“I should hope it is.” Lord Alderton gave a small sigh and shook his head. “I feel duty bound to tell you, however, if you would not mind listening to it?” Giving her no time to answer, he continued quickly. “I have heard it said that Lord Sherbourne has stolen something of great value. I do not know why he would have done so, and my immediate thought is that such a thing is nothing but an untruth. However, there is always the chance that there is more to his character than either you or Lady Yardley might be aware of.”
Cassandra looked immediately behind her, but seeing Lord Sherbourne some distance from them, knew that he had not heard a single word which had been said.
“Lord Alderton, these things are nothing but whispers,” she stated firmly. “Lord Sherbourne was, and is, an excellent gentleman. No doubt whoever is saying these things seeks to harm his reputation for some reason.Theyare the ones who should be ashamed, not he.”
Lord Alderton nodded, his smile short-lived.
“I must admit to hoping that one day you will be as fervent in your favor of me as you are of him.” The smile was now replaced with a heaviness which pushed down his eyebrows and put shadows over his face. “I should return you to Lady Yardley now. I do hope that you enjoy the rest of the evening.” Instead of returning her to Lord Sherbourne, Lord Alderton brought her along to where Lady Yardley stood, as though he did not trust to leave her near the very gentleman he had just spoken to her about. Considering that he was attempting to be very kind and cautious, even though she did not think it at all required, Cassandra managed a smile. “Thank you for your time and conversation, Lady Cassandra. Pray think about my words.” Only the smallest of smiles flitted across his features. “Good evening.”
“Good evening.”
Her lips twisting, Cassandra watched him as he walked away, lines beginning to form across her forehead. She had very little understanding of where such rumors came from, but she certainly had no intention of believing them, even if Lord Alderton appeared to be very concerned for her. Why would he be so? Was it because he was afraid that her friendship with Lord Sherbourne might prove to be somewhat disastrous for her reputation?
“Lord Alderton appeared a little brusque, did he not?” Lady Yardley frowned. “Is he quite all right?”
Cassandra hesitated, just as Lord Sherbourne came to join them. His gaze was fixed on the departing back of Lord Alderton, as though he did not want to take his eyes from him for even a second.
“You had a good conversation with Lord Alderton, then?”
Cassandra tore her eyes away from Lord Sherbourne.
“Yes, I did.”
She had the thought, for a moment, of telling them both what Lord Alderton had said about Lord Sherbourne, only to dismiss it. It was far too difficult a possibility, and thus she kept her mouth shut.
“Might I ask what it was that he meant by suggesting that you think about his words?” Lady Yardley’s frown lingered. “That seems a little odd… unless-?”
“Yes, I heard that also.” Lord Sherbourne finally turned away from where Lord Alderton had been walking. “Did he speak of anything... important?”
Her stomach knotted.
“No, there was nothing of importance as regarded our connection, if that is what you are speaking of.”
The light faded from Lady Yardley’s eyes, but at the very same time, seemed to fill Lord Sherbourne's expression. Cassandra looked away from them both, suddenly eager to extricate herself. “Ah, there is Lady Almeria. Excuse me, I think I should like to speak with her.”
It was just the excuse she needed to step away from them both, her thoughts much too heavy with what Lord Alderton had suggested. Surely it could not be that there was anything wrong with Lord Sherbourne’s character? She certainly did not believe him a thief, but where had such rumors come from? And should she tell him of them?
Chapter Eleven
“Ineed your advice.”
Lord Knoxbridge’s eyes flared with a sudden excitement as he sat up a little straighter in his chair.
“Are you about to confess to me your feelings for Lady Cassandra?”
Scoffing at this, Jonathan rolled his eyes and let out a bark of laughter, all to hide his immediate sense of embarrassment.
“I hardly think so.” So saying, he pulled out the broken diamond bracelet from his pocket and set it on the table. “It is nothing to do with Lady Cassandra. Instead. I need your advice aboutthis. It is not mine, you see.”
Lord Knoxbridge’s eyes widened.
“Why do you have such a thing in your possession if it is not your own?”
Letting out a small sigh, Jonathan lifted one shoulder.
“That is part of the problem. It has been a fortnight since I found this in my pocket – the butler handed it to me, after taking my coat when I returned to my home, and since then I have not known what to do with it.”
“I do not understand.” Sitting up straighter on his chair, Lord Knoxbridge leaned forward so that he might look at the bracelet more carefully. “Clearly this is an item of great value. Are the diamonds real? They don’t appear to be paste, I think.”
