Page 93 of The Lady Glass
She shrugged. “She never wanted anything to do with me from the beginning. Why give me what I wanted most when she could punish me for being left in her care?” Her features went slack. “Wait. Mr. Lewis was already on his way to the house when I arrived. Lady Caspar couldn’t have known I was coming. She was in a hurry to get rid of my vase for another reason entirely.”
Rolland’s mind raced. “Could she have any loyalties to France?” Theresia’s continued safety depended upon them getting to the bottom of this.
“Not that I know of. She said Lord Caspar hates foreigners, and her position in Society is extremely important to her.”
There was a clue here they were missing. A big one.
Big... as in a bigger picture. In his mind Rolland drew a map of the large European powers: Russia, Prussia, Austria, France, and Great Britain. He and his friends had focused on what the other countries might do to prevent Great Britain from their equal say. It seemed strange to think it, but was there a benefit to Great Britain if France joined the negotiations at the conference?
No, not one Rolland could see. But in planning a good strategy, one had to look at every perspective, every possible angle. It had to center on France. As it stood, France was not invited to the conference. Would any power benefit from having them absent?
Rolland rubbed his jaw. Russia? Austria? Prussia... Prussia! They would likely fight the hardest to gain the states closest toFrance, but in doing so, they’d havetoomuch power. Inviting France would keep Prussia in check and therefore benefit Great Britain. The investor, whoever he was, wanted Great Britain to come out the strongest. And Stewart had said he was a lord.
Rolland sucked air between his teeth. This had been an inside job from start to finish.
Theresia had provided the missing clue. Lady Caspar’s motivation for selling the vase had had a different primary motivation than Theresia had thought. Lady Caspar had done it for her new husband. Lord Caspar did not have to like France to want their representatives to come to Vienna. In fact, France would not have to gain anything. Their presence was needed only to act as a buffer against another thriving hungry power.
But England was hungry too. Hungry enough to kill.
“Come. We have a ball to attend.”
“What?” Theresia’s hand went to her hair. “You want to dance? Now?”
He set his hands on her forearms, careful to avoid the bruise by her wrist. “Lady Caspar was helping her husband. We cannot risk them leaving once they discover Lewis and Mr. Stewart are missing.”
“Are you certain they’re involved?”
“There’s only one way to find out. But I won’t pressure you to join me.”
“I thank you for the choice, but after what happened upstairs, I would prefer to stay together this time.” Her hands went back to her hair. “The tear in my hem is minor enough that it might be hidden with the crush, but is the rest of me passable?”
“You exceed the word. You’ll put all the other debutantes to shame.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “I won’t let anything happen to you this time.”
“I know.”
He wanted to assure her of so much more, but time was of theessence. “Our previous discussion is temporarily on hold, but we will finish. I promise.”
Her smile was all he needed. At the door he instructed Mr. Hobson to hold the room for him.
“What’s your plan?” she asked him as they rushed down the corridor to the ballroom.
“We need to lure them away from the others. We can’t make a scene. I don’t want anything to reflect poorly on Her Grace after all she has sacrificed this last month.”
“Let me do it.”
“Are you certain?”
“You’re not the only one who wants to hurry back to the library.” She caught his eye and grinned.
“Don’t distract me. You’re staying by my side. And no unnecessary risks!” He pulled open the door to the ballroom and led Theresia inside. It wasn’t nearly as crowded as the previous ball the month before. In his quick scan he noticed for the first time the beautiful late summer blooms in colorful boughs and garlands accenting the room. With Theresia near him, the room had far more color than before.
“They’re along the wall, just there.” Theresia nudged him with her arm. “Thank heavens we’re not too late.”
He searched in the direction of her gaze, through couples gathering for the next set, until he found Lord and Lady Caspar and their daughter conversing with Her Grace and Lady Cadogen. Were Her Grace and Lady Cadogen even now telling them about what had happened upstairs?
“Oh, Captain Reese!”
He glanced over to see a matron clasping her daughter’s hand and yanking her toward him. He vaguely remembered meeting her and her unattached daughter at the duke’s first ball. Another matron caught his eye and waved.
