Once Upon a Diamond (12 page)

“Tristan,” Edward said, breaking into his thoughts. “Wasn’t
that the same Harry Fletcher who wrote to us about father’s death? I heard a
few of the men talking at the club. It’s seems I’m the only one who doesn’t
know about his return. I was quite put out you know.”   

Tristan’s
eyes narrowed slightly and a muscle jumped in his jaw. He distinctly recalled
the dagger pressed against Kate’s neck. “I have never had any wish for you to
involve yourself in the quest. But you might as well know that
Fletcher sent me a letter a few weeks ago asking
me to meet him at the Hunting Fox Inn.” 

Devin and Edward perked up at that information.

“I
went to the inn and waited,” Tristan continued, knowing that sooner or later
these two men would discover some of the truth. Better it came from him. However,
they didn’t know anything about the quest for the diamond being part of
Whitehall, and he wasn’t about to tell them.  “Fletcher never showed. Never
heard from him since.” He paused, thinking that perhaps these two men could be
in jeopardy too. “I was attacked by an intruder with a knife.”

“A knife?” Edward cried. “Why the deuce didn’t you tell
me?"

Tristan winced at the thought of his brother involving
himself in the dangers of the obsessive quest. Kate was enough to worry about. Now,
he had a sneaking suspicion the incident at the inn had everything to do with
the diamond.

Who knows what evil lurked around the corner because of
the gem’s political power? Its monetary wealth alone was enough for some to use
murder as a means to get it. Neither thought sat well with him. Kate could be at
a greater risk than he had ever dreamed.

“Trist?” Edward persisted. “What the devil happened?”

Tristan leaned his head back against the seat. “It
wasn’t a random attack. I believe the intruder came for the diamond, which I
didn’t have. He probably would have killed me if it weren’t for
–
” He hesitated. Hell and spitfire, he’d said enough.

“For what?” Devin asked.

Tristan chose his words carefully. “If it weren’t for
the girl in the chambers next door." 

There was only silence as Edward pulled on his right
earlobe in confusion.

Devin tried to hide his twisted smile. “A girl?”

“A female...a girl?” Edward’s eyes twinkled.

Devin laughed. “What other kind of girls are there, Edward?”

“Never mind,” Tristan said, shaking his head.

Edward coughed. “I don’t think I can do that. Because
for some strange reason, I can’t quite fathom my strong, able-bodied brother
protected by a girl.”

Devin slapped his knee in amusement. “A female! Gad this
is rich!”

Edward cast his brother another disbelieving look. “And
you truly believe this has something to do with the diamond?”

More than they ever knew, Tristan thought. He stretched
his legs across the empty seat beside him and avoided their wide-eyed stares. “My
man Andrews, the Runner I hired to look into the diamond after father died, is
investigating Mr. Harry Fletcher and the gem. But after Mannings’ confession, I
have to wonder if Fletcher is near London at all.”

“Never mind Fletcher!” Devin proclaimed. “What about
this girl?”

Tristan
frowned at the vivid memory of the Kate refusing to give in to the intruder’s
demands.

“Tristan?” Edward asked, quirking a brow.

“There’s nothing more to tell, except that I’ll be
traveling back to the country tomorrow.” He grinned. “In fact, I may even race
Devin to Ridgewater.” 

Edward almost choked. “Forget Devin! Dash it all! What
about the girl? Tell us. Who is she?”

Tristan stared at his brother. “She’s the most
courageous female I’ve ever had the privilege to meet.” Let them chew on that.

“Courageous?” Edward laughed and locked eyes with Devin
who was staring quite intently at his friend. “I believe the quest has finally
driven my brother insane.” 

Tristan quirked his lips into a wry smile. Perhaps the
diamond would send him to Bedlam after all.

Many weeks had passed since Kate had arrived in England.
She was feeling much better since her first day in England, and one reason was
because of her cousin Charlotte, who never failed to cheer her.
A
cool breeze whipped through their hair as they strolled along
the stone walkway in the gardens of Ridgewater
Manor.

“The maid had taken my father’s best brandy the previous
evening and had quite a time of it,” Charlotte said, laughing. “I heard from my
abigail that Webster turned cherry red at the sight of the girl dancing on the
dining table.
Can you imagine? And the maid only wearing her shift?”

Kate’s
eyes danced. “Oh, poor Webster.”

“After
removing the maid, Webster found one of the young footmen snoring beneath the
table. Half-dressed, mind you.”

“Dear
me. I wished I could have been there.”

“Webster
has been quite put out all morning.”

They
were barely able to control their laughter as they strolled into the house. In
the drawing room Kate raised her hands to her disarrayed chignon, pulled out
her remaining tresses, and flung  her head about until her golden hair spilled
down her back in long, shimmering waves.

Charlotte fingered her own hair and frowned.

Kate noticed her cousin’s expression. “You have
beautiful hair, Charlotte. In fact, you are going to dazzle Mr. Edward Fullerton
with your looks so much that he’ll be speechless."

“I’m such a widgeon, Kate. Don’t mind me. But speaking
of our neighbor, according to Mother, the two brothers returned home from
London last night.”

Kate felt her stomach turn. Tristan had returned? 

“Not only that,” Charlotte added, “my brother decided to
return with them. He’s probably still sleeping. After that cold reception he
gave you, I hope he pays dearly.”

