Tears danced at the edge of her lashes and she reached out to take his hands in hers.
“Dear Bertie, I was so blind not to see the affection you and Margaret have always had for one another. You will make each other very happy. I know it.”
Caro blinked away the tears of joy before kissing him on the cheek.
“First Edward and Gwen, and now my two best friends in all the world are getting married. This is the most wonderful Christmas ever!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Caro circled the dining table, adding place cards as her mother directed. She mentally tallied up the number of guests invited to dinner.
“Do we know who the extra place is for?” she asked.
“Hmmm?” Her mother looked up over the list. “It’s someone Walter asked to invite. I’m not entirely sure who it is but I have my suspicions.”
Hearing the conspiratorial tone in her mother’s voice, Caro matched it. “Mother... you can’t keep me in suspense.”
Her mother smiled and lowered her voice. “A little while ago, Walter happened to mention a widow he admired.”
“You think he’s considering marrying again?”
“I don’t know and he didn’t say, but he asked to bring a guest and I agreed. It also makes us fourteen – and you know how I dislike thirteen at the table. It’s so unlucky.”
“So where shall we seat this mysterious friend of Uncle Walter’s?”
Estelle Addison cast her eye across the table.
“Seat her... across from you, next to Sir Hubert,” she said.
Caro duly placed the card marked ‘Guest’ into the ornate silver placeholder shaped like a Christmas tree.
After Bertie’s news, Caro had determined the party was going to be especially festive, and even more so now particularly if Uncle Walter was going to introduce his lady friend to the family.
She stood back and looked at the setting. She loved their Christmas table. On the crisp white table cloth stood tall candelabras. The table salts were whimsical silver sleighs pulled by reindeer. The dinner plates were edged in gold and decorated with bright green holly leaves and scarlet red berries around the rim. The matching dinner service had been in the family for years and was only brought out for the festive season.
Beside each place with its silver tree placeholder was one of Tom Smith’s Finest Christmas Crackers, each a different colour and filled with a little silver trinket, an amusing joke and a silly hat. They had become somewhat of a tradition at Christmas Eve dinner.
***
The Gilfroys were the first to arrive. Sir Hubert was as exuberant as ever, his wife less so which Sir Hubert explained was a result of a slight headache. The young woman sat in a darkened corner away from the polyphon which Edward had wound up to play one of the new discs just arrived from Germany, Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht – Silent Night, Holy Night – very appropriate for Christmas.
Caro spoke to all the guests in turn – sharing a joke with Bertie’s father, a little bit of society gossip with Gwen’s mother and Margaret’s mother – all the while watching Margaret and Bertie trying not to make their interest in each other too plain.
Now they were waiting for was Uncle Walter and his guest.
“Do you think Margaret is the only one not to know?” asked Caro softly as she handed Gwen a glass of sherry.
“Oh, I think she knows, or is hopeful at least, but she’d never say anything, certainly not to Bertie and never to us.”
“He showed me the ring,” said Caro and she couldn’t help let a little pride enter her voice. “In fact, I helped him pick it out.”
“You didn’t!” said Gwen. She lowered her voice and might have said more if not for the announcement of another guest.
Caro turned, expecting to greet Uncle Walter and his lady friend but instead came face-to-face with Tobias Black.
Their eyes met and held for a moment before he turned away to accept her father’s hearty hand shake.
“Mr Black, what an unexpected surprise!” said Mr Addison. “I take it you’re our fourteenth. Walter’s running late and he didn’t leave many details, it was very last minute...”
“Do please call me Tobias,” he laughed, “and indeed sir, I suspected that to be the case. It was a last minute invitation to me too. I had planned to leave for Lancashire this afternoon, but Inspector Addison asked me specifically to come, so thank you for making me feel welcome.”
“Not at all, not at all. Caro, will you arrange a drink while I introduce Tobias to the rest of our party?”
From the drinks table, Caro watched Tobias join in the conversation as though he had been lifelong friends with everyone in the room, though she noticed he glanced her way as he said hello again to Edward and Bertie. She went over and handed him his drink – and the smile he gave her as she did so made her feel weak at the knees.
At long last, after answering everyone’s questions about his future plans, the magic show, and being asked to recount once again his brave dash along the ledge of the Longmuir Hotel, he approached her.
“It’s great to see you again, Caro.”
She swore she didn’t mistake the warmth in his voice – or the heat of her own cheeks.
“And you too,” she answered before dropping her voice. “Do you really have no idea why Uncle Walter invited you tonight?”
“I wish I did. I’d like to think it’s my charm and wit, but it’s more likely to be unfinished business.”
“About The Phantom case?”
“Uh-huh. And something about it has been bothering me too.”
“Like what?”
Caro became aware of someone else entering the room.
“Sorry I’m late everyone, official police business,” said Walter, shrugging his shoulders, his apology being explanation enough.
There seemed to be a watchful edge to her uncle tonight as though he were on duty. When she glanced up at Tobias, she saw he wore a slight frown.
“What’s he up to?” he muttered softly, almost to himself it seemed.
The dinner gong sounded.
