“I love you, Asher.”
“And I you.”
30
“Are you happy?”
Evelyn tilted her head to look at him, her smile warm. “Very happy.”
“But…”
“Something still doesn’t make sense.”
Evelyn and Asher stood side by side, staring up at the wall of portraits at the British Institution.
“The puzzle? I thought you solved it.”
She looked over at him in surprise. “I did. But how did you know? I never said anything.”
He smiled. “You didn’t have to. I can tell when your expression changes. You begin to wear this look of relief rather than calculation.”
“You are rather observant.”
“I am when it comes to you.”
“Well, yes, you are correct, I did solve the puzzle some time ago. But that’s not the mystery I’m referring to.”
“You’re still wondering who initially took the Paragon Diamond, aren’t you?”
“I am,” she said with a frustrated sigh. “The only thing that makes sense is that the person who had it in their possession was either in your house or in Norwood’s. There is no other way it found its way into your pocket. It wasn’t Norwood or his wife. So, who was it? A servant?”
“If that was the case, why did they give it back?”
“It was either to implicate you or to help save me,” she said. “One or the other.”
“I don’t suppose we’ll ever know.”
“We have to,” she said stubbornly, as they turned and began walking to the door in silent agreement.
“You won’t let this go otherwise, will you?”
“I will not,” she said, wrapping her arm around his elbow as they stepped out into the light. “What does the rest of the day hold?”
“Well, I need to speak with Thalia. She has been rather distant lately,” Asher said, furrowing his brow. “At first I thought it was due to the threat placed on our family and the rapid change in events?—”
“Our marriage.”
“Yes, our marriage, but I believe there is more to it than that.”
“Your family has lost so much over the past few years,” she said. “Perhaps now knowing that the Earl of Norwood was responsible for your father’s death has been difficult for her.”
“I didn’t handle it well, did I?” he said ruefully. “She and my father were actually rather close. I was the disappointment in the family while my brother was the responsible one.”
He stopped walking as he stared at her, for she had stopped completely, staring at him with that look on her face that he’d come to know so well.
“What is it?” he asked, instantly concerned.
“Asher.” She gripped his arm tightly. “I know who stole the diamond.”
