by Amelia Grey
“Race, I trust you completely.”
His gaze swept lovingly across her face. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”
For reasons she didn’t understand, Susannah suddenly felt shy. “I was watching the entrance for you. I didn’t see you come in.”
“I came in one of the side doors with Gibby and my cousins. We knew if we came in the front doors, Gib would immediately be swamped with people wanting to congratulate him.”
“How is Sir Randolph?”
“You mean other than the fact he has a cut lip, a black eye, and very swollen knuckles?”
“Ouch!” she said with a grimace.
Race chuckled. “No, really, he’s doing exceptionally well for an old man who went four rounds in the prize ring.”
“I’d like to see him and offer my congratulations on his victory.”
“Let’s go and do it now, as I’m desperate to have some time alone with you.”
They started toward the ballroom. “I don’t think that will be possible tonight.”
His brows drew together as they made their way through the crush of people. “Duchess, that is not what I want to hear from you.”
“You must speak to Mr. Bickerman about Captain Spyglass’s ship.”
“Never fear. That will be done first. But then I’m coming to see you, and I will continue until you come to your senses and agree to marry me.”
Susannah gasped and looked around. “Race, you shouldn’t say that so loud. Someone might hear you.”
He smiled. “So be it. I am not afraid to let people know that I love you and I want to marry you.”
Susannah’s heart lifted; her hands trembled with expectancy. She stopped in the middle of the room. “Are you really asking me to marry you?”
Suddenly a hand clapped Race on the back, and Blake, Henrietta, Morgan, and Sir Randolph gathered around them. Susannah smiled as greetings were exchanged among the group. There would be time later to talk to Race about love and marriage. But for now, she was so happy he wanted to marry her, she felt as if she were walking on air.
She knew she was not Race’s cousins’ favorite person, but at least they tolerated her in good humor. She liked the fact that it didn’t bother Race, but instead he reveled in it. Sir Randolph’s face was horrifying. Both his eyes were swollen as well as one side of his mouth, and there was a cut above one eye.
“Sir Randolph,” Susannah said, “how wonderful to see you looking so well. Congratulations on your victory.”
The dapper gentleman bowed. “Duchess, thank you kindly. There was one time this afternoon I was beginning to have doubts as to whether I would win.”
“I never lost faith in you,” she said with encouragement.
“I want everyone to know that Gibby promised us,” Race said, pointing to his two cousins, “that he would never do anything as foolish as this fight ever again. We intend to hold him to that.”
“I gave my word,” Sir Randolph added.
“And we all know what your word means to you, don’t we?” Henrietta said.
“Indeed we do,” Susannah agreed. “I believe he once said something to the fact that if a man loses his wealth, he’s lost nothing. If he loses his good health, he’s lost something, but if he loses his honor, he’s lost everything.”
“That is exactly what Lord Chesterfield said, and I believe it and live by every word of it,” Sir Randolph agreed.
Morgan chuckled. “I think one or both of you have added words or taken words from Chesterfield’s actual quote, but you are probably close enough.”
Susannah noticed, as they continued to chat, that the noise in the room slowly got quieter. Suddenly, she saw the people in front of them stepping aside, parting as if to let someone pass. Gasps and soft whispers rumbled throughout the room.
Race gave Susannah a questioning glance. “I wonder what’s going on.”
“I have no idea.”
“Maybe the prince came in to offer his congratulations to Sir Randolph,” Henrietta offered.
“Can’t be,” Gibby said. “He’s already sent me a congratulatory note. Besides that, the prince always has someone announce him. But I don’t know of anyone else who would bring about this kind of hush in such a large crowd.”
“Damnation,” Morgan said and then looked at Race. “It’s not the prince, but who the hell is she?”
Morgan pointed to the entrance to the ballroom where on the landing stood a regal older lady dressed completely in black except for five strands of pearls that circled her neck and fell to her waist.
Race’s chest tightened as he stared at the pale woman surveying the faces in the ballroom.
“Who is she?” Blake whispered.
“I have no idea,” Race murmured. “I’ve never seen her before, but I have seen those pearls around our grandmother’s neck many times.”
Susannah swallowed a lump of fear that lodged in her throat and took her breath. Slowly she stepped forward. “I know her. She is my mother, Mrs. Madeline Parker.”
Race whipped his head around to Susannah and she groaned. She saw doubt and distrust in his eyes once again. What was her mother doing walking into the ballroom wearing the pearls?
“Race, let me explain,” she whispered.
His eyes were wide with disbelief. “You took the pearls and gave them to your mother?”
His accusation stung. “Race, no.”
“You told me you didn’t steal the pearls and I believed you.”
“I didn’t,” Susannah insisted.
His gaze held fast to hers, as if he searched for answers. She couldn’t believe this was happening after their relationship had just begun to heal.
“Are you telling me your mother stole them?”
Susannah gasped in shock. “Of course not. I asked her to send them, not bring them and wear them. Let me explain.”
“There’s no time for that, Duchess,” Morgan said. “Spyglass and Winston are descending on your mother right now, and she looks like she’s about to faint.”
