The middle of someone else’s party was no place to make an offer of marriage. But he must say something to assure her that one was coming. He grasped the hand that covered his. ‘You and your sister will want for nothing.’
‘Of course not,’ she said, as if she had not heard. Then she gave him another dazed and dazzling smile. ‘And now, if you will excuse me... I am not well.’ Then, before he could say the words he needed to, her hand slipped from his and she walked away.
* * *
Hope sat in the darkened coach for hours, listening to the chuffing of the horses and the occasional jingle of their harnesses until, at last, the ball ended and she was driven to the front of the house to retrieve the Dowager. As she usually was after an evening in society, Grandmama was tired but happy. Her face was rosy and her every breath seemed to exhale in a sigh of contentment. ‘I swear, that was the most delightful evening I’ve had in ages. The food was excellent and the musicians played not a single note out of tune.’
‘I am glad you enjoyed it,’ Hope said, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. ‘It may be the last one we have.’
‘Do not be melodramatic, dear.’ The old woman smiled at her and shook her head. ‘You young people. Every problem is the end of the world to you.’
‘It is the end,’ Hope said, trying to make her understand. ‘Mr Drake knows something of the heir coming from America. He is married.’
‘Good for him,’ came the cheerful reply.
‘It means he will not want me, Grandmama,’ Hope said urgently. ‘His auditors will find the missing items and I will not be able to stop what happens next.’
‘With Mr Drake’s help, you shall have them all back in time, I’m sure.’
‘But not the diamonds, Grandmama.’ Could it be she had actually forgotten them? ‘He does not even know they are missing, much less where to look for them. What has become of the Comstock parure?’
The Dowager gave her a puzzled look. ‘It is in the lock room at the manor. You know I do not like to wear it. It is too heavy.’
‘You do not wear it so no one will notice that the stones are paste.’
Her grandmother glanced out the window at the passing scenery, acting as if she had not heard. ‘The moon is exceptionally bright tonight. It is a shame we are not in the country for it would be a beautiful drive.’
‘You must tell me what you did with the diamonds,’ Hope urged. ‘If I know where to look, maybe there is some way we can get them back before he arrives. But if I cannot influence the heir... If he doesn’t want to make me his Countess... There is no way we can guarantee that the secret will be kept. What if he is angry? What if he wants the money for them?’ She reached out and took her grandmother’s hand, squeezing it in encouragement.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Dowager turned her head from the window to acknowledge that she had heard the questions put to her. ‘Hope, darling, do not worry. It will all turn out for the best. These things usually do, you know. But I have nothing to tell you on the matter of the diamonds. Please do not ask me again.’
Chapter Eight
Mr Drake returned the next day, promptly at ten.
It was a relief to see him because Hope had awoken feeling something rather like optimism. Given the reality of circumstances, the feeling was totally misplaced. But she could not help the contents of her dreams, which had been illogically happy.
The same man who was now walking up to her front door had figured prominently in them. They had been dancing together at the ball. And as he had last night, he had told her the horrible news about the Earl. But then, just as her future seemed darkest, he had smiled at her and taken her hand, pulling her out of the set to the gasps of those around her.
‘Do not be afraid. You shall want for nothing. I have a big house with servants and room for your sister.’
He had actually said most of those things last night. But he had not taken her in his arms and kissed her, as he did in the dream.
It had been a wonderful dream. But she was awake now. No matter how handsome he was, with the sun shining on the fringe of his gold hair, he was not going to stick one of his immaculate gloves into his pocket and produce the Comstock diamonds. They were doomed. All three of them.
At least, she suspected so. She knew what happened to thieves. But what happened to their granddaughters? And was the punishment any less for dowager countesses? It might simply be disgrace and public ostracism. That would be bad enough, but it was better than Newgate.
Mr Drake had reached the door and she opened it as he reached for the knocker, startling him. ‘You were watching at the window,’ he said with a surprised smile that she could not manage to return.
‘Soonest started, soonest done,’ she said, hurrying out to the carriage where a groom was pulling down the step for her.
‘I am glad you are feeling better,’ he said, his smile flattening to an upward quirk at the corners of his mouth, and offered a hand to help her up into her seat.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Last night. When you left me, you said you were ill.’
‘Oh,’ she said softly. She’d had no idea what excuses she had made for leaving. After he had finished destroying her hope for the future, the evening had devolved into a miserable blur.
