Tomorrow's Treasure (45 page)

Lady Brewster's letter would not help—in fact it would likely discourage Heyden. She did not think even he knew its contents. Rogan had been quite closed about the matter.

“You do not know how your words lighten my burden, Mr. van Buren.”

“Heyden, please.”

“I thought I was the only one who believed in my mother's innocence. I think the charge is incredible. She was a Christian missionary.”

His golden brow went up. “A missionary?”

“Yes, of course, at Rorke's Drift. Why she would even be at Cape House makes little sense to me. I told Rogan so, but he insisted my
mother was there that night. But I cannot imagine she would know Master Henry. So this supposed betrayal makes no sense. Unless—Yes, it is quite possible that my mother was at Cape House that night for some Christian purpose. A duty to perform, no doubt. I intend to find out someday.”

She looked at Heyden and was startled at his intense regard. “I see … I believe you are in … some confusion about your mother, Miss Varley. We do need to talk. But now is not the right moment. When can we meet again? Alone?”

“I can meet you at Regents Park the first Saturday in December.”

“Yes, very fine.”

That Heyden understood her dilemma was tremendously reassuring. At last she had an ally.

“Tell me if I am out of line, Miss Varley, but witnessing that startling scene in the Rookswood library has troubled me on more than one occasion recently. May I ask what Rogan Chantry may have told you about the theft of Sir Julien's prized diamond?”

“Only what I just mentioned, that Sir Julien no longer believes it was his stepbrother Henry who arranged the theft, but my mother.”

He was thoughtful again. “Do you mind telling me what was in the letter that made you want to throw it into the fireplace?”

She wondered how much to tell him, and yet why should she not trust him? He believed her mother innocent, when Rogan did not.

“Then Rogan did not explain?” She was opting for time to think.

“Rogan Chantry is a most secretive young man.”

“It was an old letter from Lady Brewster apologizing to Henry Chantry for accusing him of stealing the diamond. She blamed my mother.”

“Then … Rogan believes your mother was a missionary.”

She blinked. What an odd thing to say. “Yes, of course he does.”

In the thoughtful silence that followed, Evy came suddenly alert.
Arcilla
…

She turned from the showcase and glanced about the chamber, her
heart plummeting. Arcilla was nowhere to be seen. Evy wasn't even sure which direction she had gone to meet Charles Bancroft.

Several couples entered the chamber, talking and laughing quietly. Evy's gaze rested on them, and suddenly she found herself confronting Rogan and Miss Patricia Bancroft.

Rogan was obviously surprised to see Evy—and when his fervent dark gaze found Heyden, Evy was sure he was displeased.

She assumed those with him were several of his university friends, along with the typically pretty aristocratic young ladies who would be dining with them after the diamond show. Why didn't Arcilla mention that Rogan would be here this afternoon with Patricia?

Evy hated to admit it, but Rogan and Miss Patricia made a handsome couple. Suddenly she felt herself a sparrow among peacocks—she hadn't dressed formally at all. She turned away as though to look down at the blue diamond Heyden had been pointing out to her just moments before.

Evy looked over to the clock. Arcilla said she would take less than thirty minutes. Her time was up. What on earth was delaying dear Arcilla? She endured a moment during which she wanted to turn and leave the museum at once and take a cab back to Parkridge Music School. She should have known better than to trust a Chantry!
She has left me here to make excuses during her absence, but this time it won't work.

Heyden was watching her, and she tried to focus on what he was saying. “I understand you study piano at a notable music school. You must play quite well.”

She managed a smile. “There are times when I wonder if I truly play at all. I shall have my concert solo in the first week of December. If I merit even a nod of approval from Madame Ardelle, I shall be delighted. It is very grueling.”

“I can well imagine. I admire such determination. I have always wanted to play, but lacked the discipline to do it well. A public performance, is it? Then I should like very much to come and hear you.”

Pleasure filled her at the thought. He was a most agreeable man.
The concert, she told him, would be held on a Saturday evening near the end of the term before the school breaks for Christmas and New Year's holidays.

“I shall make a note of the date and be in attendance.”

“Am I missing out on something? Sounds like a party?”

Heyden turned to face Rogan. “Hello! Quite a display, is it not?”

He inclined his head, but his gaze was on Evy, not Heyden. “Quite. Only the Black Diamond is missing. I see Sir Julien's Blue is here. Stunning, isn't it?”

At the mention of the Black Diamond, Heyden fell silent. Evy tensed. Rogan must have known speaking of it would make the moment uncomfortable.

Rogan gave Evy a tenuous smile. “What a pleasant surprise. Where is Arcilla?” He glanced about.

“Arcilla?” Evy gripped her hands together. “She could, in fact, be anywhere by now.”

Rogan was regarding her carefully. She could tell he suspected she was hiding something. Oh, a plague on Arcilla for putting her in such an awkward position!

If Heyden had not been there, Evy would have mentioned Arcilla's desire to see Charles. But family matters between brother and sister over a future marriage should be kept in a tight circle. Her inability to explain to Rogan left her no choice but to give an illusive answer. “She was right here with us when we came in.” Evy cast what she hoped was a casual glance about the chamber. She saw Patricia talking with the friends they had arrived with earlier. She avoided Rogan's gaze and was relieved when Heyden, who saw nothing unusual about Arcilla's behavior, or perhaps did not care, went back to discussing diamonds.

“Sir Julien's Blue is attracting attention from the world markets,” he told Rogan, “including the Vatican, but there's doubt Sir Julien will sell. Some suggest he's growing sentimental.”

“About the Blue?” Rogan's smile was almost derisive. “It is not sentimentality that holds back the sale, but what Julien considers weak bidding. If the offer were high enough, he would sell in an instant. No,
there is no sentiment lurking in my uncle's cool mind, unless it's over the loss of the Kimberly Black.”

