Laurie Benson - An Unexpected Countess

She released his hand and stepped back. ‘Do not look for a kiss from me. The kiss you received from another woman tonight should keep you content.’

He crossed his arms. ‘What makes you think it was one kiss?’

Sometimes he made it so easy to resist that pull she felt towards him. She turned and made her way through the overgrown brush to the small, delicate, wrought-iron gate. ‘The details of your love life do not interest me, my lord,’ she replied over her shoulder, grateful to be leaving the arrogant Earl.

* * *

When she climbed into the carriage waiting a few streets away, she met the eager expression of her dearest friend and closest confidant, Katrina, Duchess of Lyonsdale.

‘Well, did you find it?’ Katrina slid across the green velvet bench in the well-appointed carriage, making room for Sarah to sit down.

Sarah shook her head while removing her hat and cape. The danger she had put herself in by breaking into the Everill town house had all been for naught. ‘I searched her room from top to bottom, and the bracelet was nowhere to be found. She must be wearing it tonight.’

‘Now what will you do?’

‘I’m not sure. If she continues to wear it everywhere she goes, I’ll be forced to take it off her wrist.’

Katrina handed Sarah the gown she had changed out of in the carriage when they left the ball. Concern was etched on her brow. ‘You were gone for a long time. I was beginning to worry.’

Sarah let out a sigh as she turned her back so Katrina could button her gown. ‘I was detained by Lord Hartwick on the roof as I was trying to leave.’

‘Hartwick? Does he know what you were doing tonight?’

‘No, he believes I was coming from an assignation with Lord Baxter.’

Katrina’s hand paused midbutton. ‘Do you think that’s wise?’

‘It was better than telling him the truth. With all his indiscretions I doubt he would say anything.’

‘Whatever was he doing on the roof?’

‘Do you really need to ask?’

Katrina resumed buttoning Sarah’s gown. ‘Has he taken up with Everill’s widowed niece?’

‘No, thankfully she was not in residence tonight, from what I could tell by looking into the bedchamber. He was with Lady Helmford.’

‘Why won’t that man ever pursue an unmarried woman?’

‘Because he might be forced to marry one! From what I’ve observed, he grows bored of women easily.’ Sarah began to pin up her hair.

‘I wish he would settle into marriage. I think it would do him good. He always appears rather restless to me.’

‘I pity the woman who falls for the likes of Lord Hartwick. He thinks too highly of himself and is too much of a rake to ever be faithful.’ She turned to face Katrina. ‘How do I look?’

‘You look like you never left the ballroom. I’m sorry this was all for naught.’

So was Sarah. That bracelet was the key to saving her parents great pain. She would not stop until she had it.

* * *

Playing cards with the Prince Regent always proved to be entertaining, especially when the man was losing. Hart leaned back in his chair in the alcove of the bow window of White’s and watched as his friend and sovereign studied the cards in his hand with the intensity of one who was trying to decipher foreign words on a page.

His puffy face was scrunched up as he directed his gaze away from his cards and over to Hart. ‘Do not look smug.’

‘I hadn’t realised I was.’

‘You always do. You have not won this hand yet.’

‘You’re quickly running out of money to bet. I might win by forfeit.’

‘Unlikely.’ Prinny turned to his cards again.

Hart took a sip of brandy and checked his watch. It was close to four in the morning, but it felt much later. He would bow out after this hand and get some much-needed rest. ‘I don’t think the cards will change however long you stare at them.’

‘Don’t rush me, boy.’

Granted Hart was young enough to be the man’s son, however at thirty-two, he was far from a boy. ‘Very well, if I nod off, someone wake me when it’s my turn.’

Prinny finally selected his card and placed it on the table. Hart won the hand and the remainder of his friend’s money. Now he could escape to his bed and sleep for days.

‘One more round, Hart.’

Dammit! How was it possible he was not tired of losing? ‘You have nothing left to bet.’

Prinny turned towards his three companions behind him, ready to plead his case, when they quickly walked away. ‘Useless, the lot of you are useless,’ he called after them.

‘You see,’ Hart said through a yawn. ‘We cannot continue.’

‘One last round. How about we wager for a favour?’

It was always wise to store as many favours as one could. You never knew when you might need them. Considering the luck Prinny was having tonight, Hart was certain he would win. ‘Very well, but this is the last one.’

They went back and forth till finally it was down to one hand. Prinny placed his card down, a victorious smile on his lips. ‘I win.’

Hart had to rub his eyes twice to make certain he was truly awake. Dammit! Now he owed Prinny a favour. The Prince Regent guided him by the elbow to a quiet corner of the room. ‘I mean to collect, you know.’

‘I had no doubt. Something tells me you had a favour in mind all along.’

‘I might have.’

‘You could have simply asked.’

‘True, but now you’re bound by a debt to do this for me.’

‘And there is no one else you could have asked?’

‘No one that I trust to keep this quiet. You cannot tell a soul. Not even Winter.’ If he was not to tell the man responsible for overseeing Prinny’s secret guard, then Hart was truly interested.

‘And you cannot tell Lyonsdale either. I know how close you are.’

‘Very well, you have my word. I shall not tell a soul.’

Prinny lowered himself into a chair and eyed the seat next to him, indicating Hart should sit. Unfortunately, there was a good chance that once he sat down, Hart would not get up until sunrise.

‘Rumours have surfaced that indicate some of the missing French crown jewels are hidden here in London.’

Hart shifted closer to Prinny. ‘I haven’t heard this.’ He prided himself on knowing important details before they became public knowledge and shook off his annoyance.

‘Louis sent word to me through his ambassador. He asked for my help in locating them for France. He wants them back. There is specific mention of the Sancy, a pale yellow diamond that weighs approximately fifty-five carats. It once was part of the Mirror of Great Britain until James sold the stone to Cardinal Mazarin when he needed funds.’

‘What has this to do with me?’

‘I want you to find it.’

‘Why? This seems like a task for the Home Office.’

‘Castlereigh and I have met with them. We were reassured they would locate the jewels.’

‘I don’t understand. If they’re locating them, why would you want to involve me? I do not work with them.’

‘No, but you do work for Winter and I know how cunning you are. I want you to do this for me, without the knowledge of the Home Office.’

Either Hart was much too tired or Prinny was talking in circles, as he was known to do. ‘So you want me to find the French crown jewels that the Home Office is already trying to locate and return them to you?’

‘Just the Sancy.’

‘Why?’

‘Because that diamond should be ours. Just imagine me reclaiming it. It’s too delicious a notion to pass up. I have no intention of returning it to France. I’ll never let Louis or Castlereigh know I possess it. France believes the thief, Guillot, broke apart the crown jewels. He hid clues to the Sancy’s whereabouts in a bracelet shortly after he arrived in England. This bracelet recently surfaced in Rundell & Bridge and was purchased by Everill for his wife. To find the Sancy, you need that bracelet.’