Leonie and Stella made their way around the edge of the ballroom until they found a vacant sofa. For Stella’s sake, Leonie tried hard to be lighthearted, but it was quite difficult when she felt the very opposite, and she knew that the girl wasn’t deceived by the pretense. “I’m sorry, Stella, I’m spoiling your first ball for you.”
“No, you’re not,” replied the girl quickly. “You’re not spoiling anything. It will be all right, honestly it will.”
“You said that before.”
“But this time it’s true,” was the mysterious reply.
Leonie looked quickly at her, but at that moment the master of ceremonies’ staff rapped importantly and he made an announcement which brought the ball to a standstill.
“The Duke and Duchess of Thornbury, and the dowager Duchess of Thornbury.”
There was a buzz of astonishment as all eyes went to the three people at the top of the marble steps. Rupert wore a blue coat with flat brass buttons, and white breeches with silver buckles, the accepted clothes of a bridegroom. Beside him, looking very happy indeed, stood his diminutive mother, resplendent in primrose brocade. On his other side, her hand placed a little possessively through his arm, was Marguerite St. Julienne, looking as dreadful as ever in mauve satin. It was toward her left hand that all eyes were drawn, for there, displayed for all to see, was a wedding ring.
A babble of conversation broke out as they descended the steps to be greeted and congratulated by Imogen. On the floor, Edward and Nadia had immediately stopped dancing. Nadia glanced briefly at the new arrivals, a cold anger passing fleetingly through her as she remembered Rupert’s deceit and the way he had made love to her on the last occasion they were together, but then she turned with a smile toward Edward, who was all that mattered now. Her smile faded at the pale fury she saw written on his face.
“Edward? Whatever is it?”
“He’s tricked me,” he breathed, his gaze not moving from Rupert’s smiling face.
“Tricked you? I don’t understand. You told me he was going to marry her, and now he has, so why do you—?”
His cold eyes swung to her puzzled face then. “You fool, you still don’t realize, do you? You thought you were using him and then me, but we were using you.”
She flinched a little, her fan snapping open then and wafting swiftly to and fro before her hot face. Alarm was spreading through her, but she still didn’t understand. “How has he tricked you?” she demanded, her green eyes meeting his.
“Because I thought he intended marrying you. I thought I was lying when I told you he was marrying the Jamaican.”
She stared at him. “You thought….” Her voice died away. “You aren’t going to marry me, are you?”
He gave a mirthless laugh. “I’m amazed that you ever believed I would. Women like you are two a penny, my dear, and I don’t want soiled goods when I marry.”
Hot color sprang to her cheeks then and she dealt him a furious blow to the face, leaving a stinging mark on his pale skin. He put his hand slowly to touch the place where she had struck him, but then he merely bowed to her and turned to walk away, pushing his way through the guests who had all turned with interest from the group by the steps to watch this other disturbance instead.
Nadia stood where she was, waves of dismay and humiliation sweeping over her. She turned desperately, seeking Dorothea’s eyes, but Dorothea turned deliberately away. With a cry, Nadia gathered her skirts and fled, and the crowd parted before her, watching as she hurried up the steps and out of the ballroom.
Edward made his way toward the steps as well, but Rupert saw him and moved into his path. “I trust you aren’t leaving without congratulating me.”
“Go to hell.”
Rupert grinned. “Come now, I do hate a poor loser. You’ve always thought me the fool, Longhurst, but this time the dunce’s cap is yours. I didn’t say I was going to marry Nadia,
you
presumed that I was referring to her. You thought it definite when I didn’t deny it on being questioned, but if you think very carefully, you’ll remember that I didn’t admit it either, I was at my ambiguous best. You thought that by stealing Nadia you’d defeat me, but you were wrong, for I never had any intention of marrying her, and if you’d checked very carefully among the bets that were being made, you’d have known it. I told you that I’d had a large wager made secretly on your behalf, and so I have, but it is that I would marry Marguerite today, not Nadia. That very secret wager is already becoming painfully public, I’ve seen to that. Society doesn’t like a sharp, Longhurst, and you’re going to appear a prime one indeed, double dealing to the disadvantage of your friends to fill your already bulging pockets. There’s no excuse for that. They’ll think you’ve deliberately misled them twice, and that’s not playing the game. All’s fair in love and war, but the same doesn’t go for cheating on one’s friends. Every door of consequence is going to be closed to you.” He smiled and stepped out of Edward’s path. “I bid you good night. I do trust you will enjoy the remainder of the ball as it will be the last social occasion of any importance you’ll be attending for some time.”
