After several hoursof combing through the parish records, Ruarke knew there was no more information to be found in them. He rose and held out a hand to Heather. “We had better return to MacArran Grange or they’ll be sending out a search party for us.”
She nodded. “Your aunt will be screaming for me, no doubt.”
“Let her scream. Your days in service to her are over. I’ll move you into one of my guest quarters. In fact, I ought to put you beside me in the duchess suite of rooms.”
“No.” Her cheeks immediately turned a bright pink. “We are not yet married.”
He sighed. “An oversight I hope to remedy, perhaps as early as tomorrow if you will allow it. I have no intention of waiting the month until the banns are read.”
It was midday by the time they arrived back at the Grange. Ruarke’s guests were milling about the dining room, eager for their next meal. “My apologies for keeping you waiting. Miss Alwyn and I—”
“The indecency!” His aunt barged forward like a bull. “Miss Alwyn, you are discharged. Pack up your things and leave at once.”
“Miss Alwyn, don’t you dare take a step,” Ruarke shot back. “As for you, Aunt Lydia, since when is going to church to arrange for banns to be read indecent?”
“Church? Banns?”
“That’s right. Be quiet, or you shall be the one sent packing. I had hoped to do this more gracefully, but it seems there is no point. Miss Alwyn and I are betrothed.”
“What?” His cousin chuckled heartily and came forward to embrace him and then Heather. “Well done, Miss Alwyn. I was beginning to despair he would ever marry. Seems love is in the air, and now I might have to follow suit.”
Ruarke grinned. “You are welcome to do so, Hereford. We just left the vicarage. In fact, my curricle remains at the ready should you have a mind to ride over. The vicar will be delighted to accommodate you.”
His cousin turned to grin at a blushing Lady Sylvia. “That is good to know.”
Several guests now came forward to congratulate Ruarke and Heather. Some appeared disappointed, but his aunt’s look was venomous. “Why you scheming little—” She immediately broke off, no doubt realizing Heather would soon be his wife and hold sway over his purse strings. “Well, it is a shock,” she stammered, now reconsidering and hastily attempting to make amends. “Of course, you shall be welcome into our family if this is my nephew’s wish.”
However, Miss Barclay was not so quick to embrace Heather’s good fortune. She stepped forward with a smug expression on her face. “I would not be so quick to welcome her, Lady Audley. You worried she might be a thief, and now I must tell you that my necklace has been stolen.”
Ruarke frowned. “Your necklace?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I saw that it was gone this morning and came looking for you to report it. I noticed Miss Alwyn by my door last night. I had just come up to retire to bed and thought it odd at the time. Now, I must insist her room be searched.”
Heather’s eyes widened. “But I didn’t take it. I would never—”
Ruarke placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Hush, my girl. I know you are no thief.” He summoned his housekeeper. “Mrs. Pool, kindly go up to Miss Alwyn’s room and search for an expensive-looking necklace. I am sure you will find it in an obvious spot. Miss Barclay, would you care to tell me exactly where Mrs. Pool might find it?”
“How would I know?” Miss Barclay asked.
“Because you planted it there. By the time you retired, Miss Alwyn was already in the kitchen attending to the trivial chores my aunt had requested be done last evening. She could not have been anywhere near your bedchamber.”
The spiteful wasp would not back down. “That is an outrageous accusation! I know what I saw!”
“This should be interesting,” Ruarke’s cousin said, following him and Heather into his study along with Miss Barclay and her maiden aunt. Lady Audley followed as well, no doubt considering whose side to take. But since her comfortable style of living was dependent on his good graces, Ruarke expected her to sit quietly and only jump in once the outcome was obvious.
He turned to his other guests and held up a hand to keep them from following him in. “Please help yourself to the lavish repast awaiting you in the dining room. We shall not be long.”
“I insist they stay on and witness Miss Alwyn’s undoing,” Miss Barclay said, her mouth curled in an ugly sneer.
“As you wish.” Ruarke shrugged. “The truth will out.”
Mrs. Pool returned with a locket in hand. “Is this the one? I am so sorry, Miss Alwyn. I know you did not take it. You were downstairs with me all that time. A dozen of His Grace’s servants also saw you with me. You will be cleared of this.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Pool.” Heather emitted a soft cry the moment she saw the necklace in the housekeeper’s outstretched hand, and then turned to Ruarke. “This is the twin of my locket.”
“Hah! Now she is claiming to have one just like it.” Miss Barclay huffed. “But it is mine.”
“Indeed,” her priggish aunt said. “It has been passed down the generations from mother to daughter since Millicent Barclay’s day.”
