Page 19 of The Stolen Sparkler
I rushed to step back from the door, my slippered feet moving silently on the thick carpet as I hid from view behind one of the many Christmas trees that had been placed around the hall. Felicity quickly followed her brother out of the side room. But rather than follow him up the stairs, she paused. Her brow wrinkled as she gazed around, probably to make sure no one had overheard their conversation. Little did she know she was much too late. A few moments later, she shrugged and moved in the direction of the dining room.
As I had suspected, Felicity had stolen the necklace, and she’d already passed it to Lord Burkett. Edwin’s connection to Lord Cumberforth’s family was unexpected. Lavinia somehow believed that Edwin had been born on the wrong side of the blanket, and Lord Burkett was his father.
The grandfather clock in the hall chimed the hour—eight o’clock. There was no time to waste. I had to let the duke know right away what I’d learned. The recollection of last night rose unbidden in my mind. We hadn’t exactly parted amicably. Just the opposite. I’d stormed out of the study. But my feelings were not important. Finding Eleanor’s necklace was. Last night be damned.
I carefully made my way to the duke’s bedchamber making sure I wasn’t seen. If someone caught me slipping into his room, my reputation would be ruined. Thankfully, none of the other guests seemed to be awake. Once I reached the duke’s chamber, I knocked softly on the wood panel. A gentleman dressed in a servant’s garment answered the door.
“I’m Lady Rosalynd. I need to speak to His Grace. It’s a matter of some urgency,” I announced in a whisper.
“Roberts? What is it?” the duke’s voice demanded.
“Lady Rosalynd, Your Grace.”
He appeared barely half-dressed. Trousers donned, thank heaven, but his shirt was half open, revealing more than was proper. “What are you doing here?”
I pushed my way past his valet. “We must talk. I overheard a conversation.”
The duke turned to his manservant. “Roberts, that will be all.” His dark hair gleamed wet, evidence he’d just bathed.
“Your Grace.” His valet bowed before making his way out of the chamber, the door closing softly behind him.
Steele’s angry gaze landed on me. “If anybody saw you, a scandal will most surely ensue.” And then without the slightest thought to etiquette, he proceeded to button his shirt to his neck. He could have at least excused himself to finish dressing.
“I made sure I wasn’t.”
He propped his hands on his hips. “You’ve discovered something?”
I crossed the room to be closer to him. I wanted to make sure no one overheard us. Or so I told myself. “I overheard a conversation between Felicity and her brother, Edwin,” I said without preamble. “She stole the necklace for Lord Burkett. He promised her a dowry and generous funds for her brother.” I paused to get a breath. “But that’s not all. Edwin is Burkett’s illegitimate son.”
For the next few minutes, he proceeded to drill me about the details. How did I know it had been Felicity and Edwin? Where were they? How close was I to the door?
He was insufferable. Did he think I’d made it all up? “I heard what I heard, Steele. There’s no fault in my hearing or my sight.”
“No need to get into a snit. I believed your first telling.”
“Then why did you interrogate me?”
“You’ll need to repeat word for word what you just told me to Lord Needham. I wanted to make sure you were letter perfect before you do.”
“Oh!” I felt a fool. “Do you really think Edwin is Burkett’s illegitimate son?”
“That will need to be determined. Not by me, nor you. Needham and his youngest brother will need to hash that out. I believe he’s expected today.” He moved into a room connected to the one we occupied, emerging moments later fully dressed. A vest and a coat now completed his ensemble. Except for his Snow White shirt, everything else was black.
“I’ll go first,” he said. “If the coast is clear, I’ll crack open the door so you can emerge.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Lady Rosalynd. I don’t wish to embroil myself in a scandal any more than you do.” He’d once more assumed his tight lipped expression. “The only way out of that would be a wedding. And neither of us wish for that debacle.”
Just like that, we were back to where we’d been last night. At odds with each other. My stay at Needham Hall could not end fast enough. “No indeed, Your Grace.”
With a nod, he slipped out the door. A few moments later, the door snicked open. Glancing right and left, I made my way from the room. Thankfully, no one was in sight. At the top of the stairs, I greeted the duke with a simple “Good morning.” If anyone was within earshot, they would not remark upon it.
Silently, we made our way to the dining room where we found several guests enjoying their breakfast. Because the ball would be held tonight, there were no festivities planned this morning. We were meant to rest and enjoy ourselves before the evening ball.
As we approached the baseboard where the dishes had been laid out, the duke dropped a soft word in Lord Needham’s ear who simply nodded. Eleanor wore an air of anxiety about her. Cumberforth sat next to her quietly conversing with her. NeitherFelicity nor Edwin was present. But Lord and Lady Burkett as well as Lavinia and her brother, Alastair, were. He didn’t appear to have a care in the world. Lavinia’s face, however, was a mirror image of Eleanor’s. I couldn’t believe she’d carry through with her threat. But then she had her own objectives. Did she hope by revealing all, the engagement would end? If she thought such a thing, she was a fool. Eleanor and Cumberforth were deeply in love with each other. I only hoped that everything would be cleared by tonight.
CHAPTER 9
