“There is another consideration.” Aware that she had interrupted him, Joy stopped, turning to face him, her hand sliding from his arm. “Forgive me. What was it you were saying?”
He smiled at her.
“Nothing that cannot wait. What were you thinking of?”
Joy hesitated, letting her thoughts come into complete clarity before she began to explain.
“There is another explanation, as I have said, one which does not require there to be some ill will or desire to steal.”
“Oh?”
Her shoulders lifted.
“It could have been an accident.”
Lord Yarmouth frowned.
“An accident?”
“Yes, an accident.” Aware that he was frowning, Joy paused again but then permitted herself to speak openly. After all, she had always done so, and simply because she was in Lord Yarmouth’s presence did not mean that she ought to stop herself now. “A glove might have caught on the diamond and pulled the ring from your hand. When it is hot – as it always is during dancing – then it is more than likely that the ring simply slipped off. I am not certain I would seek to put the blame on anyone specific, or even start questioning which young lady you had danced with on one particular night!”
A sigh broke from Lord Yarmouth’s lips.
“Yes, I suppose that is a wise consideration.” Making himself smile, he spread out his hands. “But all the same, it was good to see that itcouldhave happened that way. Though I think that your considerations are more than likely what took place.”
“Thank you, I appreciate your willingness to listen to me.” Joy smiled at him and when he let his gaze linger, when he smiled back at her, her heart filled with a gentle warmth that did not fade with any swiftness. “I – I suppose I should go back to my friends now.”
“We shall dance again, I hope?” Without warning, Lord Yarmouth reached out and took her hand, his eyes searching her face. “Even if you are a wallflower, as you say, I do not see any need to hide yourself away. Besides which, I very much enjoyed our dance, as I did with all of your friends also.”
This last sentence stole away the joy which had been building in Joy’s heart. With a nod and a smile, she stepped away and made her way back across the room to where the other wallflowers were standing. No longer standing in the dark, swathed in shadow, they all watched her return and Joy forced a smile she did not feel onto her lips. For whatever reason, LordYarmouth’s remarks that he had enjoyed each and every dance with Joy’s friends was burning a hole in her heart – and despite telling herself that she should be nothing more than delighted that he had danced with all of them, all Joy could feel was a burning jealousy, which grew hotter with ever second which passed.
Chapter Eight
Henry tilted his head, turning his father’s ring over and over in his fingers, his forehead knotted, and his mind filled with questions – none of which he could answer immediately.
Was Miss Bosworth correct? Had the loss of his ring been a mere mistake? Or had there been a deliberate attempt to take it from him?
I do not know why someone would do that… aside from the obvious monetary value.
Pursing his lips, Henry rubbed one hand across his forehead and set the ring to one side of his desk. It was a family heirloom, so who would be trying to take it from him?
A knock at the door had his thoughts pushed to one side as he called for his butler to enter.
“Yes, Lawson? What is it?”
The butler came forward, handing a card to Henry.
“My Lord, you have a visitor. He claims to be your cousin.”
“My cousin?” Henry frowned, rising to his feet. “He has come to call?”
“Yes, that is so. A Mr. Brackwell, I believe.”
A sudden memory came back to him, and Henry nodded.
“Yes, Simon Brackwell. I remember him.” Pushing his chair back, he came around from his desk. “I will go to the parlor - please have him shown there.”
The butler nodded and stepped out of the room, leaving Henry to hurry after him, so that he might make his way to the parlor before his visitor – but he did pause to turn the key in the door of his study and then set the key in his pocket. At the moment, that heirloom was much too precious to be lost again, and Henry did not want to leave it in an unlocked room, even though there was no one nearby who might take it.