“Well, whatever it is will have to wait until after dinner,” she said, accepting his arm.
***
When they had finished at table, Caro excused herself and rushed up to her room. They would soon be opening their gifts, mere trifles really – a handkerchief, a box of chocolates, a note book – just a token, but it only seemed right that Tobias receive a gift too.
She pulled out the chartreuse scarf – the one he had discarded all those weeks ago in the pursuit to the station and she had yet to return it to him. She smiled as she wrapped it in a piece of plain brown paper, secured with one of her green hair ribbons. It seemed fitting to return it to him this way – a little misdirection of her own.
By the time she returned down stairs, her father had started distributing gifts. She’d missed the start but saw Uncle Walter with a new tobacco pouch, there was a note book each for herself and Margaret, a stationery set for Gwen.
Caro found Tobias standing by the fire, slightly apart from the group.
“You don’t miss out,” she said, offering the beribboned package. He looked surprised.
“You have to open it now, Black. It’s the family tradition,” Edward called.
Tobias inclined his head and slipped the ribbon off the paper. The look of delight as he recognised his own scarf endeared him to Caro even more.
“What a ghastly colour,” Bertie exclaimed. “Caro, where on earth did you get such a monstrosity?”
The look Tobias shared with her made plain it was her choice to keep its origin a secret or not.
Aware now all eyes were on her, she simply offered an enigmatic smile.
“That is a long story, which will have to wait for another time.”
The clock struck ten, the full sounding gong resonating throughout the house.
Walter cleared his throat to draw everyone’s attention.
“Before we all go on to church tonight, I just
wanted to say a few words. I invited Tobias here tonight, first of all to offer the thanks of the Metropolitan Police for his assistance at not inconsiderable risk to himself,” said Uncle Walter.
Tobias gave a theatrical bow in response to the compliment and the subsequent applause.
“I know,” continued Walter, “you're all very interested in knowing the upshot of our investigation and, because you have also been involved with the case, I'm going to give you an off the record briefing... There are no reporters here, are there?”
Everyone laughed at Walter’s joke.
“We have Caro's fine work in deducing how our thieves entered the jewellery store in the Barrington Arcade. Her observation – and, dare I say it, perseverance – led to our first solid piece of evidence in tying our two acrobats to the crime – the cigar band carelessly discarded in the floor space between the solicitor's office and the jewellery store.
“We traced the cigars back to Lord Howarth who reported them stolen a few weeks earlier, along with the Howarth family diamonds. These facts led us to our elaborate stakeout, the successful protection of the Star of December diamond, and the capture of Pavel and Nemec. From being pilloried in the press, Scotland Yard now gets praise and a special commendation from the Chief Commissioner which is Christmas gift enough for me.
“I'm also delighted to satisfy curiosity on a subject I know the young ladies of my acquaintance are particularly interested in...”
Caro, Gwen and Margaret looked at one another and grinned.
“And that is whether the stolen diamonds have been recovered. Apparently, the plan was for Van Dyke to meet our two thieves on the Isle of Jersey for the final payment and hand over of the gems.
“I can tell you that all the diamonds have been recovered–”
Everyone gasped and burst into spontaneous applause, yet Caro noticed Sir Hubert, usually so ebullient, was pale and appeared to be holding his breath.
Uncle Walter pulled out his pipe and touched a taper on the fire to light it. Blue smoke rose upward on each puff as he waited until the room had quietened.
“–except for one suite.”
Caro saw how Sir Hubert was suddenly the focus of her uncle’s attention. She watched the peer release a long slow breath, his pale face beginning to recover some of its colour.
Lady Constance, who had said little all evening, dabbed a handkerchief to her eyes.
“In fact,” said Walter, “our pair of villains deny emphatically they took that particular set of jewels.”
“Well they would, wouldn't they?” Sir Hubert replied crisply. “Why would you believe them?”
“I'm inclined to believe them because of something Tobias said.”
Caro sensed Tobias come to attention beside her.
“Sir Hubert,” said Walter, “were any cigars stolen from your home?”
“No. Only the jewels.”
“Just as I thought. There was one fact omitted from the papers and that was at least a handful of cigars – in some cases a whole box – were stolen from each of the targeted households as well as the jewels.
“I'm not sure I follow, Inspector,” said Tobias.
Walter took a puff from his pipe, then pointed the stem in Tobias’s direction. “You mentioned the criminals seemed to be stealing to order. Indeed, in each case, The Phantom – or should I say Phantoms? – were following a list given them by Van Dyke.
“Everything we recovered was on that list. Everything but the Catherine the Great jewels – which were not on the list. And another thing that bothered me – and Caro saw it too – was the thieves made such a mess in Sir Hubert’s bedroom, what with the open safe door, jewellery trays and papers strewn everywhere, the broken glass in the garden bed below...
“Pavel and Nemec were quite insulted – they said they’re professionals who pride themselves in leaving no trace.”
“Well, if it wasn’t the Phantom, then some other thief must have stolen them,” protested Sir Hubert, a defensive note now entering his voice. “It happened the night of the ball. Hundreds of people were in the house.”
