanced up at Grace, who was standing beside his chair. She was on his side, supporting him. He felt a sudden tightening of his chest at the thought, but there was no time now to consider if it meant anything.
‘You recognised Richard?’ he asked her.
‘I did, sir. At the same moment your sister-in-law recognised you.’
‘And your quick thinking put us to shame, ladies,’ said Richard, smiling and raising his glass in salute.
‘I hope no one else made the connection,’ Grace murmured.
Richard shook his head. ‘I made a point of speaking to Hathersedge again when I fetched the wine. He was still congratulating himself for extracting such a generous pledge from Wolf. Two hundred guineas, Brother. Are you good for it?’
‘I am, but I pray you will not ask me where I acquired my funds.’
‘No. I shall ask you instead how you plan to clear your name.’
‘By finding out what happened to the Sawston diamonds. I feel sure they hold the key to my wife’s death.’
