Once Upon a Diamond (16 page)

A huge grin spread across Kate’s face. “Ah, well, the
hardships of life.” She laughed with her cousin while they rummaged through the
gowns.

Charlotte picked up a set of white gloves and worried
her bottom lip. “But I believe you have a problem.”

“What?” Kate asked, smiling. “The colors do not suit
me?”

“Not the clothes.” Charlotte frowned. “It’s my brother. Are
you not the least bit interested in him? I’ve never seen him act so strange. The
ton’s self-seeking mamas and their daughters chase him about Town, even the
young widows are interested in him. He leads many of them on, but I know he
desires a very special woman to fill his heart." 

Kate knew where this was leading, for she liked Devin,
she really did. “Oh, Charlotte. I do like your brother, but
–
”

“But what?"

Kate tilted her head toward the wall, avoiding
Charlotte’s penetrating gaze. Thoughts about Tristan nagged at her brain. She
had already decided the best thing for her to do was to return home as soon as
possible. “We’ve had this conversation before. I’m quite fond of him, but I’m
not attracted to him. When I marry, I want to marry for love. When I get back
home
–
”

“Tell me you’re not leaving England so soon.”

“I can only promise to stay until the end of the
Season.” 
Then I need to go home. I need to have things back the way they
were.

“Oh, Kate. If you won’t marry my brother, what about
another Englishman. That said, I would not mind if you married Lord Lancewood
himself. He would make a very good husband if it weren’t for that silly diamond
he is always searching for.”

Kate looked away.

“But don’t you see,” Charlotte went on, “I could have
you here forever. Y-you have become so dear to me.” 

A sob escaped from her cousin, and Kate grasped
Charlotte in a tight embrace. “Oh, Charlotte, please don’t cry. I can’t bear
it.”

“I won’t cry.” Charlotte hiccupped and pulled back,
wiping her face. “But are you interested in Tristan at all?” 

As Charlotte peeked at her from beneath hooded eyes, Kate
felt the heat singe her cheeks.

“Me and the earl? Preposterous.”

Charlotte slapped a hand to her mouth. “Oh, my. You are interested
in him! I should have known. Jupiter! Devin’s going to have a fit. He gets
insanely jealous, you know.” She laughed, flinging a white glove at Kate. “Insanely.”   

Kate caught the glove and smiled. “You will not tell
him, Charlotte!” 

“There once was this opera singer, no, no, it was an
actress I believe, and Devin
–
”

“Charlotte, is that clear?”

“
Moi
?” Charlotte pointed to herself. “I won’t
tell Devin a thing. Forget my brother for now. Let’s look forward to tomorrow. We
can take a ride in Hyde Park and stop for some ices on the way back home. And
don’t worry about me, I can keep a secret.”

Secrets were becoming a regular happening in Kate’s life.
But for now, she just wanted to go home.

The scent of freshly brewed tea filled the air as Tristan
sat in a comfortable fireside wing chair in the library of his London townhouse
located in the plush neighborhood of Mayfair. He placed his teacup on the
nearby table and began stretching his legs across the Oriental rug when Perkins
appeared in the doorway.

“Andrews is here, my lord."

“Let him in.” Tristan wondered if his man from Bow
Street had discovered any new information about the diamond, Harold Fletcher,
or the incident at the inn. There were rumors in Whitehall that the dead man at
the inn was a hired killer.

“Afternoon, your lordship," the burly man replied
in a gruff voice as he ambled into the room.

“Andrews.” Tristan offered the man a seat.

The Bow Street Runner sank against the pillows on the
chair. “I’ll come right to the thing of it, m’lord. No leads on the diamond.”

Tristan was disappointed, but swallowed a chuckle when
he noted the Runner’s gaze attached to the maid’s backside as she served the
man’s tea.

Andrews cleared his throat as the maid departed. “After
some prying, my lord, I’ve discovered the name of the ruffian who attacked you
and the girl. The man was Shamus McDooley, a scoundrel among those parts of
London. He’s known to have been hired by some of High Society’s finest. Sources
tell me he was paid well for the jobs. Also has a partner.”

Tristan dragged his forefinger down his cheek. “And you
believe this man was hired to rob me?”
Or kill me?

“A
good possibility, my lord. You were there to retrieve the diamond. That would
be a prize for any man. It seems many knew about Fletcher’s interference in the
matter.” The Runner sipped his tea. “But then again, you did not have the diamond
in your possession.” 

Tristan pursed his lips and shifted his ankle over his
knee. The only thing in his possession at the time was a little spitfire.

“Of course, Harold Fletcher did make his presence known
after returning from India,” Andrews went on. “Many a men could have discovered
the place of his rendezvous with you, especially if he took to drinking. Secret
meeting with him or not.” The man paused. “However, there is another
possibility, my lord, other than thieving.” 

