“Three hundred diamonds,” Barber corrected softly.
“And the sapphire is huge,” Derrick added. “At least thirty carats, perhaps more. Her mother’s mother was the Duchess of Stanford.”
“And they own mines,” Barber said, his voice becoming strained.
Roseford held Barber’s gaze a moment and then inclined his head. “I understand. So it is of great value, then.”
“And since it has been under lock and key for about twenty years, it also has interest. It would be a prize of unlimited worth to the Fox, both monetarily and as a way to cement his legacy as a master thief.”
“Would Lady Winford be so foolish as to wear it here?” Roseford asked, then stopped himself and shook his head. “Never mind. I’m thinking of the woman now. Of course she would wear it, no matter the danger, because she is the sort who wants everyone to see her worth.”
“Or whatever she counts that worth to be.”
Roseford nodded. “Still, she must have had the jewel available to the Fox in the months since her mother’s death. Why do you think he’ll move here, specifically?”
Derrick shifted and glanced toward the window. There was a flash of a shadow outside and he got up, moving toward the curtains. He parted them and saw…nothing, except that the window was slightly cracked.
He frowned. The shadow was likely just a gardener or servant passing by. The window was probably cracked to let in the air so the room didn’t become overheated.
He turned back and looked at Roseford. There was some information Derrick didn’t regularly share with people outside of Barber. But since they were using Roseford’s home and the man had not shown himself to be a complete bastard yet, he offered a little more than usual.
“We did receive an anonymous tip that the Fox had intentions here,” Derrick said.
Barber jerked his face toward him, but then shrugged. “It’s credible.”
Roseford steepled his fingers and considered the matter for a moment. “I do not think I invited the Faceless Fox to my soiree.”
Derrick smiled. “You would not have meant to, I’m certain, but the kind of access this man has had in your world says to me that he is one of a few things: he could be a man of title.”
He waited for Roseford to bluster or refuse to believe a person of his rank could do such a thing. He didn’t. He simply shrugged. “I know a few men who could be living double lives as you describe.”
Derrick continued, ticking off a second finger. “He might be a family member or friend of someone titled. Again, access to their rooms and areas without suspicion.” He sighed. “Finally, he might be a servant of some kind. One who can slip in and out, almost invisible because he is expected to be there.”
He and Barber were silent. Often when this matter was discussed, men of Roseford’s ranks clung to the idea of a servant thief. One of his employers, a marquess whose signet ring had been taken by the Fox months ago, had tried to force Derrick and Barber to drag his servants out one by one. He’d threatened to sack the lot of them.
But Roseford seemed a different man. “It leaves a great deal of options out there, it seems.”
“I’d like to assure you, Your Grace, that we will do everything in our power not to disrupt your guests if we can.”
Roseford waved his hand. “That isn’t my concern. They could all do with a bit of disrupting. It will be the most excitement some have had in years. I’ve also taken the liberty of having a workspace set up for you in a quiet, little-used wing of the house. One where you will not be disturbed. I’ll have Jenner show you there after you’re settled into your chambers.”
Barber exchanged a surprised look with Derrick before he said, “That is incredibly generous of you. It will be very helpful to us.”
“Excellent. If there is anything I or my staff can do to assist, please don’t hesitate to ask, either of you.”
Derrick stared at him. He couldn’t help but be impressed. Roseford was clearly far more than the wild rake Society had labeled him to be all those years. Likely he always had been.
After Barber shook Roseford’s hand, Derrick did the same. Roseford smiled. “My brother is a decent man and he says you two are the same. I can see the importance of what you are doing and in the secrecy. Katherine knows what you’re about, of course. We don’t lie to each other. But my friends and my staff are all in the dark about your true motives. I’ll leave it to you two to decide when, or if, anyone else should be told.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Derrick said, and then he and Barber made their exit.
As the door shut behind them, Barber leaned in. “Seems a decent fellow,” he murmured.
Derrick was going to respond, but before he could he caught a glimpse of a scrap of blue fabric disappearing into the parlor next door. Blue fabric that looked suspiciously like the gown worn by Roseford’s sister, Selina Oliver. He’d marked it, just as he’d marked almost everything about the woman during their brief introduction.
He thought about the shadow at the window in the study. Certainly it could not have been her. He was just on high alert with this case, and with the fact that when he’d met the lady he’d felt…
Well, attraction was natural, of course. He felt it often. Not always as strongly as he had when the lady had taken his hand and looked up at him with bright blue eyes that seemed to sparkle with a bit of wickedness.
