Once Upon a Diamond (30 page)

Charlotte and Devin were locked in conversation behind
Kate and turned to greet Tristan’s mother, too. Robert lifted the countess’s
hand and thanked her for hosting Matthew and Kate during a most difficult time
and asked for the pleasure of the next dance.

Lady Lancewood nodded and let out a brittle smile,
allowing Robert to lead her to the dance floor. The woman was her
mother-in-law, Kate thought with a sigh. There was no better time than the
present to introduce the families to each other.

“I don’t see your husband or Edward,” Charlotte
whispered anxiously to Kate. “Maybe they’re not coming. Edward hasn’t seen me
in days. I sent him a letter about Mr. Manning’s offer. Maybe Edward doesn’t
want me anymore.” 

Kate sensed the pain in Charlotte’s voice and squeezed
her hand. “I don’t believe your father will make you accept Mr. Manning. And I’m
sure Edward still wants you.”

Charlotte heaved a worried sigh. “I heard Devin mention
something to Father about that diamond this morning. I didn’t get to talk to
him. Something is in the wind.”

Kate’s heart twisted. The diamond. Was her life to
revolve around a stupid stone? 

She was about to mention her feelings to Charlotte when
to her disgust, Lady Helen appeared at their side. The woman was dressed in a
low cut, shimmering, blue gown, fluttering her oriental fan about like a shield.
“Miss Wilcox, so good to see you again. Ah, and Lady Charlotte, you do look
enchanting tonight.”

Charlotte and Kate greeted the woman with forced smiles.

“Lady Helen,” Kate went on, barely able to stand in the
lady’s presence without slapping that annoying fan closed, “It’s seems we are
forever bumping into each other.”

“It seems to be the case, I’m afraid.” The fan began to
move faster as the woman lifted her nose higher. “And it also appears that we
have something in common, Miss Wilcox, even though we seem to be at odds with
each other."

“We do?” Kate questioned coolly.

Charlotte nudged Kate in the back and excused herself as
she turned and carried on a conversation with Devin who was two steps behind
them. The two cousins were obviously listening to every word that was said.

Lady Helen snapped her fan closed, pointing it at Kate's
shoulder, her voice an angry whisper. “You sneaky Americans. You are all alike.
If you think for one minute that you’re going to leech off the English you are
sorely mistaken. You will not marry the earl if I have anything to say about it.” 

Then to Kate’s annoyance the impertinent woman flipped open
her fan open, as if nothing had happened and began batting her eyes, smiling at
the people passing by. Kate fought the urge to drive the object up the woman’s
haughty nose.

Suddenly the fan snapped closed again and the woman
glared at Kate. “If you believe you’ll trap Lancewood into marriage, you’ll be
heartily sorry. It’s all over the ton that you stayed at his townhouse last
week. Your reputation is ruined. That mother of his is no one’s chaperone. Might
as well pack up your bags and head back to your uncivilized society. Anyone can
marry you there."

Kate narrowed her eyes in rage. Of all the spiteful
nerve! “You, Lady Helen, are what they call back in America a
–
”

“Good evening ladies." 

Tristan’s greeting stopped Kate from finishing. He met
Kate’s hardened gaze with a crooked lift of his mouth. The endearment softened
her heart. But it seemed she hadn’t moved quickly enough. Lady Helen had
already clamped her claws into her husband’s arm and smiled back at Kate with a
triumphant sneer.

“My lord,” Lady Helen said in a seductive tone, “Where
have you been, darling? I thought you promised me a dance tonight.”

Kate felt her heart crumble.
He never loved her.

Tristan
eyed the two women and lifted a dark brow. “Been rather busy lately. But
really, my dear girl, I do not remember promising a dance to anyone but Miss
Wilcox.” 

He
rolled Lady Helen’s paws off his arm and reached for Kate’s hand. “Miss Wilcox.
I do believe this is your dance." With a dismissing nod to Lady Helen, Tristan
pulled Kate onto the dance floor for a waltz.