Edward’s eyes were like flint. “Be on your guard from this moment on, Thornbury. I’ll make you pay, of that you may be sure.”
For a moment Rupert’s smile faltered, for there was something in the other’s gaze which instilled a deep cold in him. He turned quickly away, returning to his new bride and his mother.
Edward went slowly on up the steps, pausing at the top to look back at the ball; then he went on out, beckoning to a footman who stood near the staircase. “Have my carriage made ready, I shall be leaving soon.”
“Very well, my lord.”
At that moment the main door of the house closed, and looking down into the entrance hall, Edward saw that Guy had at last returned.
Guy came slowly up the staircase, pausing as he saw Edward. “I can think of other faces I’d rather see than yours, Longhurst.”
“To be sure, I feel more or less the same myself, de Lacey, but on this occasion I rather think it is as well that you’ve seen me first, and not, shall we say, a certain pretty schoolteacher?”
Guy’s eyes darkened. “And what do you mean by that?”
“Mean? My dear fellow, I don’t know what you think I’m insinuating, but the truth is that I’ve discovered the lady to be a thief, and I rather think you will have to agree, when you see the proof.”
Guy looked at him for a long moment, “I warn you, Longhurst,” he said softly, ‘Tm in no mood for—”
“She’s a thief, de Lacey, and Imogen and I can prove it.”
“Imogen?”
“She has seen the proof.”
Guy took a deep breath. “I don’t believe Leonie Conyngham is a thief, Longhurst, and I don’t really care if you and Imogen have proof ten times over.”
“You’re touchingly trusting, dear fellow, but if you will leave keys lying around after you’ve shown penniless schoolteachers where you keep your mother’s jewels, I rather think you’re asking for trouble.”
Guy’s eyes narrowed then. “And what would you know of it?”
“I saw her go into the library, pick up the key from the table, and open the cupboard. She took out the earrings which match the necklace she’s wearing tonight, and she hid them in the candelabrum in her bedroom. If you don’t believe me, I suggest you go and look for yourself.”
“Where’s Imogen now?”
“Receiving your guests for you.”
“No, I’m not,” came Imogen’s voice from the entrance of the ballroom. The satin spots of her gown shimmering, she hurried toward Guy, linking her slender arms around his neck and stretching up to kiss him.
He drew back slowly but firmly. “I wish to speak with you in private,” he said.
Edward stepped quickly forward. “De Lacey, I suggest that this other business is too important to delay. You have many guests here tonight, the house is filled with valuable jewelry and so on, and I hardly think it wise to ignore the fact that there is a thief among us.”
Imogen took the cue. “He’s right, Guy, she has to be removed, and as quickly as possible.”
“I would prefer to speak to you first.”
“No!” she replied angrily. “I insist that you throw Leonie Conyngham out of this house!”
Guy looked at her for a long moment and then at Edward. “
If
she is a thief, I will deal with the matter in my own way.”
“I demand—” began Imogen furiously.
“You aren’t in any position to demand yet, madam!” he snapped.
She recoiled as if he’d struck her, and she looked with alarm at Edward, who gave her a barely perceptible shrug.
Guy turned wearily to the nearest footman. “Have Miss Conyngham come to see me immediately.”
“Yes, Sir Guy.”
“Imogen, I suggest you and your brother wait elsewhere.”
Edward inclined his head coolly. “We’ll wait outside her apartment, for that is where you will find the proof, de Lacey.” Taking Imogen’s cold hand, he drew it through his arm and they moved away.
Guy leaned his hands on a console table, his head bowed. A nerve flickered at his temple, but beyond that he didn’t move. It seemed an age before at last he heard the rustle of Leonie’s skirts. He turned quickly then, to see that Stella had come out with her.
“Stella, I would prefer you to go back to the ball,” he said.
“No, Uncle Guy, because I know what they’ve told you. I’ve been waiting for you to come home so I could tell you what they’ve been doing. I didn’t tell Leonie because I knew how upset she’d be.”
Leonie stared at her. “What are you talking about, Stella?”