Evy frowned. Was Rogan baiting Heyden? She wanted to tell him that Heyden did not believe her mother was guilty, but decided against it. Besides, Rogan had not been looking at her when he mentioned the Black, but at Heyden.

Heyden turned a smile Evy's way and reached out to take her hand. “Miss Evy was telling me of her piano concert to be held in December.”

Rogan lifted one rakish, dark brow. “How interesting. You invited Heyden to your performance?”

Oh, this was insufferable! “Well, yes … anyone is welcome. It is to be near the end of the term.”

“But a solo concert nevertheless.” He smiled. “I am sure I will find it of interest as well.”

Heyden was looking across the chamber. “I see an old friend from the Angola diamond mines. He called and told me he'd be here. I worked for him some years ago. That was when I foolishly thought Angola diamonds were superior in color and clarity to South African.” With that, Heyden walked across the museum chamber past several intimidating looking guards.

A man had entered the chamber and now stood by the door. Evy saw that he was very heavy, and in his fifties with a smallish, egg-shaped head. His warm-weather white Panama suit and wide-brimmed hat were most inappropriate for the setting.

Rogan, too, regarded him with mild interest. As the man and Heyden walked to one of the glassed-in security tables to look at the glittering array of stones, Rogan turned toward Evy.

“Who is he?” she asked. “The heavy man in the Panama suit?”

“One of the Boer officials from the Transvaal Republic. One of Paul Kruger's right-hand men. They came to see Her Majesty's Prime Minister to avert war. And now—where
is
that foolish sister of mine?” His gaze locked with hers. “With Charles?”

He knew. “You are wrong if you think I came here to help arrange her rendezvous.”

“Then it is Charles?”

“Yes. I knew nothing of the museum showing until I was already in the cab with her. She asked that I meet her at Regents Park, and once I was in the cab she pleaded for me to come with her. She was upset over the family decision to have her marry Peter Bartley.”

“Then she told you? I thought she might. Where does Heyden come into this?”

Evy cocked her head. “Why should you think he does?”

“Because he wanted to see you, and I warned him to stay away. He used Arcilla to bring you here so he could talk to you. What did he tell you?”

Her brows lifted.
“He
happens to believe my mother is innocent. He found out Master Henry betrayed my mother that night and ran off with the Black Diamond. Jendaya, the Zulu woman, told him so. He thinks Lady Brewster was quite wrong to have absolved Master Henry of guilt in the matter, all of which is very reassuring concerning my parents. Why then should I not want to talk with him?”

“Because he is more trouble than you are ready to handle.” Rogan's gaze was as hard as his tone. “I'm asking you to stay away from him, Evy. At least until I have more time to look into the matters he's told me about.”

“Then … he did tell you my mother was innocent?”

A look she had never seen before crossed his face. “Let us simply say he told me about your mother. The information he wishes to drop at your feet is not what you are expecting.” Was he worried? He certainly sounded so. “I don't think you are ready to hear it yet. Stay away from him. The van Burens hate my family for a number of reasons I cannot get into now. Heyden will do anything to ruin us. He cannot be trusted.”

She watched him, troubled, uncertain … yet unable to promise what he wished of her.

“Do you know why he is here in London?”

She looked to where Heyden stood talking with the heavyset man. “No, though he said wanted to talk with me.”

“That's not all of it. As a Boer, he despises the British. He actually wants war. We consider him a serious troublemaker, trying to urge Paul Kruger to throw down an ultimatum to the British Government to get out of the Transvaal.”

“I know little about the conflict,” she admitted. Her interest in Heyden van Buren had to do with her parents, and Rogan knew it.

“This is the first time you've talked with him?”

“Yes. I have not seen him before except in the—” She caught herself before mentioning that debacle in the library, but it was too late.

He smiled, his eyes scanning her face briefly. “Ah yes … the library.” The words came out in a deep, caressing rumble. “A fond memory indeed.”

“I really must be going now.” She turned to survey the room. “There is nothing I can do about finding Arcilla. I'm sorry it turned out this way. Sorrier still that she drew me here to enable her to escape more easily.”

“Please accept my apology for her. We both know Arcilla well enough to understand her. But as long as she is with Charles, I won't worry unduly. I merely wish she had used her head and refrained while Bartley is visiting. He expected to meet her here tonight, and from the hound dog look on his face, his pride has been injured.”

Evy could not help but smile.

“There is no telling when she will return,” Rogan said. “I suppose she's gone off in Charles's carriage. Well then, you will need a ride back to Parkridge. I'll call you a cab.”

“There is no need. I can arrange it myself, thank you.”

His smile was broad. “I would not
think
of allowing you to go off alone. If I concern myself with Arcilla, I also feel some obligation toward you. After all,” he said silkily, “you would not have gotten into this if it hadn't been for her conniving. I'll get you a cab.”

“I am not helpless, Rogan. I have done my own arranging many times. I shall be quite safe.”

He ignored her completely, falling into step with her as she headed for the door. The man was inexorable, and she could only wonder why.
Unless … She restrained a small smile. Perhaps his insistence had something to do with a vague notion that Heyden might feel obligated to bring her back to Parkridge.

True to his word, Rogan hailed a cab, rather imperiously, she thought, and handed her into the seat. “I shall let you know about Arcilla.” He lifted her hand to his lips, and the contact sent shivers running through her. “Au revoir.”

She sank back against the seat cushion, grateful to be free from the many layers of tension she'd just encountered. As she ran through the conversations in her mind, she felt her resolve grow.

She would talk with Heyden again and hear what he had to say. No matter what Rogan Chantry thought.