Page 19 of The Earl's Error
“This necklace,” he said, speaking clearly but firmly. “I must know if you have stolen it.”
Confusion threw itself into his mother’s frown, her mouth opening and then closing again as she tried to understand. “Stolen it?” she asked, her voice lifting a little higher. “How can I have stolen it when you have it in your hands?”
“Because this,” Theodore answered, taking the necklace from Lord Castleton and bringing it towards, tossing it into her lap, “is not the necklace you wore to the soiree, Mother.” He watched as she picked it up, heard her intake of breath as she realized what he ought to have done much sooner than this. “These emeralds are paste and nothing more. What you have in your hand is a fake.”
The scream that ripped from Lady Albury’s throat made Theodore jump. She leaped up, one hand going to her throat, her eyes huge, her face paling as she threw the necklace onto the couch beside her, as though she could not even stand to be near it.
“Paste?” she screamed, backing away from it and coming towards Theodore, her shock evident in every single movementshe made. “How? How can it be? When did it – and how did it…?”
The way that she responded told Theodore in no uncertain terms that his mother had no knowledge whatsoever of the switch that had been made. She was, in truth, quite horrified, torn apart, even by what she had discovered. Despite his awareness, Theodore was then forced to guide his mother back to another seat whilst Lord Castleton poured a half measure of brandy for her. Still murmuring her sorrows over the jewels, Lady Albury closed her eyes and gripped her brandy glass as though it were the only thing offered to her that might bring a little solace.
“It was not her, then,” Lord Castleton murmured, as Theodore nodded, scowling as he did so. “Then what shall you do?”
“There is only one thing I can do,” Theodore answered, firmly. “I shall go and speak to Lady Melford and her daughter.”
“To accuse them?”
Theodore swallowed but did not shake his head. Now, given that he could not believe that his mother was in any way involved, he had to then think about who might have taken it.
And he simply could not dismiss the possibility that either Lady Melford or Miss Trentworth had, in some way and for their own purposes, been involved.
9
Joceline sighed to herself as she meandered around the drawing room. Her mother had insisted that she needed new gloves before they attended dinner that evening and had taken the carriage to purchase said gloves. Joceline had chosen not to join her. The dinner party with Lord and Lady Billstrom was sure to be an excellent one but Joceline was in no mind to attend. Instead, she thought only about the soiree, the necklace, and all that had taken place.
In her heart, Joceline feared that her mother had been quite correct in all that she had said about Lady Albury. This rivalry between her mother and the lady meant that Joceline could quite easily be caught in the middle, and if Lady Albury was determined to ruin her so that the family name would be destroyed, then what hope did Joceline have? Could she truly escape a lady so determined, so filled with trickery and deceit? Or was there such little hope that Joceline would, one day soon, find herself without excuse or understanding, finding her reputation broken by all that had been said and done?
“My lady, I am sorry but –”
Joceline turned sharply as the butler’s voice filled the room, having not heard him even knock. What astonished her all the more, however, was the sudden arrival of Lord Albury who, much to her horror, pushed past the butler without warning and strode towards her. The dark shadows in his eyes made her heart thump furiously in her chest, fearful now that the maidhadspoken about where she had found the necklace and, subsequently, the rumors had begun.
“Miss Trentworth. I apologize for stepping in without an announcement but this matter cannot wait.”
She blinked. “Lord Albury, good afternoon. As you can see, I am alone at present, for my mother –”
“I am afraid I have no time for propriety. Call a maid if you wish but I will continue.” The gentleman waited, his chin lifting and Joceline, her heart now in her throat, scurried across the room to ring the bell. She waited there, making sure to keep as much space between herself and Lord Albury as she could, her worry biting down upon her, hard.
“You will not wish for the maid to hear what I have to say, Miss Trentworth, so I shall begin before she arrives,” Lord Albury began, succinctly. “I must know what you did with my mother’s necklace.”
Confusion built in Joceline’s mind. “I beg your pardon?”
“What did you do with it?” He began to advance towards her and Joceline’s hands curled tightly, suddenly a trifle afraid. “I know that something happened. You may as well tell me the truth, Miss Trentworth, for it is already out!”
Joceline drew herself up, her shoulders back, her head held high. Taking the slight twist of fear, she narrowed her eyes, determined now to stand against his fierce anger. “How dare you come into my house and talk to me in such a manner?” The way her words rang around the room seemed to give Lord Alburypause. He stopped coming closer to her, blinking for a moment though the frown on his forehead continued to linger.
“You come in here unannounced and, as soon as you hear that I am alone and without company, ought you not to have stepped back? I am astonished to hear that a gentleman of thetonsuch as yourself appears to be so willing to step out of good manners and into impropriety! You come here with anger in your voiceandyour expression, throwing words at me that I have no understanding of whatsoever and expect me, seemingly, to answer you without hesitation!” She tossed her head, aware of her light curls bouncing and praying that it would show him evidence of her dismissal of him. “I confess to be most astonished at your manner, Lord Albury!”
A slow flush began to creep up his neck and went into his face. The gentleman then clasped his hands behind his back, took a step away from her, and coughed once, now appearing to be a little ashamed of himself.
“You are quite right, Miss Trentworth.”
The way that he immediately accepted his wrongdoing and apologized to her made Joceline’s defenses lower instantly. Her shoulders began to lower, the tension in her body began to fade.
“I have come here in a most improper manner. I beg your forgiveness.” He bowed, one hand to his heart. “The matter at hand is most concerning and I have come to you with that frustration, upset, and confusion in my heart.”
The door opened and the maid stepped inside, her eyes darting to Joceline before pulling to the floor.
“Sit there,” Joceline directed, before coming closer to Lord Albury and watching the maid take her seat. “Now, Lord Albury, if you wish to speak with me about this matter at hand, then why do we not sit together? Only for a few minutes, you understand, and I would prefer that we spoke quietly for the last thing I desire is for rumors to be spread throughout this house.”
