“But why would he do so? He knows very well that I am here only to aid Lady Yardley and Lady Cassandra.”
“Precisely.”
Confused, Jonathan spread out both hands, one still clutching at his glass.
“What does that mean?”
Lord Knoxbridge sighed and rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated.
“There is a chance that Lord Alderton is aware that there is something unscrupulous about himself – something he does not wish you or Lady Cassandra to find out – so therefore, he is making certain that you are vilified in her eyes, so you pose no threat.”
“To do so would take a great deal of planning.” Still finding it a little unbelievable, Jonathan shook his head. “And he would also have had to find out about the bracelet in some way.”
“Unless, of course, he was the one who was instrumental in it ending up in your pocket.”
Taking a breath, Jonathan said nothing, letting his friend’s words run around his mind. If he were to accept such a thing as true, then it would mean that Lord Alderton was not the gentleman he appeared to be. Frowning, he recalled stepping from White’s on the evening he had discovered the bracelet, bumping into various gentlemen as he stumbled from the establishment – but he could not recall seeing Lord Alderton’s face. But, then again, he could not remember very much about that evening at all. Was there a chance that Lord Alderton had done such a thing?
“It cannot be so.” Shaking his head, he threw up both hands. “There is nothing about his character which I have found to be of defect. There is nothing which would make him at all unsuitable… as far as I have discovered.”
“It does not mean that my suggestion is incorrect.” Lord Knoxbridge frowned. “Should I wish it, I am quite certain that I would be able to hide everything I have done from society’s eyes. I could make the pretense that I was entirely proper in all things. Lord Alderton could very easily have something that he is attempting to hide.”
In considering this, Jonathan felt his mind heavily burdened. He had always disliked Lord Alderton but had told himself that it was simply because of how close he was becoming with Lady Cassandra. Fighting against his feelings, he had also fought against any consideration that Lord Alderton might not be as he appeared.
“There is another thing in what I am suggesting,” Lord Knoxbridge continued quietly. “Lord Alderton might very well be a gentleman by appearance but still carry malevolence in his heart – and if he desires Lady Cassandra for himself, for whatever reason, he might have seen in you whatIhave witnessed also… and want to put an end to it.”
Jonathan swallowed hard and took a sip from his glass rather than respond. There was something in what Lord Knoxbridge was suggesting, something he had never allowed himself to think on. He had always assumed that Lord Alderton had been trying to protect Lady Cassandra, but what if his assumptions had been wrong? What if there was something darker there, something which might pull Lady Cassandra into a depth of shadow should her close connection to Lord Alderton continue?
A long breath escaped him as he rubbed one hand over his face.
“What am I to do?”
Lord Knoxbridge let out a snort.
“Must I truly aid you in this also?” Taking Jonathan’s silence as proof of this, he waved one hand in a furious fashion. “You are friends with Lady Yardley, are you not?” The short, sharp words evidenced his frustration that Jonathan had not thought of this resolution himself. “Why do you not consider using ‘The London Ledger’?”
“In what way?”
“First of all, in attempting to find the owner of the diamond bracelet.” Lord Knoxbridge finished his whisky, set the glass on the table beside him, then leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and fixed Jonathan with a hard gaze. “I do not know why we have not thought of this before. You should use ‘The London Ledger’ to state that this bracelet has been discovered and that you seek the rightful owner. I am sure that you will be able to use the Ledger to find the truth about Lord Alderton’s motivations also.” Chuckling quietly, Lord Knoxbridge shook his head. “Though do not ask me what it is you should do inthatregard, for I have no particular idea. But the Ledger has proven useful and I am sure it will do so again.”
Taking a deeper breath, Jonathan pushed himself to his feet, a determination beginning to flood him.
“Yes, you are right – although if I state that I have the bracelet, then Lord Alderton will be able to say it is because I am a thief and I have only decided to return it because I was discovered.”
“Or you could ask Lady Cassandra to put her name to it.” With a shake of his head, Lord Knoxbridge smiled. “If you wish for my advice, Sherbourne, it is to tell Cassandra the truth. Tell her everything, and I am sure that she will be more than willing to put her name to such a statement. That way, no one will be able to claim thatsheis a thief – least of all, Lord Alderton.” The idea was a wise one, but the thought of speaking so openly to Lady Cassandra sent a spiral of worry into Jonathan’s heart. No doubt, in speaking of that, it would then lead to him telling her the truth about his own feelings. “And pray do not look so afraid about what you must tell her.” Lord Knoxbridge chuckled, gesturing to the footman with one hand for another whisky and with the other, waving Jonathan away. “To see you struggle with your feelings for Lady Cassandra has been most tiresome, so I am hopeful that this will bring it to an end.”
Snorting, Jonathan shot his friend a wry smile.
“Thank you, Knoxbridge. You have been very helpful”.
“But of course.” Sitting back in his chair, Lord Knoxbridge grinned. “You do not realize how glad I am to know thatIshall never find myself in such difficulty over a young lady.”
“I would not be certain of that.”
Jonathan chuckled at Lord Knoxbridge’s shudder, waved a hand, and then walked from White’s, filled with a strengthening determination as he turned himself in the direction of Lady Yardley’s townhouse.
Chapter Fourteen
Walking directly into the drawing room, his heart pounding as he thought about what he wanted to say to Lady Cassandra, Jonathan was suddenly accosted by a tumble of arms and legs. The arms clasped themselves around him so tightly that for a moment, he could not breathe. It was only after a few moments that he realized it was none other than Lady Cassandra who held him so.
