She gently leads Arabella away from the curb and out of earshot. “We are friends, are we not, Arabella?”
Arabella laughs, confused. “Of course, why—”
“Then before we lose ourselves to today’s festivities, allow me the honor of presenting you with an engagement gift.”
Arabella shakes her head. “Please, Cora, you’ve already given me so much.”
“Well, this is a secret gift, to be revealed in due course, and meant only foryou. Do you understand, dear friend?”
“Meant only for...” Arabella’s hand drifts to her chest.
“Come now, Arabella!” Mrs. Ames barks, her bulbous frame leaning halfway out of the carriage. “You do know how your father hates to wait!” Her eyes brighten when they fall on Cora. “Miss Ritter, it is high time to royally celebrate, don’t you think?”
“High time, indeed!” As soon as Mrs. Ames slides back inside, Cora presses hastily, “Promise me, Arabella, just for you?”
Clearly perplexed, Arabella says slowly, “I do not know what I am promising, but yes, I give my word that—Oof!”
Arabella startles, though soon relaxes into Cora’s embrace, squeezing back.
When they pull away, Arabella’s eyes are welling. “Goodnessme, always getting so emotional. Mother tells me it is most unbecoming.”
Cora says kindly, “And I might tell her that she does not know everything.”
Arabella flashes her a conspiratorial smile. “May I sit beside you, when we get to Sherry’s?”
A strange sort of sadness overtakes Cora. A vague, regretful ache for what might have been, in another life. “It would be an honor, my friend.”
Arabella climbs into her family’s carriage... unknowingly carrying along with her the team’s showstopper Colombian emerald, as well as Cora’s engagement ring, both now tucked safely inside Arabella’s purse, thanks to Cora’s quick fingers.
Cora can only hope her friend will discover the bounty at an opportune time. Based on Alice’s prior comments about the team’s budget and the emerald’s cost—plus Cora’s new knowledge about the price of gemstones—Cora estimates there may be close to $25,000 now on Arabella’s person. Nothing close to thethirty millionthey’ve just swindled, but certainly enough to provide the Ames girl a fresh start.
In a moment, the Ameses are off, following the carriage train of the rest of the defrauded investors, all but one car gone from the curb.
Cora frowns. She’s certain she saw Vandemeer leave, as well as Mrs. Witt, the Peytons too, the Ameses. Which means...
Cora looks toward the doors, studies the flat windowed facade of the embassy, the sense that something is amiss only mounting.
She hurries toward Ward’s carriage, where he loiters outside, smoking a cigar.
“Is Alice with you?” Cora asks.
Ward lazily turns around with a puff. “I’d assumed she was with you.”
Cora pokes her head inside the carriage, finding only Calvin waiting there. No Alice.
“What’s wrong?” Cal asks. “Where’s my sister? Cora!” he calls after her, but she’s already off and running, back around the block to the embassy, outside of which Ogden’s carriage remains. And still no Alice or Ogden in sight.
Cal hustles to catch Cora, drawing up beside her.
She peers up at the embassy building, a sickening feeling growing in her stomach, just as a flash of blue silk slides by the elevated, parlor-level window. She can make out a hand pressed against the glass, scrabbling desperately inside the folds of fabric.
And emerging with a gun.
“No.” Cora’s voice quivers. “Cal, she’s still up there with Ogden!”
Cal’s jaw tightens. “I’ll kill him.”
“No, wait, just—” Cora huffs, grabbing at his arm to stop him, mind whirring like a magic lantern. “It would be far better to get out of this without adding murder to the tally.”
