“And yet it is not something that you ought to set your sights on. Wealth does not matter as much as his suitability.” Turning her face directly away from Lord Pottinger, Tara forced a smile in her sister’s direction, suddenly desperate to step away as quickly as she could from the gentleman. The last thing she required was for her sister to make introductions which would lead to her being acquainted with the very person she had stolen from.
“Come, let us go in search of Lord Talbert. Perhaps he has already arrived, and we are not aware of it as yet.”
Her sister’s eyes flew wide, and she made to smile only for concern to flicker across her brow.
“But only a few moments ago, you were discouraging me from him. I do not understand the sudden change.”
Tara forced a smile and shrugged, searching for any excuse which would come to her lips.
“Perhaps I was overly harsh in my response to you, my dear,” she replied as her sister immediately began to beam. “I am concerned for you, that is all. But perhaps I should give Lord Talbert an opportunity to prove himself before I make any particular judgments.”
“That would be most pleasing,” her sister replied softly. “Thank you - although might I say you also look very pleasing this afternoon. I must hope that Lord Talbert will not become distracted by your beauty also!”
Tara laughed and shook her head, relieved that she had been able to pull her sister away so quickly.
“Now I know you are attempting to flatter me, but there is no need for you to do so, I assure you.”
“I am speaking quite truthfully!” Mary protested, appearing a little hurt as her shoulders dropped and her frown grew. “I would not speak ill of you, nor would I lie about such things. You do look very pleasing this evening, although I am a little surprised that your pendant necklace is not about your neck, as it usually is.”
“My pendant necklace,” Tara repeated suddenly, scrabbling for it around her neck. It was something she always wore, something that had belonged to her mother and was the only thing she had of her that remained hers. She very rarely removed it.
“Come to think of it, I do not recall the last time I saw you wearing that particular item,” her sister continued as Tara struggled to find any sort of response. “What has happened to it? I know it is very dear to you.”
Fire burned in her throat and Tara could not answer. The truth was, she had no idea where her mother’s pendant might now be. She had not even noticed its absence, but then again, she had been so distracted and quite frankly terrified, about all that had taken place, that it did not come as any surprise to her that she had been unaware that it was gone.
“I am sure it will be at home somewhere,” she said, without truly feeling the confidence that she spoke with. “The Season has brought a great many changes and I have found myself a little distracted, I confess.”
This seemed to satisfy her sister, who nodded and then immediately began to speak of something else whilst Tara’s thoughts remained solely on where her necklace might be. She could not remember the last time she had removed it from her neck. It was so very precious to her that it would be most unusual for her to remove it from her person, and then not recall where she had placed it.
The memory of Lord Pottinger’s hands reaching for her, grasping for her in the darkness came flooding back into her mind and she caught her breath. A deep and sudden fear tore through her - could it be? Was there any chance that Lord Pottinger had wrenched it from her without realizing what he had done? Was her pendant necklace now in the hands of Lord Pottinger? Did he hold onto it now, looking at it, wondering how he could use it to find the lady responsible for so much of his pain and distress? Perhaps he had returned already to that dark and dangerous house in search of her. What would have been said to him about that night?
Her breathing was coming so quickly now that it was not until her sister said her name that she realized just how distressed she had become. Forcing a smile and entirely unaware of what her sister had said, Tara tried her best to overcome her fear. Most likely her pendant was simply misplaced, even though she had never misplaced it in the course of her life thus far. But then again, these last few weeks had been nothing if not extraordinary.
It must be somewhere at home. And when I have discovered it, I will remind myself of this moment, telling myself how foolish I would have been to have lost it more completely.
Swallowing her fears, she dared a glance over her shoulder to where Lord Pottinger still stood. As if he knew that she would be looking at him, he also turned his head and for a brief moment their gaze met. That strange warmth began to rise in her again, only for guilt and fear to capture it, making the air seem thick and difficult to breathe.
Surely he had not recognized her? There was very little chance that he had done so, but if he had, then that would mean the end of everything, not only for herself, but for her sister also.
It was almost too much to bear.
Chapter Three
“The only reason I am here is because of your encouragement.” Shaking his head, James passed one hand over his eyes. “I am still not altogether convinced that it was the best idea to return to London. My situation is not exactly the same as the rest of you.”
“You have lost your fortune just as the rest of us have done,” one of his friends stated, although James was quick to shake his head. “Just because you are yet to hand it over does not mean that you are not also in the same predicament as we are.”
Lifting his head, James let out a sigh and spread his hands.
“I do not see what can be done. I have only two choices before me. Either I do as I am bid and pay the vowel, which is far more than I ever expected, or I do not and face the embarrassment and disgrace which will come with everything they will soon reveal about me thereafter.”
“And what exactly would be said?”
Scowling, James did not answer Lord Stoneleigh’s question. His shame was still far too great.
“We will not think any less of you,” Lord Wiltsham put in. “We were all taken in. We were all deceived. In many ways, I feel as though I bear some of the guilt, for Lord Gillespie was my friend, and I was glad to go along with him - and yet he was the one who betrayed us all so very badly.”
Again, James shook his head.