“I believe that woman is daft," Kate finally said.

Tristan frowned. “Why? Did she do something to you?” 

Lady Helen was still on Tristan’s list of possible
suspects. He thought her simply a silly woman wanting to grab a rich husband. But
he had readily observed the woman’s treatment of Kate, making him all too wary
of her as a possible murderer.

He eyed the lady in question who was fanning herself, as
if she were having convulsions of the hand. She hadn’t known anything about
Kate until after the inn incident. Or had she? Nothing made sense anymore. If
the lady was conspiring against him, her last encounter with Kate would only
add fuel to the fire.

Kate interrupted his solemn stare. “She didn’t say much,
just batted that flimsy fan around, beneath her shifty gaze. And speaking of
shifty, where were you the past few days?"

He stared at her, wondering what he was to say about his
visit to the docks while he was investigating Fletcher’s death and the missing diamond.
Telling her about the attempts on his life would only make her try to protect
him, like she had at the inn.

He had tried to keep his distance from her until things
had settled down. He had already included Edward in the hazardous
investigation, something he had vowed he never would do.

He certainly didn’t want his wife involved. Knowing
Kate, she would carry a pistol in some concealed pocket of her cloak and would
probably end up shooting herself or some innocent person.

No, she was safer not knowing anything at all. But her
connection to him since she had come to England still put her at risk, and it
scared the hell out of him.

“Kate, I want you to stay close to me, your father, or
Devin tonight. Promise me.”

Her brown eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why?”

“Just promise me."

“What if someone asks me to dance?”

“Dash it all. Tell them you hurt your ankle.” 

Her nose tilted in the air. “Why did I even come to this
ball in the first place?”

Tristan
wondered why he even tried. Stubbornness ran in this family like milk from a
cow. He tightened his hold on her. “Promise me.” 

“No. I won’t promise you. I shall dance if I choose. Believe
me, I am not as addlebrained as you think I am.”

“You will do as I say,” he commanded. “
You
are my
wife.”

“So I am,” she said with a scowl as he drew her off the
dance floor where Devin was standing. “But I won’t cater to your demands now,
or ever.”

It
was obvious to Kate that Tristan didn’t want her to dance with anyone else
because he was trying to protect her. But why? Her mind raced over the bizarre
happenings since she had come to England. There was that incident at the inn. The
search for the missing diamond. Matthew’s shooting. And now Tristan’s strange
behavior.

She
had a thought that someone was trying to kill Tristan, but dismissed the dead
man at the inn as someone who wanted the earl’s purse or possibly the missing
diamond. But Matthew’s shooting lingered in the back of her brain. Was Tristan afraid
someone would kill her? It seemed preposterous. Nevertheless, why could Tristan
not confide in her? There were too many questions. Did he not trust her?

Kate ignored Tristan’s glare and turned to Devin. “Where’s
Charlotte?”

“Over there,” Devin replied with a scowl, pointing out
his sister dancing with Manning. “The cad’s a pushy one.” 

Tristan’s eyes narrowed on the couple. “Sly, too. If I
don’t miss my guess, the gentleman has his eye on that dowry of hers."

Devin growled. “And I don’t know that? Why can’t my
father see through that obvious façade? The devil! Where is that brother of
yours? He should have showed up days ago.”

When Lady Bartswood came to speak to Kate, Tristan took
that moment to whisper to Devin. “Edward was with me at the docks. We were
investigating Fletcher’s murder. Another man was found near the same place. Dead.
Had a sack of silver on him.”

After their hostess left Kate’s side, Tristan
straightened his cravat and looked about the room, realizing Kate was leaning
forward, trying to listen in on their conversation.

He decided to change the subject. “My brother found out
about Manning’s proposal at breakfast this morning when he read Lady
Charlotte’s letter. He hadn’t finished his kippers before everything went
flying through the air along with his plate. And
there is the crazed
man now.”

Clad in dark evening attire, Edward appeared in the
doorway.