“Oh, that. I forgot all about it.” 

Kate lied. Every day during the past three weeks she
recalled Devin’s quick exit. It had been mortifying. She moved toward the pianoforte,
sliding her fingers up and down the ivory keys in a medley of scales.

“You didn’t forget. But Devin will be green with envy
when he sees you. You are not the scrawny girl who came here weeks ago. Cook
has fattened you up in all the right places.”

Kate burst out laughing. “You’re embarrassing me,
Charlotte.” But Kate knew she had indeed changed from the sickly girl that had
arrived at Ridgewater Manor weeks ago.

“Since I am feeling much stronger, I was wondering if
your father would mind if I tried that beautiful black stallion in the stables?
I would love to ride him.”

Charlotte’s brow furrowed. “I’m taking your word for it
that you’re a good rider. The horse might be one of Devin’s, but he won’t mind,
since he has to be extra nice to you now. You will have to take an escort, of
course. A stable boy perhaps. Mother would swoon if you went riding by
yourself.” 

Charlotte laughed. “Let me tell you, you never want to
see Mother swoon." 

Kate looked up from the keys, recalling the only time
she ever swooned. It was that night at the inn with the dead intruder at her
feet. The incident still plagued her. “Aunt Georgiana swoons?”

“Swoons.” Charlotte nodded. “As in faints, crumples,
passes out, loses consciousness.”  She threw her hand to her forehead and fell
backwards against the sofa.

Kate bent over, laughing. “No?” 

Charlotte lifted her head and smiled. “Simply wait and
see. She’s quite the actress.”

“I can’t imagine your mother doing such a thing. She
seems so elegant. So refined.”

Charlotte laughed. “Kate, swooning is the art of the
most accomplished lady. Why, let us practice,” she said in a snooty voice,
feigning another dead faint onto the sofa, causing Kate to laugh until her
shoulders shook.

They turned at the sound of footsteps coming down the
hall.

“Charlotte, heard you were entertaining our cousin, Katherine.”
Devin stopped, frozen in his tracks, his mouth agape as he caught sight of Kate.
His gaze slowly traveled over her person, from the wavy, blond tresses that
graced her back to the soft satin slippers that touched the floor.

He dropped his gaze to the playful curve framing her
berry-colored lips. It was obvious he couldn’t move a muscle except for his
eyes that were becoming black with desire.

A smile formed on Charlotte’s lips. “Are you going to
stand there like a wide mouth codfish or are you going to say hello to
our
guest
?”

Devin snapped his mouth shut and strode across the room.
“Forgive me. I thought our cousin was strolling about the gardens. I must have
missed her.” He greeted Kate, lifting her hand and kissing it ever so lightly. “But
this is a delight. Good morning.” 

Devin turned to Charlotte, awaiting the introductions. Kate
smiled, noting the amusement dancing in Charlotte’s eyes. So Devin had not recognized
her. He thought her Charlotte’s friend. How delightful. When Charlotte said
nothing, Kate took her cue.

“Good morning...
Cousin
,” she replied coolly.

Devin’s amber eyes widened as he slowly turned his head
back to her, finally realizing whose hand he held. A deep flush tinged his
cheeks. “Ah, Katherine? I see that you have recovered from your trip.”

“Quite recovered, thank you.” 

Kate bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back her
laughter. But when she caught a sidelong glimpse of Charlotte’s cheerful
gloating, she knew her lip would suffer terribly. Devin was a rather handsome
man, but at the moment he was growing from pink to pale.

Charlotte interrupted the awkward meeting and grabbed
Kate’s hand. “You will have to excuse us
, brother, dear
. Katherine and I
must speak to Mother about our departure to London. The Season has already
begun and we are rushed to be on our way.” 

Charlotte led Kate through the open doors. Kate turned
to Devin, her dark lashes batting up and down. “So nice to see you again,
Lord
Roxdon
.” 

Mute,
Devin nodded and watched the two ladies retreat up the winding staircase, but
not before Kate’s sweet lavender scent marched its way past his nose.

After the ladies disappeared, Devin slapped his hand
against his forehead and fell into a wing chair. He stared like an idiot at the
empty fireplace, the heat rising to his head.

“King George,” he muttered, vividly recalling the sickly
looking chit three weeks ago. What had happened to her?

“Nice to see you again, Lord Roxdon.” The nasal-voiced
words sent Devin’s head jerking up in surprise. His gaze narrowed on the most
absurd thing he had ever seen in his life - a red parrot perched on the
windowsill.

“What the blazes!”

The obstinate bird dared to stare directly at him and
flap its wings, as if taunting him. “Nice to see you again, Lord Roxdon. Nice
to see you again, Lord Roxdon.”

Devin shot from the chair, ready to strangle the blasted
bird, but Webster stepped into the room just in time. “May I be of service, my
lord?” Webster said, holding back his smile.

Devin glared at his butler. “What is
that
doing
here?”

“It
belongs to your cousin, my lord.” 

“My
cousin?” Devin sank back into his chair and frowned.

Webster’s
black tails flapped in the air as he walked in front of him. “My lord, His
Grace would like a word with you in the study.”

Devin groaned as he stared at his butler’s black shoes. “Of
course. Is that not why I returned?” He lifted a wary gaze and swallowed. “Is
it true, Webster?”