How strong and confident his arm felt under her gloved hand. She felt safe and secure in a way she had never expected. What would it be like to go through life with this feeling?
As he took her to the floor, all thoughts of Mrs.Milton fled. She felt completely protected. Completely at ease. As if for a moment she could relax into the safety and trust.
Chapter32
Dawn’s colors were breaking blue and purple by the time Lucas, Wainbridge, and Tate returned to Cloverton Hall from Whitmore House. The imposing structure slumbered in the pre-morning hours, and Lucas had to admit he was glad to have returned—but he was not tired.
Oh no—his mind was too alive for sleep. Never had he thought of himself as a romantic. The idea of marriage and a family had been one he’d held very loosely—like a distant dream that might or might not materialize.
But now, the entire picture of his future slammed fully into focus, and at the heart was MissBrannon.
Olivia.
How, in such a short time, had everything he thought he knew about himself changed? Had she really that much power over him?
And yet, instead of fighting it, he found it intoxicating. Never would he have thought such a clever woman, an intelligent woman, a beautiful woman existed. His experience with the fairer sex had been with silly, pretentious girls battling for the most advantageous position. Nothing about it had been real.
Then he encountered Olivia, and an entirely new world—a new way of thinking—opened to him. What was more, she seemed to return the high regard. The manner in which her hand lingered on his arm. Her nearness while dancing.
No, no. There would be no sleep for him for quite some time.
Lucas, Tate, and Wainbridge exited the carriage and entered Cloverton Hall to find the butler waiting for them at the door. His rheumy eyes were wide, his graying hair disheveled. “There is something you need to see in the gallery, Mr.Wainbridge.”
“Whatever it is, Gaines, it can wait until morning.” Wainbridge extended his black beaver hat toward the butler.
Gaines accepted the hat. “Sir, I really must insist.”
Tate, who had overindulged, stumbled toward the attic chamber, but after sensing the urgency in the butler’s tone, Lucas remained with Wainbridge and accompanied him up the great staircase. Candlelight glowed from the open gallery doors as they approached, but the sight that met Lucas as he turned the corner chilled his blood.
The Cavesee Vase, the beautiful, large, and extremely valuable piece of chinoiserie, was on the floor in pieces.
Wainbridge erupted in a slew of curses. “What happened?”
Lucas’s own steps slowed as he took in the sight before him. He could barely tear his gaze away as Wainbridge peppered Gaines with questions, demanding an explanation.
But the pale-faced butler shook his head. “I’ve no idea how it happened. One of the footmen noticed it when escorting Mr.Fielding and Captain Whitaker to their chambers and notified me. I am terribly sorry, sir. I have no answers.”
Wainbridge, still intoxicated from the evening’s events, raged. “Someoneheardsomething. Someoneknowssomething. No one sleeps, no one rests until I have answers, do you understand?” Wainbridge grabbed at a footman, who had been accompanying the butler, and snatched him by his coat. “You. You go find every single servant who was present while we were gone.”
Wainbridge whirled his attention to Lucas. “How much was this worth?”
Lucas stammered, “Without evaluating I-I don’t—”
“You have an idea,” Wainbridge thundered. “How much?”
“We’d need to consult the original paperwork, but I—”
Without another word Wainbridge flew from the gallery toward the staircase, shouting orders to a footman as he did. Lucas needed to follow him, but before he did, he stooped to pick up one of the pieces at his feet. He rubbed his thumb over the smooth surface. He held it up to the light. He hoped that just maybe this piece was counterfeit and the authentic one was safe.
But his stomach sank.
This was the authentic Cavesee Vase.
It was real... and now it was shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Lucas hurried to follow after Wainbridge, his ears still ringing with the shock. He found him in the study, tearing through the stacks of paperwork Lucas had organized.
“Hold on, hold on.” Lucas took the files from Wainbridge’s hands. He quickly organized the stacks of papers into smaller piles and handed one to Wainbridge. “Search through these and look for the wordCaveseein the paperwork. It might be included on a document with other pieces, so look carefully.”
