Page 46 of The Lady Glass
“Why would Mr. Stewart travel with a shotgun and a pistol?”
Rolland’s posture relaxed. “For hunting and protection. The same reason many men travel with guns.”
Her shoulders lowered. “I didn’t think of that.” She’d been at the seminary too long, and her experience with men was so limited, it embarrassed her.
“Did you discover anything else?”
“No vase and no bloody gloves to frame him as a criminal.”
“What of Miss Yearsley’s bedchamber?”
“No skeletons.” She paused. “But... no, it’s hardly worth mentioning.” She shook her head, changing her mind.
“What is it? However small it is, it could still be a clue.”
“I found a pair of bohemian crystal earrings in Miss Yearsley’s room.”
“It could be coincidence.” Rolland scratched his square jaw. “If she wears them, I want you to compliment her and ask her about them.”
Theresia agreed.
His posture relaxed. “It sounds like a successful mission to me. You’re crossing people off your list, which ought to make you happy.”
She sighed. “I suppose.”
He leaned down and gently tapped her cheek with one finger. “Shouldn’t you at least reward this herculean form for not truly stepping on your foot and for my impeccable guard efforts with a smile?”
Her lips inevitably curled into a grin, but only because her body responded of its own accord to his touch. “It was a risk for you tonight as well. I am indebted to you.” Gravity seemed to pull her closer to him, and the air around them thickened.
“I will claim a favor another time, as I must return to the drawing room before I am missed. For now, hurry to your room and be certain to lock the door behind you.” His words said one thing, but his eyes said another.
“After I collect my book from Mr. Stewart, though, right?”
The mention of Mr. Stewart made Rolland scowl. “You practically invited him to your room. Your behavior could give a man the wrong idea.”
She tilted her head, not terribly pleased by his chastisement. “I’ve never given you the wrong idea.”
His eyes narrowed and his head lowered a fraction more. “Noteven the second time you broke into my bedchamber.”
“It’s petty of you to keep bringing that up.” She turned toward her room to hide her grin, although there was no masking the smile in her tone. She needed a little space to cool the heat in her cheeks.
She heard him chuckle and glanced over her shoulder to see him begin his descent down the stairs. He wasn’t quite as serious as he had been before, and the thought lightened her heart. Despite another night passing without the vase in her possession, Rolland had truly managed to cheer her up. She reached up and felt the ghost of his finger on her cheek. He was everything a good man should be.
Perhaps there was an Englishman she could trust after all.
Chapter 22
The picnic scheduled for theday was rained out and postponed for better weather. Guests wandered to various parts of the house with excuses to nap, write letters, or read while they waited for the storm to let up. Besides the thunder outside the walls of Ashbury Court, the world was quiet. Too quiet.
Rolland found himself staring through a lone window at the end of a main floor corridor. Instead of seeing the rain, his mind conjured a different image, one he knew was in the not-far-away drawing room. He hadn’t meant to think on Theresia again, but how could he not? He wanted to be near her. To see her smile. Which was precisely why he kept his distance. Her presence distracted him.
Had it been this way with any woman he’d known before the war? Theresia had not been part of any plan or dream of his. Even then his dream of being a soldier had driven his thoughts and actions. Watching his uncle serve as an admiral in the navy had inspired him from a young age. Uncle had been devoted. Courageous. A hero. Rolland had wanted to dedicate himself similarly. What cause was greater than protecting one’s home and country? He and his unlikely friends at school had risked their lives a few times acting as spies for the government, and when Rolland’s uncle died, there had been no stopping him from taking up the torch in the navy, the sea and the war claiming his loyalty.
But how could he avoid Theresia? Her presence breathed an energy into him that sent his head spinning. She was kind, tenacious, and determined. One minute she was climbing trellises and the next she was worrying about his injury.
He growled and rotated his tight shoulder, forcing his thoughts to run through the list of guest names in his head instead of thinking about how witty and vexing Theresia was.Unfortunately, the change in subject didn’t settle him either. He and his friends had not had any communication from outside sources revealing other criminal acts toward the delegates. While an utter relief, it was also frustrating not to have any more clues to go off of.
Marcus came out of his actual study, and Rolland dipped his head in a voiceless greeting.
