“I could draw it if that makes it easier. I can picture it now.”
Adele stood and grabbed a few sheets of paper and a pencil from the writing desk in the corner. She handed them to Smith, who put the papers right on the chessboard. He quickly sketched out a coat of arms with four sections. He drew three lions in each of the top right and bottom left sections, then three boars each in the top left and bottom right sections. He had to pause and closehis eyes a few times as he drew, as if he were trying very hard to picture exactly what it looked like.
“I am not as good at drawing as I am at chess,” he said, handing his sketch to Adele. “But that is what I see in my head when I picture the ring. The ruby is right in the center, where the four sections meet. I see anSalso, somewhere on the ring. Maybe inscribed in the band.” He grunted. “It is ridiculous to me that I can picture this ring but still cannot recall my name.
“This is still a very important clue.” Adele felt nearly giddy now. “Your family name must begin with anS. Not Smith, but likely not far off the mark. Of course, there are probably dozens of peers with names that start withS. Salisbury, Somerset, Shrewsbury, Suffolk… it could be any of those.”
Smith tilted his head. “None of those seem familiar.”
“Those were just the firstSnames that popped into my head. The Earl of Suffolk must be older than fifty, for example, so clearly you are not him. The Marquess of Salisbury is an ancient man. Which is not to say that you may not be related to those men, I do not know. These are just guesses.”
“I do appreciate your help, if I have not said. I do not believe I could figure any of this out on my own.”
“You are welcome. You seem like a good man and I would like to help you.”
“You would like me out of your hair, you mean.”
“Not at all. I enjoy your company. Why, we’ve spent nearly all day today playing games, and I’ve never once felt bored.”
He chuckled. “Do you often feel bored?”
“I suppose. The countess cheats at cards, which is frustrating, and Hodges occasionally plays chess with me but is not very good. It is nice to have a challenge.”
Smith stood. “Then I shall endeavor to make sure you are never bored when you are in my company.”
Her heart began to beat harder as he approached her. “I can’t see how I would be bored with you around.”
“Do you think we now have enough clues to piece together my identity?”
“I certainly hope so. This is a lot right here. How many peerages can there be that start withSand have a boar in their coat of arms?”
“It might almost be sad to return to my old life. Although I have not felt in top physical form, I feel as though I have no particular worries. That is likely because I’ve forgotten them. I have a sense that I often have a lot of responsibilities piled on my shoulders. But it’s almost relaxing in a way to not know what I don’t know, if that makes sense.”
“It does,” she said, aware of how close he stood to her now.
He gazed at her face, a smile playing on her lips. “With no cares, I could almost do anything my mind was set on.”
“You could.”
He smelled good and emanated a warmth Adele found comforting. He was so very tall and had a certain strength looming below his clothing. He was the sort of man artists painted because his beauty was so profound they could not contain themselves.
And he was standing a hairsbreadth from Adele now, and he was very likely going to kiss her.
Her heart pounded in her throat.
“Since I am not of right mind, perhaps you will excuse me this indulgence,” he said.
Then he kissed her.
Adele had not been kissed since her late fiancé had passed, but she found the mechanics of it came back to her in a whoosh of yearning. She’d been wanting this man to kiss her for days and he finally was, and it was all she could do not to throw herself onhim. She opened her mouth for a better taste, and he groaned, clutching her shoulders in his hands.
Then he wavered and stepped back.
“Oh, dear,” she said.
“I apologize, my lady, I am… well, a bit dizzy, if I’m honest.”
“Oh. You must sit down then.”