Tristan looked up. “What?”

“Murder. Cold blooded murder. As you had mentioned
before, some coward may have hired the man at the inn to murder you.” 

Andrews drank some more of his tea and peered over his
cup. “Do you have any enemies, my lord? That is, besides anyone greedy enough
to take the diamond for himself?”

Tristan rose to his feet and paced the room. A spy in
the trenches? Or could this be personal? “A man has many enemies, Andrews, some
are not even human.” He stared over the Bow Street Runner, gazing at a
miniature painting of the diamond hanging on the wall. “Many enemies, indeed.”

“Beg your pardon, m’lord, but I’m not following you.” Andrews
set his cup down, cleared his throat, and rose. “May I be so blunt as to point
out, my lord, that it is not unusual in cases like these that the next in line
for the title," he wiped his forehead, “if you were to die, you see, then
your brother, Edward, would be earl.”

Tristan’s brows narrowed. “My brother? Why that’s
absurd.” A hint of unleashed anger trailed in Tristan’s voice, making Andrews take
a step back.

“Only meant, my lord, that we must look at all
possibilities.”

“Well, that possibility is out. Is that clear, Andrews?”

“Quite clear, my lord.” Andrews sank back into his seat.
“Is there any person that owes you a debt, someone curious about the diamond,
or anyone that you may have insulted lately?”

“Insulted lately?” Tristan chuckled. There was Kate. He
had insulted her in the carriage, and what a ride that had been!

“There could be many on that list Andrews. Yet, I cannot
think of anyone who would want to kill me.”
Besides a Napoleon sympathizer.
“What about Fletcher?”

“Manning was correct. Harold Fletcher had been staying
at the local inn by the docks that very same day he was to meet you at the
Hunting Fox. Some say there was a sailor with him as well. Not much more
information than that.” The Runner downed the remaining bit of tea. “By the way,
did you know that Lord Douberry was a friend of Fletcher?" 

Tristan paused. “Douberry?” Now that was news worth
paying for.

Andrews wrinkled his brow. “You do know the baron, don’t
you?”

“Indeed. The man may be counted as one of my enemies. Two
months ago, I saw past Douberry’s cheating ways and beat him soundly out of
eight thousand pounds. Course, the man vowed to get even.”

Andrews scratched his head. “A possible suspect then.”

Tristan answered with a grim nod. “The man’s such an
addlepated peagoose, I never thought about him being a worthy adversary. But
yes, Andrews, I would say that with this new information, Douberry is a
possible suspect.” 

S
itting on his horse
at the edge of Hyde Park, Tristan eyed the duke’s phaeton being pulled by a
magnificent set of matching bays. It was the fashionable hour, and Lady
Charlotte and Miss Katherine Wilcox sat beside the duke as he showed off his
newly acquired extra-wide vehicle.

The black lacquered phaeton had been the talk at the
clubs for the past week. Much to Tristan’s delight, the broad seating was still
not wide enough to hold Devin, who was forced to ride on his horse alongside
the phaeton.

Tristan quickly gestured his animal to move closer.

“Fancy seeing you here, Lord Lancewood.”

The familiar voice made Tristan turn his head in
surprise. “Lady Helen.” He tipped his hat to the female sitting atop her horse,
vividly recalling the dark-haired beauty as a brassy sort of chit who had
wanted to marry into money and title.

She batted her thick lashes. “Goodness, I haven’t seen
you since last Season.”

For good reason, my lady.
But Tristan smiled and said nothing. He nodded to her
father mounted on a horse about ten yards away.

As
the lady inched closer, he was assaulted by a wave of heavy rosewater that
could fill a boudoir for a week. “Still searching for that diamond? Like your
father?”

Like his mad father
,
but she dared not say the words for Tristan was a prized catch in her
estimation. “Indeed, madam, but I shall enjoy the Season nevertheless.” 

Lady Helen rested a gloved hand upon his arm. “How
wonderful. I do hope to see you at many of the balls.” She let out a breathy
sigh. “Oh dear. Father is calling to me. I must go. Good day, my lord. I do hope
to see much of you this Season.”

“Good day, Lady Helen.”  Hopefully, she would find some
other sap by then. He tipped his hat, steering his horse in Kate’s direction.

As the phaeton rolled along the budding scenery of Hyde
Park, Kate caught sight of Tristan and a dark-haired beauty conversing across
the way. Jealousy overwhelmed her.

She tried to forget the way he made her feel when he’d
kissed her, but memories of him lingered in her mind as if it were yesterday. His
towering stance, his finely chiseled profile, his laughing emerald eyes, his
gentle touch when he pressed his lips to hers.