Guy nodded as well. “Yes, young lady, I think you should explain.”
Stella took a deep breath. “I heard Edward and Imogen plotting this morning. I was listening in the next room and they almost caught me. Edward saw you and Leonie in the library, Uncle Guy, and he saw that you’d left the key on the table. He took some earrings and then he and Imogen hid them in a candelabrum in Leonie’s bedroom while she was out walking. I saw them through a crack in the door, and when they’d gone I took the earrings out again. Here they are.” She went to him and pressed them into his hand. The diamonds flashed and winked in the soft light.
Stella looked anxiously at him. “You do believe me, don’t you? Leonie isn’t a thief, Edward and Imogen did it all. I’m not fibbing because I don’t like Imogen, truly I’m not.”
Guy smiled, ruffling her hair. “I believe you.”
She turned gladly to Leonie. “There, I told you it would be all right, didn’t I? Now will you believe me?”
“Stella,” said Guy, “you’ve helped a great deal, but now I want you to go back to the bail.”
“Oh, Uncle Guy!”
“Please, for I would rather you were out of the way for the time being.”
“I want to see what happens.”
“I’m sure you do, but you’re not going to. Now, then, will you go back, please?”
She sighed. “I suppose so, but it isn’t fair.”
They watched her walk slowly back into the ballroom, and then Guy turned to Leonie. “I’ve been thinking a great deal today, Leonie.”
“Guy—”
“No more talk of wrong, Leonie, for I’m about to do what’s right. There is something I have to do now, but afterward I must speak with you. Will you wait in the library?” He put his hand gently to her cheek. “Please do as I ask.”
She nodded. “I will wait there for you.” His fingers seemed to burn against her skin.
* * *
It was very quiet in the library, which was one of the few rooms in the house not bright with lights. Only firelight flickered over the shelves of books, the gallery, and the spiral staircase.
How long she had been waiting, she didn’t know, but it seemed a very long time. She could hear the sound of the ball echoing through the house, but then, quite suddenly, everything was silent. Several more minutes passed, and then she heard cheers, after which the ball proceeded as before.
A carriage was brought to the front of the house and she looked out to see Edward Longhurst hurriedly entering it. It drove away at speed, and as she watched, she saw another carriage coming toward the house. It too was being driven swiftly, its panels travel-stained and its horses tired. It came to a standstill before the house, but she heard the library door opening behind her and she turned away before she saw who alighted.
Guy had come to her at last. He wore his evening attire now, almost as if he’d been at the ball throughout the evening. He took her hand, drawing it palm uppermost to his lips, and then he pulled her into his arms, kissing her on the lips.
She drew breathlessly back, staring up at him. It couldn’t be happening, it couldn’t….
He smiled at her. “It’s no longer wrong, Leonie,” he said softly, “for I am no longer going to marry Imogen. All thought of the match has been dropped. No, don’t say anything, for I have so much to explain to you. I’ve ended the match with Imogen not only because of what she tried to do tonight but also because I no longer love her. Neither she nor her brother denied what they had done with the earrings, and I ordered Edward to leave Poyntons immediately. I could not deal so harshly with Imogen, for although she is guilty of a great deal, I cannot with all honesty say that my own conscience is clear.”
“Your conscience? But surely—”
“Oh, I haven’t schemed and plotted, at least not in the same way. I have done things I shouldn’t, though, and if I wasn’t unfaithful to her in fact, I was a thousand times over in my thoughts after meeting you. That was why I spared her tonight, and why everyone at the ball was told only that she and I had come to a mutual agreement not to proceed with the betrothal. If you noticed a silence a little earlier, it was when she and I were making our announcement. It was greeted with a little initial astonishment, but they were all more than glad to toast our good sense with my best champagne, I assure you.”
“Where is Imogen now?”
“At the ball.”
“She loves you, Guy.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t think she is capable of real love, not the sort of love which will make sacrifices.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You would have left here in the morning, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I could not have borne it without you. I’ve been selfish, I’ve wanted to be with you, I’ve been jealous, I’ve been all manner of things, but I haven’t been honest. I’ve known for some time that I was falling in love with you. I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t. This morning I at last gave in to temptation, a temptation which has been there since the first moment I saw you. If I hadn’t known before that you loved me, I certainly knew then. If only you’d looked into my eyes, you’d have seen how I felt about you.”