by Amelia Grey
He’d given up heavy drinking years ago, but after his frustrating meeting with Bickerman yesterday, he failed to watch the amount of wine he consumed throughout the evening. Bickerman’s runner had searched Winston’s and Spyglass’s homes and Smith’s shop and house and had not found the pearls.
Bickerman explained to Race that he was working on a plan to search Spyglass’s ship, but that would take more time and expertise, because the Golden Pearl was never left unattended.
Race lay on his back with his forearms covering his eyes. Was that music he heard? Yes, lovely, soothing pianoforte music.
Susannah.
He could wake up to that sweet sound every morning. Suddenly he bolted up in bed and looked at his window. It was open only a little, but everything was so still and quiet in his room that he heard the music drifting in from Susannah’s house.
Just the thought of her aroused him.
Why was she playing the pianoforte so early in the morning? He glanced over at the clock on the mantel. It wasn’t that early. It was already afternoon.
He rose and went to the window to look out. The bright sun hurt his over-indulged eyes. The sky was cloudless and as blue as any sapphire he’d ever seen. He pushed the window up as far as it would go and inhaled the fresh air. He propped his hands on the windowsill and listened. The melody drifted across the air into his room, pleasing him, soothing his banging temples.
Race stared at the back of Susannah’s house and longed to see her, to touch her, to press his body to hers and sink inside her once again.
Race squeezed his eyes shut. After the way he had treated her, he wasn’t surprised she hated him and never wanted to be with him again. He had been a rake, a scoundrel, an idiot of the highest order. He knew that. What had made him overreact and assume she had something to do with the theft? Was it because he was trying to counter how she made him feel? And how was he going to make it up to her for the way he had treated her?
That night at Lord Kendrickson’s party, she had made him painfully aware of two things. One, if she had the pearls, she would have already left and taken them to her ill mother. Two, he ached to be in her good graces again. Not only had his night in her bed been the most extraordinary of his life, but he enjoyed talking to her, looking at her, and just being with her. He wanted to walk in the park with her, dance with her, and make love to her again.
The music continued to drift in as he shaved, washed, and dressed. Many times over the past few days, he’d thought about going through the hedge to see Susannah and ask her to forgive him but stopped himself every time. She had made it perfectly clear she didn’t want to see him, and he didn’t blame her, but he was tired of her rules. From now on, he was taking over. He was not without charms, and he was going to use them to woo her back into his life and into his arms.
And he knew a good place to start.
He walked over to a small chest and opened the top drawer and took out a sheet of vellum, a quill, and a jar of ink. After dipping the tip of the quill into the ink, he quickly wrote:
I want to see you.
“No,” he muttered to himself. He had already written that to her. He crumpled the paper and threw it to the floor.
He tried again but didn’t like the second any better than the first and that sheet of vellum landed on the floor, too. He looked at the blank paper, searched his heart and wrote:
I’m sorry.
Race
When Susannah and Mrs. Princeton arrived at Captain Spyglass’s home on Saturday night, Susannah told Benson to stay with their carriage and not leave it for any reason. If, by some stroke of luck, she managed to find the pearls, she wanted to be able to leave quickly. The chatter coming from the crowd on the first floor was loud and boisterous as they left their wraps with the servants on the ground floor. They quietly made their way above stairs and walked into the crush of elegantly dressed people.
Candlelight threw shadows all around the room as Susannah nodded, smiled, and said good evening to first one person and then another as she moved through the shoulder-to-shoulder throng. Her dutiful companion followed tightly in her footsteps, looking as nervous as a cat facing a hound.
She stopped and spoke with the charming Constance Pepperfield about which day would be good to go with Henrietta to the park. She bumped into the dashing Sir Randolph Gibson, whose hands looked completely normal for a change. His spirits about his upcoming victory were still buoyant, and all he wanted to talk about was his highly publicized fight.
As the evening wore on, she spent more time than she wanted to with Lord Snellingly, who once again asked if he could read poetry while she played the pianoforte for him. From a distance, she saw Lord Martin and Race’s cousin, Lord Morgandale, but she hadn’t caught sight of Race. She wasn’t surprised he had decided not to attend a party given by one of the men he thought might have stolen the pearls. But she had to admit to herself that she had hoped he would be present.
Race was back to writing her short, concise notes which thrilled her. She eagerly looked forward to them so much that she carried the last one he sent her in the beaded reticule that swung from her wrist. She liked the fact that he was reminding her he was around, but he wasn’t pushing her to see him.
Susannah didn’t let anyone hold her up for long as she continued to walk around the ground and first floors of the house, making a mental note of all the closed doors, until she came face-to-face with her host and prey, Captain Spyglass.
He bowed and kissed her hand. At first glance, she didn’t think he was wearing any pearls, but then she noticed multiple strands of pearls had been attached like fringe to the ends of his neckcloth. He was a master at creating a new way to wear pearls.
“Your Grace, I am pleased you have honored me with your presence on this night, when there are so many other wonderful parties to attend.”