Of course, the cold dip in the lake didn’t soothe her
ego any. But she seemed to react so strongly to anything he did, she was sure
she was going mad.

She frowned when the dark-haired beauty rested an
intimate hand upon Tristan’s arm as the oaf smiled back at her. Kate looked
away, her heart thumping outside her chest. He was nothing more than a rake! What
was wrong with her to think she was attracted to him? 

“Lovely day, Katherine,” Devin said, dragging her away
from her thoughts.

She
smiled up at her cousin. “Yes, quite lovely, indeed.” 

And
it was. The robins were chirping. The sun was shining. And the people of the
illustrious ton were decked out like peacocks, strutting their newest creations
about the park, making Kate feel quite at home. Boston society was not much
different after all.

She wasn’t surprised when moments later Tristan greeted
the entourage with a quick smile and debonair bow while sitting on his horse. Kate
nodded, struggling to compose herself.

The duke pulled back on the leather reins, acknowledging
the earl with a jovial smile. “And pray, are we going to see more of you this
Season than last, Lancewood?"

“Indeed, I intend to enjoy this Season very much, Your Grace."
Tristan flashed a wicked grin in Kate’s direction. “You can be sure of my
presence many times over."

“Wonderful, wonderful,” the duke expressed with delight.
“Bring that brother of yours around as well. We have two young ladies to escort
this Season, you know.” 

Charlotte blushed.

Inwardly, Kate groaned.

Tristan smiled at Devin. “I have already set my time
aside, Your Grace. You see, I promised your firstborn that I am very willing to
help as an escort
all
Season.”

“I
won’t hold you to that,” Devin said curtly.

“A promise is a promise," Tristan said before
leaning toward the phaeton. “With Your Grace’s permission, I would like to call
upon your niece for a small shopping excursion tomorrow. Show her about and
what not. And Lady Charlotte shall come as well?”

“With you? Absolutely, by all means."

Tristan gave Kate a slow, secret smile, and she
stiffened. She had no time to answer. She was not even asked. She raised her
chin and searched the park, acting not the least bit interested in the
unbelievable conversation that was taking place.

“Very well then, I shall call upon the ladies at
precisely two o’clock.” 

Kate shifted a quick glance in Tristan’s direction. His
words carried a hint of laughter. Before she could form a reasonable reply, he
tipped his hat and was off in the opposite direction.

“Father,” Charlotte asked, hiding her smile at Kate’s
predicament, “before we return home, could we stop for an ice at
Gunter’s?"

“Certainly my dear. That is, if Katherine wouldn’t
mind.” 

Kate feigned a thin smile. “Sounds delightful.”

They
were at Gunter’s fifteen minutes later, eating their ices when the bell above
the door jingled. Kate caught sight of a very handsome gentleman striding
toward them. His hair was a deep chestnut brown. His eyes as blue as the sky. He
had an athletic build, but there was something familiar about his gait. He gave
the group a neat bow, but beneath his hooded eyes, Kate caught the flash of
desire he directed toward Charlotte. How very interesting.

“Good afternoon, Your Grace. I saw your phaeton outside
and decided to see for myself if the word was true."

“What word is that?” the duke asked.

“Why, word has it that you have the two fairest beauties
in all the land traveling with you. But I do not believe I’ve met one of them.”

Devin rose. “Allow me to introduce my cousin, Miss Katherine
Wilcox. Miss Wilcox, Mr. Edward Fullerton, our neighbor.”

Kate offered him her hand. Ah, so this was Charlotte’s Edward.
How utterly charming. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Fullerton.”

“Delighted, Miss Wilcox.” Edward drew her hand up for a
kiss, then immediately dropped his gaze to Charlotte. “Ah, Lady Charlotte, you
do look ravishing today.” He held her hand and kissed it a bit longer than Kate’s.

The duke narrowed his brows. “Edward?”

Edward angled his head toward the duke. “Your
Grace?"

The man pointed across the table. “Have a seat next to
my Charlotte.” It was another command. “An ice?"

“No, thank you.” Edward smiled and quickly pulled up a
chair.

As
the group finished their ices, Kate heard a high-pitched giggle and glanced
toward the front door. To her shock that dark-haired beauty from the park was
cackling like a lovesick schoolgirl, and she had her hands attached to Tristan
– again!

Minutes before Tristan had entered Gunter’s, he’d
noticed the duke’s crest on the phaeton outside. He was about to enter alone
when Lady Helen planted herself alongside him. Sunk her claws into him was more
like it.

Blast the interfering chit! And blast her father as well! 

The man was ready and willing to leave his daughter
alone with him, informing Tristan that he would return for his daughter within
the hour. Tristan had no recourse but to allow Lady Helen to accompany him. When
he entered the shop, he knew the exact moment Kate caught sight of him. Their
eyes had locked in a battle of wills, and then she had looked away.

