“Very well.” Lady Yardley’s voice was quiet, the seriousness of their current situation spreading through the room. “Lord Sherbourne, you say that you only have suspicions at this point. I feel that we must prove this, for Cassandra’s sake.”
“As do I,” Jonathan replied firmly. “I must know whether or not he placed this diamond bracelet in my pocket, and I must find the true owner of it. Therefore, I wondered if I might use ‘The London Ledger’ to place a small advertisement stating that a diamond bracelet has been found.” His head turned, and he looked at Lady Yardley, seeing her eyebrows lift. “I am afraid that if I say that I have it, Lord Alderton will be able to use that as leverage to throw me from society. I do not think that he cares how much I am damaged by what he says. He only wants me away from Lady Cassandra and, I fear, will go to any lengths to achieve that.”
“You may say that I have found it.” Lady Cassandra’s voice was warm and filled with a gentleness which made Jonathan smile with relief. “We could not have thetonthinking such things of you. And while you are writing that, cousin, I have something else which I think I should like you to put in.”
“What is it?”
She smiled.
“I have a plan to force the truth from Lord Alderton’s lips. I wish to do so not only for myself but also for the other young ladies of theton.They must also know of his true character, must they not?”
Jonathan looked at Lady Cassandra for a long moment as she smiled at her cousin, seeing the gentle glow in her eyes, the soft smile on her lips, and the flush which filled her cheeks. Whatever it was that she intended, it was clear now that she found relief in being able to separate herself from Lord Alderton - and that made his own heart sing with a furious hope – a hope, he prayed, which would not remain unfulfilled for too much longer.
Chapter Fifteen
“Good evening, Lord Alderton.”
How much easier it was for her to smile, now that she knew what plan was to be unfolded this evening!
“Good evening, Lady Cassandra.” Lord Alderton smiled, bowed, then took her hand in his. “I am so very glad to see you here this evening. Perhaps we shall have our waltz! You are aware that I am still waiting for that wonderous moment to take place?”
“How is it that in all of our time together, we have not yet managed to waltz?” She tipped her head and let a delicate smile touch her lips. “It seems as though fate is preventing us from standing up together.”
Lord Alderton chuckled.
“Fate be damned, I have made my intentions quite clear, I think, and now intend to write to your father very soon. I will be sorry if he cannot return in time for our betrothal but –”
“Come now, you must sign my dance card before we lose any further time.”
Choosing to ignore Lord Alderton’s talk of betrothal, Cassandra gave him a quick smile and slipped the dance card from her wrist. She had no intention of standing up with him for the waltz, but by that time of the evening, she was convinced that all would be at an end between them.
“Very well, very well.” Lord Alderton chuckled as he took the dance card from her fingers. “It seems that this is to be the very best of evenings!”
A small, twisted smile crossed Cassandra’s lips, but she dropped her head, taking the dance card from him and placing it back upon her wrist, allowing that action to hide her face from his eyes. What she neednotdo was give herself away! It was with relief that she considered what would soon take place, for this evening would prove to her, once and for all, that Lord Alderton was not as he seemed, although he had attempted to cloak himself with a shroud of affection and geniality. If there was more to his character, then there was more to his attachment to her than there appeared.
“In speaking of betrothal, it occurs to me that you have not often spoken of your estate.” She smiled at him as Lord Alderton’s eyebrows lifted. “I have not heard much about it at all. Is it very far from London?”
Lord Alderton shook his head and smiled.
“No, it is not too far. Maybe a day or two’s drive unless the road is particularly difficult. I have had some success with crop rotation these last few years.” Chuckling, he shook his head. “I am sure that such things are not of any interest to you, however.”
“No, indeed, I am always very interested in such matters, particularly if they concern an estate that I am one day to call my own.”
She smiled warmly and took in the flash in Lord Alderton’s eyes. He was the one who had mentioned betrothal, but now thatshespoke of his estate as being her future home, he seemed a little taken aback.
“Yes, yes, of course.”
He shrugged and smiled, his uneasy manner fading while Cassandra’s doubts sprouted to truth. What Lord Alderton had told her, what he had confessed by way of his feelings - she was now sure that none of it was legitimate. He did not mean what he had said. He had never meant the words which he had spoken. No doubt he had said them simply to garner her affections, to make certain that she remained close to him – and after what she had said, the only way to keep her close was for her to believe that he cared for her.
And she might very well have believed it all, might have been convinced by it, had it not been for her thoughts continually turning to Lord Sherbourne… just as they were doing now.
Lord Alderton’s gaze touched on something behind her, and a brief smile followed, though his brows knotted together.
“I shall leave you for the moment.” Heaving a great sigh, he bowed toward her. “No doubt you will have many other gentlemen seeking to write their name upon your dance card, evenifI might disapprove.” Grimacing, he let his gaze fix on hers, his severe look lingering. “However, I look forward to dancing the waltz with you, Lady Cassandra. It will be one of my greatest joys.”
Cassandra fought hard to remain precisely where she was and not look over her shoulder. As much as she wanted to, it would be best for her to keep her expression calm, to smile and nod in return.
“I look forward to it also, Lord Alderton.”