Susannah smiled at him and realized she felt no guilt about what she had to do. “Nonsense,” she said. “I’m delighted to be here. You must know everyone in the ton coveted an invitation to your party.”
He beamed. His thin dark mustache and tanned skin made his teeth seem exceptionally white. For all of his exotic appearance, he was a handsome man.
“You are most gracious. Come, let me get you a glass of champagne.”
“Thank you,” she said easily and walked beside him toward the champagne table. “I’ve heard you have a vast pearl collection.”
He laughed. “Yes, rumors abound about my pearls. I treasure every one, and I probably do have the largest collection in the world. People say to me ‘why pearls?’ And I say why not pearls?”
“Tell me, do you ever allow anyone to see your collection?”
He chuckled lightly and rubbed his hand over his chin. “Not very often, I’m afraid, but I have been persuaded to on a few occasions. Why? Would you like an invitation to see my collection, Duchess?”
She glanced over at him, not wanting to appear too eager. “I can’t imagine a woman would not want to see it.”
“Then, perhaps, one day I will invite you.”
“I’ll look forward to that,” she said with a satisfied smile.
Susannah continued to talk with the Captain for a few more minutes and then excused herself. She felt her best chance of being unobserved was while there were many people in the house. Once the crowd started thinning to go on to the Great Hall or other parties, it would be more likely that she would be noticed in an area of the house where she shouldn’t be.
She had no fear for her own safety. At this point, finding the pearls was the only thing that mattered.
In a corridor on the first floor, Susannah stopped a young servant who was carrying a tray of glasses. Her hair, eyes, and skin were as dark as Captain Spyglass’s. “Excuse me,” Susannah said. “Can you tell me where the ladies’ retiring room is located?”
The nervous young woman said, “The first door on the right at the top of the stairs on the second floor.”
Susannah smiled pleasantl
y and said, “Thank you. I wanted to make sure I didn’t go into the wrong room. It would have been dreadful if I had accidentally gone into the master of the house’s bedchamber.”
The young woman smiled again and said, “Oh, you couldn’t do that. His room is on the ground floor, and he keeps it locked. The Captain has a bad knee and doesn’t like to climb the stairs any more than necessary.”
Susannah’s spirits fell like lead in water.
Locked!
But just as she thought all hope of searching his room had vanished, Susannah caught sight of a key ring peeking out of the edge of the servant’s apron pocket. Susannah knew she had to get that key ring.
With no time for further thought, she said, “Thank you, you’ve been most helpful.” She started to walk past the servant but instead, pretended to stumble and knocked the tray of glasses out of the young woman’s hands. They fell to the floor with a horrible crash, breaking most of them.
Susannah quickly glanced around to see if anyone had heard or seen the commotion. The servant immediately dropped to the floor to pick up the broken glass. The roar of the chatter from the crowd must have muffled the shattering glass, because no one came running.
“I’m so sorry,” Susannah said, bending down to help the young woman pick up the broken pieces. “That was very clumsy of me.”
“Please, don’t help me,” the servant said.
“But it was my fault. Look, there’s a piece of broken glass over there. Don’t miss that one.”
When the servant turned and reached for the stray glass, Susannah reached for the key ring, slid it out of the apron pocket, and put it directly down the front of her gown.
“If anyone sees you helping me, I will lose my job. Please rise.”
Susannah saw the fear in her eyes and immediately stood. “I understand. Thank you once again. You have been a great help to me.”
Though she was anything but, Susannah calmly walked away, looking down at the front of her dress to make sure the key ring was not showing. She didn’t know how much time she would have before the servant missed her keys, so she had to find Captain Spyglass’s bedchamber immediately.
With all the aplomb she could muster, considering how fast her heart was beating, Susannah wove her way through the crowd on the first floor and found Mrs. Princeton.
A servant passed by with a tray of champagne, and Susannah took a glass, deciding she needed something to fortify her for what she was about to do. As she lifted the glass to her lips and took her first sip, she saw Race walk through the door. Suddenly, her stomach felt as if it had a hundred butterflies in it and all of them were trying to get out. Just the sight of him filled her with sweet longing.
Her breasts tightened as she remembered how his lips had moved so effortlessly over hers, how gentle his hands had been, and how wonderful she and Race had made each other feel. Though she saw his gaze searching the room, it didn’t appear he’d seen her. She quickly turned away from him. She didn’t need to have her mind on him. She had allowed him to distract her for the last time.
Susannah gave the glass of champagne to Mrs. Princeton and said, “I’m ready to begin my search. I must go down to the ground floor, but you stay up here and keep your sights on Captain Spyglass.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Mrs. Princeton looked stiff, and her bottom lip quivered. Susannah exhaled heavily. “You don’t have to go speak to him. Just watch him, follow him and, if you see him heading below stairs, faint or start screaming.”
“That won’t be difficult to do, Your Grace.”
Susannah gave her a warm smile and patted her upper arm as she walked past her and whispered, “Thank you for your bravery.”