“With those pearls around her neck, she could be in danger,” Blake added. “I don’t trust either one of them. They might try to grab the pearls and run. We’ve got to get her out of here.”
“Morgan is right. You can explain at your house, Susannah,” Race said. “Right now, we have to get your mother home. I’ll go with you and ride up front in the carriage with your driver.”
“You are not leaving without us,” Blake said to Race. “Morgan and I will be right behind you in my carriage, just in case Spyglass or Winston decides to follow and cause trouble. Henrietta, you ride with Gibby, and I’ll see you at Susannah’s house.”
“Let’s go,” Race said. “They’ve reached her.”
Like horses heading for the barn at feeding time, Race, Susannah, Morgan, Blake, Henrietta, and Gibby all waded through the crowd toward the entrance of the ballroom.
By the time they arrived, Spyglass and Winston were standing in front of Susannah’s mother, admiring her and the pearls. She was backing away from them, her eyes sweeping from one to the other in fear.
Susannah rushed up to her and the words started tumbling past her lips. “Mother, how did you get here? What are you doing here? You don’t look well.”
“I don’t feel well either, Susannah. Thank God you are here.” Her voice trembled and her eyes darted fitfully from side to side. She grabbed hold of Susannah’s arm and held tightly.
“How did you find me here?”
“Your maid told me where you were, but I was beginning to doubt her information.”
“This lovely lady is your mother?” Spyglass asked Susannah.
“Yes, I can see the resemblance now,” Winston added. “We were just welcoming her to the ball.”
Captain Spyglass stepped in closer. “And, Madame, may I be so bold as to
ask about the exquisite pearls you are wearing?”
Susannah’s mother lifted her chin disdainfully and turned her pale face away from Spyglass in contempt. “No, sir, you may not.”
The Captain turned to Race. “Lord Raceworth, I know you have the Talbot pearls, so these must be Bess of Hardwick’s pearls. I’m told the two collars were similar in length and rarity.”
Before Race could speak, Susannah’s mother clutched the pearls to her chest and said, “These are not Bess’s pearls, sir. Susannah, who are these gentlemen? Is this the sort you have been cavorting with while in London? I’m astonished and can see I have arrived not a moment too soon.”
Mrs. Princeton appeared as if from out of nowhere and stood close to Susannah’s side, watching every man around her charge as if she was a vulture and they were her dinner. “Mother, I was preparing to leave. I need you to accompany me.”
“I’ll call for your carriage,” Race said, throwing a quick glance at Susannah. “You get your wrap.”
“Excuse us, gentlemen,” Susannah said and slid her arm around her mother’s arm.
“Madame, before you go,” Captain Spyglass said, “I would very much like to call on you and talk to you about the pearls you are wearing. I collect pearls.”
“And I buy jewels for the prince,” Mr. Winston said, elbowing in front of the pirate. “I know Prinny would be interested in your exquisite necklace.”
Race stepped between Susannah’s mother and the men. “Take your mother to your carriage.”
Susannah immediately started walking toward the door with Mrs. Princeton on one side and her mother on the other. Morgan and Blake followed her.
“I have always wanted to see the Talbot pearls,” Captain Spyglass said to Race with a smoldering glow in his eyes. “I don’t suppose you would agree to let me have just a glimpse of them before I leave London, would you, my lord?”
Race looked at the man with contempt in his eyes. “Not a chance in hell, Captain.” Race cut his eyes around to Winston. “That goes for you, too. Stay away from the duchess’s house or I’ll see to it that both your bodies are found at the bottom of the Thames.”
Winston gasped.
Spyglass laughed.
Race strode out of the ballroom and into the night air, his mind whirling with possibilities. Was the reason Susannah hadn’t told him she loved him because she knew all along where his grandmother’s pearls were? She must have known her mother had them. But she looked as shocked as he was to see her mother. If Susannah didn’t steal them, who did and how did Mrs. Parker get them?
No matter what the true answer was, he was certain that right now Susannah was wondering how she was going to explain it to him. Whatever the answer, he was not going to turn his back on Susannah again. He loved her, and he intended to marry her.
It was a wet ride to Susannah’s house, but they made it inside without incident. Susannah had one of her servants stoke the fire in her sitting room to take the chill off the dampness, and then pass a glass of sherry to everyone except Henrietta and Sir Randolph who had not yet arrived. Susannah had made her mother comfortable on the settee with a blanket tucked around her legs. Her face was ashen, and Race noticed she cupped her glass with both hands to hold it steady enough to take a sip. It was obvious to him that the woman was not well.
After proper introductions were made, Susannah turned to Race with somber eyes and said, “May I explain?”
“Please do, Duchess,” Morgan answered for Race. “Because right now someone in this room is looking guilty of theft.”
“Enough, Morgan,” Race told him.
Susannah walked over and stood in front of Race. “More than a week ago, I wrote to my mother and asked her to send the fake pearls she is wearing to me.”
