A flood of warmth pushed its way into Joy’s heart as she heard one or two quiet exclamations from the other wallflowers. Soon, Lord Yarmouth was signing his name to every dance card he was given, though Joy kept herself back, waiting until the last and not wanting to push herself forward. Surprised at the faint hint of jealousy curling through her like smoke, she turned her head away and looked out across the ballroom. There was no need for her to feel anything of the sort, she told herself sternly, for though Lord Yarmouth was introduced and acquainted withher, it would be good for each one of her friends to have at least one dance filled on their dance card.
“And last we come to you, Miss Bosworth.” Lord Yarmouth smiled warmly and reached out one hand. “Might I take your dance card also?”
“But of course. Thank you.” She smiled at him when he took the card from her. “And thank you for doing this. I do not think I can truly express to you how much this will mean to everyone.”
Lord Yarmouth said nothing, writing his name down on her dance card and then handing it back to her.
“The country dance?”
“Thank you.”
Joy smiled and slipped the dance card back on her wrist, ignoring the slight twinge of disappointment that she was not to dance the waltz. Having expected Lord Yarmouth to move away once he had finished speaking with her, Joy was a little surprisedwhen he lingered, his hands clasping behind his back and a slight smile on his face.
“I did not ask you where you found my ring.”
“I beg your pardon?”
The smile on Lord Yarmouth’s face dropped.
“When you returned my ring to me, I was so overcome with delight and astonishment that I did not ask you where you discovered it.”
“Oh.” Joy tipped her head a fraction, studying his face, taking in the lines that had formed across his forehead as the light in her heart slowly turned to shadow. “I do hope, Lord Yarmouth, that you are not suggesting that Istoleit?”
Lord Yarmouth paused, then shook his head.
“No, I–”
The pause before he had spoken made Joy’s heart explode with a sudden, fierce anger that burned right through her, tearing at her very soul. How dare he think that she was responsible for it?
“I found it on the floor of the ballroom and, in full view of everyone, stopped to pick it up,” she began, fiercely, stepping closer and pointing one finger at his chest, all the while glaring up at him. “My friends can attest to it. It is only good fortune that had me realize that it belonged to you. How you can stand there and suggest that I took it from you without you knowing is–”
“I was not going to say that you stole it.”
Lord Yarmouth reached up and took her hand in his and such was the shock of his action, Joy fell quite silent. The warmth of his fingers pressing hers sent gentle ripples up her arm until she felt her anger begin to quieten, begin to press down, and pull away from her heart.
“I did not ever think that you had stolen it,” he said again, albeit all the more gently. “It was only to say that there was a concern in my heart thatsomeonehad attempted to take it fromme, though I then stopped myself, realizing that such an idea is quite preposterous!”
Joy blinked, flames beginning to burn up her chest and into her face.
“I – I am sorry.”
Lord Yarmouth chuckled and let go of her hand, though Joy instantly wanted to reach out and take his hand again.
“I do not get angry easily, Miss Bosworth, and I can see how my hesitation might have given you cause to think that I was saying something of you, but I can assure you, I was doing no such thing.”
Feeling herself rather small, as if sinking into the floor, Joy closed her eyes briefly and then took in a deep breath.
“I ought not to have spoken so quickly, Lord Yarmouth. Forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” he told her, quickly. “It is a strange circumstance, that is all.”
“In what way?”
Her embarrassment fading, she looked back at him carefully, watching how his expression changed as he spoke. His eyebrows dropped low, his hands fell back to his sides, and he shook his head, a sigh eliciting from his mouth.
“My talisman ring is an expensive item. I believe the diamond alone is worth a great deal. My father handed it down to me as one of our family heirlooms, and I have kept it safe and secure as best I can – though it does not appear that I have done so on this occasion, I admit!” His smile tipped his lips and he looked away. “I wear it on occasion and have delighted in it, I confess, but it is not a ring that can simply slip from my finger. It does not take a great deal of difficulty to remove it, however, but it has never once fallen from my hand before now.”
“And thus, you believe that someone took it from you? How could they do so?”
