Asher had pressedher over and over as they hurried home, needing to know answers, but she had just shaken her head, her eyes glazed over as she was clearly still working through the puzzle in her mind.
“I will tell you everything,” she promised. “I do, however, need you to ask the Marquess of Eastclere, Constable Peters, and the solicitor, Mr. Pine, to come to the house.”
He stared at her for a beat. “Are you mad?”
“Would you like to know the truth?”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “When?”
“Immediately.”
He sighed, but of course he did as she asked – he always would.
And so, a short time later, they found themselves in the long drawing room of Ravenscar House, which felt surprisingly full.
Evelyn crossed the threshold on Asher’s arm, and he remained close as she took her place at the front of the room, in a seat that had been set for her before the rest of them. The air tightened as they walked in, and he took his place beside the mantel, close enough to support her but still allowing her to oversee the room.
Any stilted conversation halted as everyone present waited for something to happen, even though no one knew the truth of why they had all been gathered.
The curtains had been drawn back to admit the pale afternoon light, illuminating the circle that had formed near the hearth, placing the spotlight on Evelyn.
Thalia lingered near the window, her arms folded, her posture tense with restraint. The dowager duchess sat upright on the settee, hands folded in her lap, composed but warily watchful. Evelyn’s father, whom she had invited mostly because he loved a good problem-solving, but also because he was family, sat next to her with the solicitor, Pine, sitting at the edge of the room, interest clear on his face. Verity sat in a high-backed chair, sharp-eyed as ever, while Julian was lounging in a plush chair, one leg crossed over the other in supposed nonchalance. And near the far end of the room, the Marquess of Eastclere stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression grave. He had refused to take a seat until he understood exactly what he was doing there.
Constable Peters, meanwhile, had his notebook out as he sat right beside Evelyn. He seemed about to speak, but Asher took a step forward. “Constable, I ask you to allow my wife to finish and then ask any questions. You are here under my request.”
The constable shot him a look that told him how he felt about being told what to do, but he nodded.
“Pine, most of this is for your information in case there should be any legal issues that arise from it in the future. You were also involved in this from the start.”
Evelyn took one steadying breath.
“If you are all prepared,” she said, her voice calm despite the weight pressing against her ribs, “I believe I can explain how this began—why it has unfolded as it has, and who stole the Paragon Diamond.”
“Perhaps we cut to that part,” Eastclere said, but Evelyn shook her head.
“It will not make sense until I explain why I believe the diamond was stolen.”
Eastclere inclined his head. “You have my full attention, your grace.”
She looked at Asher, and he nodded his head at her, telling her that she had his full support in whatever she told the room, even though his curiosity was eating away at him.
“When the Paragon Diamond vanished from Lord Eastclere’s gallery, the assumption was that it had been taken for its value. That was the first error.” She paused. “The diamond itself was never the point.”
Julian straightened slightly. Verity’s brows rose.
“What few knew about the Paragon,” Evelyn continued, “is that the diamond had once been adapted to serve a more discreet purpose.”
Eastclere exhaled slowly. “You know of the compartment.”
“I do,” Evelyn said. “And I know why it existed.”
She turned then, her gaze settling on the dowager duchess. “The former Duke of Ravenscar discovered evidence of treason during his service on a parliamentary committee which was formed with the intention of discovering who was working against the Crown. Evidence he did not trust to leave unprotected.”
The dowager’s chin lifted, though her fingers tightened together. “My husband believed certain truths required patience,” she said quietly. “And protection.”
“He wrote down his findings and placed them in the Paragon Diamond, which was being used by members of the committee for that very purpose. He shared it with the previous Marquess of Eastclere, who had been intent on loaning the diamond to the Crown, where the document would be discovered, and the treason would come to light,” Evelyn explained. “Asher and I found parchment with evidence to the treason on it written by Asher’s father in a hiding place here at Ravenscar House, but what he concealed in the Paragon was simpler. A name. A warning. Enough to condemn a man.”
Silence settled heavily over the room.