“Wait a minute,” Race interrupted. “Those aren’t real?”
“Fearing I must be in some kind of trouble, she decided to leave her sick bed and bring them to me.”
“Let me tell him, dearest,” her mother said in a soft voice as she lifted the strands in her hands. “Yes, my lord, these are nothing but glass beads expertly made to look like pearls.” With shaky hands, she held them up for his close inspection. “As best I understand it, the Talbot pearls were pawned by one of Lord Talbot’s daughters after his death. They ended up in the hands of a wealthy merchant. My father bought them from that merchant for my mother at a great cost. My mother had such fear they would be stolen that she had a jeweler make a copy to look as much like the real ones as possible. These.” She fingered the pearls as her mind seemed to drift back in time.
“Go on, Mrs. Parker,” Race said.
“Unfortunately, the real ones were eventually stolen from my mother anyway by a trusted servant who knew the difference between the fake and the genuine. The servant was never seen or heard from again. No doubt he sold them to whoever bought them for your grandmother or, who knows, they could have changed hands several times before Lady Elder obtained them.”
Race turned confused eyes to Susannah. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Susannah’s stomach was jumpy. She would rather have been alone with Race to explain all this to him, but she couldn’t very well ask his cousins to leave.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “At first there was no reason to tell you. We were not on the best of terms with each other when I asked her to send them to me. And later when we, ah, well…” she said, stumbling over her words.
“When our relationship mended,” Race said.
Susannah gave him a grateful smile. “Yes. I hadn’t heard from my mother and didn’t know if she would send them. I thought it best not to tell you about the fake pearls until I could show them to you. My plan was to do exactly what my mother did tonight. I would wear them with the hope of drawing out the real thief and make him wonder if he had the real pearls or the glass beads. It never dawned on me that anyone would think they were Bess of Hardwick’s pearls.”
Susannah’s mother reached up and touched her arm affectionately. “Though Susannah worded her letters carefully, I sensed she needed my help. I decided to come to London without her knowledge. I had to stop often to rest, so it took me longer to get here than I had hoped. When I arrived tonight, she had already left for the evening. I asked her maid where she had gone and then dressed and followed her.”
Morgan threw up his hands. “All of this is well and good, but we still don’t know where the real pearls are.”
“No, but this was a clever idea,” Race said. “Mrs. Parker told Spyglass they were not Bess’s pearls. So perhaps whichever man has the real pearls will be looking for an expert to examine them first thing tomorrow morning to make sure they have the Talbot pearls, and Bickerman’s runners will be there to capture them.”
“Your Grace?”
Susannah turned to her companion. “Yes, Mrs. Princeton?”
“Sir Randolph and the Duchess of Blakewell are here to see you.”
“Show them in.”
Sir Randolph and Henrietta walked in, and Susannah noticed at once that Sir Randolph was carrying a small satchel.
Introductions were made, and Race took time to briefly tell them about the fake pearls.
“I knew that,” Sir Randolph said.
He reached into the satchel he carried and pulled out a black velvet drawstring bag. Susannah’s mother and Race gasped as they recognized the black bag. From inside, Sir Randolph drew out five long strands of pearls.
“Those are the real pearls,” her mother said, reaching for them. “I would know them anywhere.”
“Gibby?” Race questioned with denial etched in his face. “How did you get those?”
“I stole them from you. I am the thief,” he answered.
“Why? How? How did you get into my safe?”
“As to how, I might be old but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I was in the Kin
g’s army for several years. I learned a few things during that time.”
Sir Randolph walked over to Race. “I meant only to take the pearls, but figured if I did that, you might know it was me, so I took everything else that was in your safe. It’s all in there,” he said placing the satchel on a chair. “As to why I had to take the pearls, they belonged to your grandmother. I had to protect them for her. When the fourth person came knocking on your door wanting them, I knew it was only a matter of time before someone tried to steal them from you so I decided to do it before anyone else had the chance.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Race asked.
Sir Randolph’s smile was misshapen from swelling. “Now why would I have done something like that? You would have made me give them back to you.”
“Gibby, do you know what I have been through trying to find out who took those pearls?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Race said angrily as he advanced on the battered man. “You know that I accused Susannah of taking them.”
Gibby looked at Susannah. “I’m sorry about that, but there was nothing I could do.”
“I should wring your neck and finish what Prattle—”
“Race,” Blake said and stepped in front of him.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Morgan added. “The pearls are back in your possession. That’s all that matters.”
“I’m afraid not,” Susannah’s mother said in a quiet voice from the settee. “There’s the matter that they rightfully belong to me. Susannah has documents proving my grandfather bought the Talbot pearls and where they were reported stolen. The pearls belong to me.”
“I’m keeping the pearls, Mrs. Parker,” Race said without hesitating.
Susannah’s mother’s eyes widened and she looked to Susannah for help.
It had always been Susannah’s fear that if Race found the necklace he would keep it. “Mother, the marquis has promised me that he will look at our evidence, and I’m sure that once he does he will have a change of heart as to who they belong to.”