“We spoke to your butler. He said you told him to make sure the staff was extra vigilant that no guests accessed the family quarters.”
Sir Hubert's previously pale face was now beet red.”What are you insinuating, Walter?”
The Inspector took a puff of his pipe once again before answering.
“I think you know,” he said, his voice revealing the gravity of the allegation as yet unspoken. “The theft of your gems has all the hallmarks of an inside job. We've done some investigating. The insurance payout would help cover some of the losses in your business, wouldn't it?”
Caro’s mother gasped softly and looked at her husband. James took her hand and patted it, shaking his head sadly. The young people, however, were openly agog.
“You know how to kick a man when he's low,” answered Sir Hubert, his voice now a snarl. “Yes! My business is struggling, and now you accuse me of this!”
Walter kept his tone soft and even. “We've taken a look at the books and we're looking to trace a series of regular payments to a company in Austria going back more than twelve months. And you recently booked an open ended trip to the continent leaving on New Year's Eve, didn’t you?”
“This is outrageous!”
There was silence in the drawing room. No one dared speak.
“Hubert,” said Lady Constance at last, her kerchief nothing but a screwed up ribbon. “I told you this wouldn't work.”
“Shut up, shut up!”
“You!” Sir Hubert pointed a finger at Walter. His hand shook, knuckles white. “You have no proof.”
“I hold enough suspicion to have the Home Office cancel your passport and that of your wife.”
“Without the diamonds, you have nothing!”
Tobias cleared his throat and stepped forward.
“Countess, I see you've not opened your gift,” he said.
“I... I want to save it for Christmas Day,” she said, holding the small package closer.
“I wrapped that gift, Mr Black,” said Gwen. Edward took her hand and looked at his uncle, questioningly.
Walter nodded to acknowledge the young woman, but he turned his attention back to Tobias. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking if we unwrap it, we'll see something interesting,” Tobias replied.
Walter turned to Lady Constance. “Madam?”
With a venomous glance at her husband, the beautiful young woman untied the ribbon carefully, unfolding the crisp red, green and gold Christmas paper with great deliberation. Then she slowly lifted the lid on the box.
Sitting amongst the wrapped chocolates were diamonds, round, pear shaped and emerald cut, some of them still connected to the platinum wires that had once made them Catherine the Great's necklace.
EPILOGUE
The clock in the hall striking half-past eleven seemed much louder tonight, perhaps because the silence had become so deafening in the drawing room after Walter’s revelation. He had left quietly with Sir Hubert and Lady Constance. Now the others, more or less equally subdued, were in the hallway getting ready for midnight Mass. Only Caro and Tobias remained in the drawing room.
Tobias looked at the closed door, seeming torn over what to do next.
“Perhaps I should catch up with Inspector Addison,” he said.
Caro touched his sleeve.
“My uncle has everything well in hand, I’m sure,” she said.
“I feel I’m responsible for ruining your family’s Christmas.”
“You have done no such thing,” Caro reassured him. “I think we’re all in a bit of shock. We’ve known the Gilfroys for years.” She let out a sigh full of regret and tugged the bell pull. “If only Sir Hubert had come to anyone of our families when he was in difficulties... but justice must be done and it should always be no respecter of persons.”
The butler arrived to her summons and left again on Caro’s instruction to have a
footman prepare the gig to take Tobias to Victoria Station. There he would catch the midnight mail train to Lancashire.
“You didn’t tell me much about your family,” she said.
“I told my mother I would be home on Christmas Day this year, and I can just manage to make good on my promise. I’ll arrive home just before everyone sits down for breakfast – my mother, father and elder brother and his wife, and their three boys. Little terrors.” He smiled. “No, actually they’re great boys. I enjoy being their uncle.”
“They sound wonderful,” she said and couldn’t help feel the hollowness in her chest as she prepared herself to say good bye.
This time for good.
For the sake of her peace of mind she had to change the subject. “How did you know the diamonds were in the box of chocolates?”
“The bows on the gifts were all tied a particular way which told me it was the work of one person. The one for Lady Constance was the first on the console table which was how I noticed it particularly. I happened to look again after dinner and noticed the bow was different, as if it had been rewrapped, and it was the only one that looked different. So when she hadn’t opened it as everyone else had done with their gifts, I made an educated guess.”
Caro shook her head in awe.
“I’m going to miss you, Tobias Black. You never cease to amaze me.”
There was something in his eyes, a spark of something Caro couldn’t dare to imagine.
“I think that’s a better gift than the return of my scarf because I was hoping... I’ll be back in London a few days after New Year’s Day, may I call on you?”
“Yes. Oh, most definitely yes!”
The full smile on Tobias’s face she knew was the twin to the expression on her own.
He took her hands and brought them to his lips.
Caro held her breath. Memories of Christmas one year ago with Bertie’s disappointing kiss under the mistletoe came back in a rush. But this was different, her entire body seemed electrified. Even her lips tingled.
Tobias leaned closer and Caro’s eyes closed before his lips touched hers – and when they did it was soft, warm and full of promise.
The Thief of Hearts Page 10