Was the lady merely irritated about their excursion the
following day, or was it jealousy that had caused that dangerous spark in
Kate’s eye? The latter notion warmed Tristan considerably.

Though the crowd in Gunter’s was large, Tristan lost
sight of Kate, but decided to work his way toward the duke’s table and make the
best of his situation. When he finally reached his destination on the far side
of the room, he realized the group had already made their way toward door.

How had he missed them? He turned and heard the bell
above the door. Kate was leaving, and devil take it, she was on the arm of his
best friend! 

“Confound it,” he murmured.

Lady Helen tightened her hold about his arm. “Oh, are
they out of ices, my lord?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

Tristan stared at the annoying lady. “Nothing. Nothing
at all.” Nothing that a cold ice in your face wouldn’t help, he thought, but only
gritted his teeth and smiled.

“He said precisely two o’clock, did he not, Charlotte?”

Garbed in a pink and white dotted muslin gown with a
collar of white lace, Kate tugged at her white gloves and glanced at her
smiling cousin, waiting for an answer.

“Yes, he did,” Charlotte replied. “He’s simply a few
minutes late. No need to worry." 

K
ate plopped herself into a wing chair,
glaring at the
Egyptian motif that
blanketed the walls of the drawing room.
She was not going to be this
Season’s amusement for the wealthy, very eligible earl.
Not Katherine Wilcox.

“Oh,
believe me, Charlotte, I’m not worried. I’m furious. I never had a chance to
answer him. He circumvented me by asking you father about the outing today. And
he’s not only a few minutes late, he’s thirty minutes late.”

Charlotte
pressed her lips together, avoiding a reply.

Kate
tapped her white satin slipper against the rug. Never mind how the earl
contrived the outing today, it was that woman in the shop that infuriated her.

“Ah ladies, our dear Lancewood is late, I presume?” 

A smiling Devin swept into the drawing room, holding a
glass of claret in his hands.

“It’s more than a presumption,
dear
cousin. It is
a fact.” Kate marched toward the doors, too infuriated to wait a minute longer
for Tristan, especially under Devin’s cat-licking–the-cream grin. “Do let me
know when the earl arrives, if you please."

Frowning, Charlotte followed Kate up the stairs.

It was only five minutes later when Devin greeted Tristan
in the drawing room and offered him a drink. “I trust nothing tragic happened
to you since you are thirty minutes late.”

“Nothing important,” Tristan said as he accepted the
claret from Devin and took a seat.

Tristan could never mention that he had been at
Whitehall, informing his superiors that Lord Douberry could have ties to the
diamond since the man had a connection to Fletcher.

“And how is Kate enjoying the Season?” Tristan asked.

Devin’s hand on his glass tightened. “Kate?” he asked,
his smile fading.   

Devil take it. Tristan had been thinking too much about
that blasted gem and not enough about formalities. To call Devin’s cousin by
her first name was too intimate by far.

“And pray tell, what gives you the right to call my
cousin,
Kate
?"

Amused, Tristan realized Devin was jealous. Perhaps it
was time to be honest with his friend. “Since I met her. And I don’t mean ten
years ago.”

“At the lake?" Devin asked with a scowl.

Tristan took a sip of wine. “No, at the inn.”

Devin’s face turned purple as he rose from his seat and
clanked his glass on the rosewood end table beside him. “Exactly what are you
saying?”

“Oh, devil take it.” Tristan set his drink down and
unfolded himself slowly from his seat. “It’s not what you think. Calm yourself.”

“Calm myself?” Before another word was said, Devin
raised his fist, slamming it straight into the Tristan’s jaw.

Tristan staggered back, falling over his chair. He sat
up, rubbing his chin, more surprised than shocked. “Quite gallant of you, Dev,
but I assure you, if you continue on with this charade, my patience will run
thin.”

“Your patience? I believe you have the matter reversed.”

Standing, Tristan massaged the side of his face. He
understood his friend’s feelings for Kate, but things had gone far enough. “Let
me explain.”

“You have fifteen seconds,” Devin said coolly, his
stance ready for battle.

Tristan wasn’t about to argue. If Devin wanted a fight,
there was nothing he could do to change his mind, explanation or not. But he
did owe his friend the truth. “Do you recall my story about the chit who
appeared almost a month ago at the inn?” 

Devin folded his arms tightly across his chest and
nodded.

Tristan would have smiled if the subject weren’t so
personal, and if he weren’t fighting his best friend over a woman. “Well, that
same female I told you about was your cousin,
Kate
.”  He threw his arms
up in protest as Devin stiffened. “I had no idea who she was at the time. Nothing
happened. I give you my word.”