As inconspicuously as possible, she made her way to the ground floor, where a servant stood by the front door ready to greet new arrivals or get wraps for those departing. She pretended to be looking at a painting until she saw him turn his back, and then she quickly rounded the corner out of his sight. A runner of fine Turkish carpet muffled Susannah’s steps as she tiptoed down the dimly lit corridor on the ground floor. The darkened passageway seemed to stretch forever toward the three doors at the end. One of them had to be the master of the house’s bedchamber.
Her heart pumped wildly with fear and with hope. If only fate would smile on her and she could find the pearls in a velvet pouch in the first drawer she opened. A constant roar of near panic filled her ears, but she forced herself to remain calm and collected as she tried the knob on each door. Only two of the doors were locked. The one room that wasn’t had been filled floor to ceiling with furniture from the upper rooms.
She pulled the key ring out of her clothing and counted five keys on it.
Taking a deep breath, she decided to try the door in the center first. She put first one and then another key into the keyhole and tried them until only one key was left. She put it in and turned, but it didn’t unlock the door, either.
Were none of the servant’s keys to this door?
As she moved on to the other door, tension and fear had her fingers numb, and she began to doubt herself. Why had she agreed to come to London on this ill-fated mission? What had made her think she could get the pearls legally, let alone by theft? She should be in her own home at Chapel Gate, leading her quiet life, playing her music, reading poetry. But, if she had never come to London, she would have never met Race. She wouldn’t have felt alive for the first time in years. She wouldn’t have fallen in love. Unbidden, memories of his kisses, his touch, his… No, she had to push those thoughts aside. He would not distract her again.
Maybe she’d just been in too big a hurry. With shaky hands, she started trying the keys again.
Click.
Was that the lock? She pulled the key out, turned the knob, pushed the door open just a crack, and listened. No sound came from inside the room. She looked behind her again. The corridor was empty. She opened the door a little farther so that she could stick her head inside for a quick peek. Her gaze scanned the handsomely appointed room that appeared to be Captain Spyglass’s bedchamber.
Only one light burned in the room, a small oil lamp on a dressing table. A tall, turned-spindle bed stood against the far wall. The draperies and coverlet were the creamy color of aged pearls. They were trimmed with gold cord and bullion fringe. Her gaze darted around the luxurious room. Glowing embers smoldered in the fireplace on the back wall.
“What the devil are you doing?”
Startled, Susannah jumped and dropped the key ring onto the carpeted floor of the corridor with a loud thud that seemed to reverberate through the whole house.
Her cheeks flamed with heat. “Oh, by the saints in heaven, Race, you frightened the life out of me,” she whispered.
“Obviously not,” he said, bending to pick up the keys. “You seem to still be breathing.”
She frowned. “No thanks to you. What are you doing here?”
“Following you.” He held up the keys. “How did you get these?”
“By making a poor servant girl spill a tray of glasses, and no, I am not proud of myself for doing that, but I am pleased. I’ve found Captain Spyglass’s bedchamber, and now I intend to look for the pearls.”
Race reached behind her and pulled the door quietly closed.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Once again, I’m saving you from a fate worse than death. Spyglass is not the kind of man you can cross, Susannah. He may look innocent enough, but I assure you if he caught you in his bedchamber you would find out just how dangerous he really is.”
“Give me back those keys and go away. I don’t need you to help me find the necklace.”
His gaze swept over hers. “Why didn’t you listen to me? I told you I have an expert who is doing just that. I can’t believe you would put yourself in this kind of danger, all for a few strands of pearls.”
“I am not concerned about myself,” she insisted. “Have you never listened to anything I have said?”
His
eyes searched her face, and softly he said, “I have heard everything you have said to me. I will find the pearls, Susannah.”
“I don’t want your help,” she said indignantly. “As you can see, I’m making progress on my own. You have said you would look at my documents, but I don’t trust you to turn the pearls over to me. If you find them, you will keep them.”
Voices sounded from just around the corner behind them. A chill flew up Susannah’s spine, and she felt as if her heart jumped into her throat.
Race pulled Susannah to his chest.
“Which key locks the door?”
Susannah looked down at the keys. They all looked alike. “I’m not sure.”
“Bloody hell,” Race mumbled.
The voices drew nearer.
“Let me do the talking, and you had better kiss me like you mean it.”
There was no fear of that not happening as Race’s mouth came down on hers in a demand so great it took Susannah’s breath. She felt his hand working feverishly, trying keys in the lock as his lips roved over hers. Forgetting that danger was mere seconds away, Susannah surrendered completely to the power Race had over her. Their lips were ravenous, exploring with no thought of parting as their breaths mixed, their bodies pressed.
“See here, what are you doing? Come away from there.”
Race broke the kiss, and Susannah heard a click. The door was locked. Race dropped the key ring into his coat pocket.
“Did you hear me? I said move away,” the man demanded again.
Susannah and Race jerked apart as a tall, thin man with black hair walked toward them.
Race cleared his throat and pushed Susannah behind him, shielding her as much as possible. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand and pulled on the tail of his coat.
“Sorry, we were just strolling down the corridor. No harm in that, is there?”
As the man advanced, Race moved them away from the three doors at the end of the corridor and continued to protect Susannah as much as possible from the perturbed man’s view.
