Lord Yarmouth looked away, his lips pinched but, eventually, he simply shook his head.
“I do not know.”
“It bears your father’s crest, does it not?” Joy asked as Lord Yarmouth nodded. “Could it be that they require that, for some reason? Does Lady Judith-?”
“The only way to know for certain is to go in search of them, demand to know, and have my ring returned to me.” Interrupting her, Lord Yarmouth suddenly stood tall, his eyes flashing across the room, his jaw tight as his fingers laced through hers. “I will not let them take advantage of me – and nor will I permit them to laugh at me for my foolishness in believing that my friendship with Lord Falconer was exactly as it seemed. Come, Miss Bosworth, if you would? I have a question I must ask my friend.”
Joy nodded and with a look at Miss Fairley, stepped away with Lord Yarmouth. Miss Fairley joined them, much to Joy’s relief, glad that her silent appeal had been heard andunderstood. Though Joy very much wished to go with Lord Yarmouth, it would be best to be accompanied by a friend so that she would not be seen in Lord Yarmouth’s company alone. To have her reputation questioned after she had only just managed to improve things between herself and her mother would not be a good idea!
“There is Lady Judith.”
At Miss Fairley’s murmur, Joy stopped and pulled Lord Yarmouth back who, to her mind, had been walking with great purpose through the ballroom but without any real idea of where Lord Falconer was.
“There is Lady Judith,” she murmured, nodding in the lady’s direction. “She is talking with a gentleman and will soon step out to dance, I think.”
“Then I should sign my name to her dance card,” Lord Yarmouth replied, his chin lifting, and his eyes narrowed. “That way, I will be able to ask her–”
“I have an idea as to how we might go about this,” Joy interrupted, silently thinking to herself that, given the expression on Lord Yarmouth’s face, Lady Judith would be suspicious of him the very moment that he stepped closer. “Recall that neither Lady Judith nor Lord Falconer is aware of your suspicions as yet. We must make certain that they continue to be unaware of it.”
Lord Yarmouth frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Joy let his hand go and took a step back, letting her thoughts settle into her mind.
“I think that we should speak with Lord Falconer – though you will have to rid yourself of the anger in your expression – and state that you have discovered something. You must speak of the ring as though you still have it.”
Lord Yarmouth’s frown grew deeper still.
“But I do not.”
“You will say,” Joy continued, quickly, “that the one you were wearing this evening has been taken, much to your frustration, of course, for you were hoping to use it to find the culprit, but that at least you have not lost therealring. No doubt one of them will ask what you mean, and you will say–”
“That I had paste jewelry?” Lord Yarmouth’s frown lifted as he began to understand. “And that the real ring still sits in my study desk back in my townhouse?”
Joy smiled and nodded as Miss Fairley let out a low exclamation of understanding.
“State that you intend to linger here for a little while longer, and might take yourself to White’s thereafter. I do not doubt that Lord Falconer will take himself to your townhouse almost immediately.”
“Because he wants the ring so badly that it cannot be only just out of his reach,” Miss Fairley murmured, as Joy nodded. “And you will confront him there, Lord Yarmouth.”
“And I will speak to Lady Judith the very moment that Lord Falconer has taken his leave. You will have to go quickly after him, to reach your house only a few minutes after his arrival.” Seeing Lord Yarmouth nod slowly, she tilted her head, watching his expression. “What say you?”
Lord Yarmouth looked back at her, caught her hand again, and then lifted it to his lips. The kiss he placed upon it sent tingles up her arm and made Joy’s breath hitch.
“I think it a capital idea,” he murmured, softly. “Thank you. Now.” With a broad smile, he released her hand. “Shall we go and find Lord Falconer?”
“You go to him,” Joy replied, turning her attention to Lady Judith again. “I will wait here and watch Lady Judith, ready to speak to her once I see Lord Falconer depart.”
Lord Yarmouth nodded, his gaze holding hers for a long moment.
“I will return to you, once this matter is at an end,” he promised, the warmth in his tone sending flurries of anticipation into Joy’s frame. “Wait for me.”
She smiled back at him, clasping her hands tightly together in front of her.
“I shall.”
Chapter Eighteen
