“It is just as well you are standing in a place that can hide you so well,” Mary quipped as Tara dropped her head, her heart alight as she stepped back, one hand still inexplicably clutching his. “Lord Pottinger, might I also express my gratitude to you for your response to all of this? I know that my sister has been greatly troubled and to hear you speak with such kindness and consideration has greatly pleased my heart. It is just as I have said to my sister on many occasions - she does not bear the guilt in this. She did as any sister would have done.”
“But that is where I think you are mistaken.” Lord Pottinger smiled, taking some of the concern from Tara’s eyes as she looked back at him, wondering what he meant by such a remark. “I do not think that every sister would have behaved with such kindness or such selflessness. You have a great blessing in your sister, Miss Mary, and I am sure you are grateful for it.”
“I am.” Mary’s eyes softened as Tara shook her head, disliking the attention which was being placed upon her. “If I can be of any help to you also, then I would be glad to offer whatever I can.”
Tara’s hand reluctantly pulled from Lord Pottinger’s, and it was only then that she realized that Lord Stoneleigh was also standing with them. She had not even noticed him before and dropped her head as a flush hit her cheeks. Her feelings about Lord Pottinger were much too complicated for her to work out at present, but certainly there was enough for her to be embarrassed by. Lord Pottinger had pulled her into his embrace not once, but twice, and she had gone there willingly. She found herself desperate to step back toward him, to have that warmth around her once more. But instead, she tried to fix her thoughts on what was being spoken of now, rather than on what she desired.
“The gentleman, whoever he is, has stolen Lord Pottinger’s fortune. He was clearly aware of who he was and in addition, may well have used both yourself and your sister to his own advantage,” Lord Stoneleigh remarked as Tara nodded slowly. “To my mind, there is every expectation that he will do so again. If it has been successful, then why would he not try the very same thing, again? It would garner him more wealth, and that I am sure, is the reason for his wickedness.”
Tara’s eyes flared wide.
“Do you mean to say that you think he will try to steal from someone else, in a similar way?”
“Yes, I do. There is a group of us whose fortunes have been taken by unscrupulous fellows, but Lord Pottinger’s situation is slightly different. He was not in the same establishment as the rest of us. He did not lose his money in the gambling den. But as three of us who suffered the trickery of that place have now regained our fortunes, those involved in the scheme in the gambling den will almost certainly refrain from continuing on as they have done thus far. They will be too afraid of being discovered. In Lord Pottinger’s case, however, given that he was elsewhere, there is no reason for the person responsible not to try again, with someone else. After all, he has not been discovered as yet, he believes. His confidence is sure. What has he to lose?”
“But perhaps he has found enough money,” Tara remarked as Lord Stoneleigh smiled ruefully. “What if he has simply decided to take Lord Pottinger’s wealth and live in contentment? He might already be gone from London.”
“That is a wise consideration.” Lord Pottinger smiled at her. “However, given the experience that these gentlemen have had in pursuing those responsible thus far, I would suggest that this man will be less inclined to behave so. That is simply because his desire to gain wealth is greater than anything else, even the threat of being discovered.”
Tara nodded slowly.
“I suppose it is as you say. There is no expectation of being discovered as yet for this man.” Seeing Lord Pottinger smile, her heart warmed. “What is it then, that we can do? How can we be of aid to you at present?”
“I think we first must meet to discuss everything you can remember about the man himself, in particular,” he replied as Tara nodded. “Anything you can recall of him would be a great help, I am sure.”
“And might I put something to you?” Mary asked, coming to stand beside Tara. “I do not know if you have been invited, but there is another masquerade ball soon to take place.”
Tara caught her breath in sudden astonishment.
“Yes, of course! I had quite forgotten.”
“And a masquerade was where he captured your attention at the first, was it not?” Lord Stoneleigh put to Mary, who immediately nodded. “Perhaps then, it would be wise to make certain we areallin attendance that evening.”
He shot a look toward Lord Pottinger, who immediately murmured his agreement before turning to Tara.
“Might I call upon you tomorrow, Miss Shaw?”
Lord Pottinger’s eyes were soft as they rested on hers, and Tara allowed herself to smile back at him, that gentle heat filling her again. There was a freedom now to feel everything she wished for him, for she was no longer held back by her fear and dismay. It was as if everything she had felt upon seeing Lord Pottinger for the first time had now been set free to roam through her completely. It was the most extraordinary feeling.
“I should be very glad if you would do so,” she answered softly as his smile continued to grow. “You cannot know of my relief, Lord Pottinger, in speaking with you in this manner. To know that you bear me no ill will has made my heart so very happy.”
“Then allow me to prove it to you all the more,” he murmured, bowing low and offering her his arm. “Might you be willing to step out with me for the waltz?”
Her heart skipped a little in her chest as Tara nodded, accepting his arm with only a smile. He reached across and pressed her fingers as he continued to smile down at her, no barriers between them any longer. And when they stepped out to dance, Tara thought her heart might burst. His kindness and consideration of her was more than she had ever dreamed she could deserve and yet being on his arm now felt so wonderful that she could barely take everything in. To be in his arms again, to be close to him as they danced was a wonderous few moments, her heart lifting all the more until fear could no longer wrap its cold, tight hands around it.
Chapter Nine
“Are you quite ready?”
Lord Stoneleigh’s question came just as James was studying himself in the looking glass above the fireplace, making certain that his hair was perfectly in order.
“Yes, yes, I am ready,” he stated as Lord Stoneleigh chuckled. A little concerned, he whirled around. “Is something wrong? Do I look ridiculous? Is my cravat…?”
“No, no, I should say you look quite resplendent.” From the flicker in Lord Stoneleigh’s eyes, James saw that the man was teasing him. His hands fell to his sides and his lips twisted to one side of his mouth. “You are putting rather a lot more effort into paying a visit to Miss Shaw than you have done on any of our previous visits to various acquaintances.”
He quirked an eyebrow.
“That is because I have always had a direct purpose when it came to speaking with those people,” James retorted. “My sole intention has been to speak with them about what they knew of this fellow who has taken my fortune. That is all.”