Kate gasped at the loaded expression spreading across
his face. Why, gentle Edward looked like he was going to kill somebody!

Kate took a step forward when she saw Edward starting
across the dance floor. But Tristan wrapped a strong hand around her waist and
yanked her back.

“You’re staying right here, sweetheart.”

“But he’s going after Mr. Manning!” 

Kate gritted her teeth and was forced to watch from the
sidelines. She only hoped Charlotte could see Edward coming.

The punch was smooth and damaging. Manning flew to the
ground with a thud. A strained hush filled the room. Kate groaned as Edward
jerked Charlotte off the dance floor and headed in a direct path toward the
duke.

“That will fill the gossip for weeks,” Devin replied, smiling.
“It seems this is the month for punches, don’t you think?”

On the far side of the room, leaning against a white
stone pillar, the duke waited calmly, sipping his wine. Even though the music
began for the next dance, all eyes were attached to Mr. Edward Fullerton towing
a bewildered Lady Charlotte across the floor.

The onlookers began to murmur to each other.

“By Jove, thought this party was getting rather dull.”

“Looks like Fullerton has perked things up a bit."

“Unconventional, to say the least.”

“The duke don’t look happy.”

“Your Grace,” Edward said to the duke, not caring who
heard. “This may be inappropriate to state my concerns now, but I wish to have
your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

Edward
lifted his chin, his hand still attached to Charlotte’s.

After a pause, the duke smiled. “It’s about time,
Mr.
Fullerton
.” 

He
shook Edward’s hand and whispered, “Took you long enough. Thought my Charlotte
would shrivel up and die if you let one more day pass without asking for her
hand. Come by tomorrow and we shall speak about it then. Wouldn’t do to give
the ton any more to gossip about, would it?" He winked and proceeded to
drink from his glass.

Edward blinked. Charlotte stood beside him, stiff as a
board. Finally, having registered what the duke had said, Edward flashed a
smile. “Of course, Your Grace. Tomorrow then.” Edward strutted out of the
ballroom with Charlotte trailing behind him.

Satisfied with the night’s entertainment, a roar of
conversation filled the ballroom.

Kate let out a relieved sigh. “He certainly surprised me."

“Who?” Devin asked. “Edward or my father?”

Kate giggled. “Both.”

Tristan shrugged. “My brother fought for what he wanted.
Now, he has it. That’s not surprising, is it?” 

There was a hunger in his emerald gaze that sent a warm
tingle throughout her body. He wanted her. He was obviously fond of her. But
did he love her?

A minute later while Tristan and Devin were in heavy
conversation with Lord Bartswood, Kate made her way toward her father, but as
fate would have it, she tripped over someone’s foot and stumbled into a
gentleman’s arms.

“Miss Wilcox, are you all right?"

Kate
blinked. Lord Douberry had pulled her against his chest in a most unseemly hold.
She pulled back, but not before she gained a whiff of his obnoxious breath. “I’m
quite all right.”
Or I will be, as soon as you drop your roaming paws.

He tightened his hold. “A dance, my dear?" Before
Kate had a chance to say no, the baron yanked her into the midst of dancers.

Tristan froze the moment he caught sight of his wife in
the arms of the drunken baron. Not only could the man be a traitor to the Crown,
he could also be a cold-blooded murderer. “The devil!”

Devin grasped his arm. “Calm down, Trist. The baron’s
foxed. Katherine has her wits about her. We’re watching. Nothing can
happen."

Tristan halted his march with a murmured curse. “It’s a
waltz. What happened to all the country dances?” His snarling eyes darted
across the dance floor.

And wits about her? That was an understatement if he
ever heard one.

Coming up beside him, Robert happened to catch the
earl’s reaction. “Seems you have an uncanny attraction to my daughter.”

Tristan kept his eyes on Kate. “I hate to tell you this,
but for the safety of your daughter, you must know that the man dancing with
her is on my list of suspects who want me dead. I’d keep your eye on that
headstrong daughter of yours at all times."