“Yes. Well, there is much more.”
Ambrose’s brows scrunched. “Wait. What did I miss?”
Goodness, Leonard wasn’t explaining this well at all. “I had decided to sell a family heirloom to procure the funds needed to pay you all off. And in doing so, someone stole the item.”
“By golly, that is awful, Stanton.” Looking at Langford, Ambrose scowled. “How did you know about this?”
“Because I’m the one he came to for financial advice.”
Ambrose’s scowl softened as he nodded. “That makes sense, I suppose.”
“Anyway,” Leonard continued. “That is what brings Mrs. Gillingham into the equation.”
“Mrs. Gillingham? How is she involved in all of this?” Ambrose asked, leaning forward in his seat.
The room seemed to quiet in anticipation of Leonard’s story. “Because she was the one who stole the ring from me.”
And then he laid out the entire story. Every conversation, every ill-judged action on Leonard’s part, the physical fight, and how Honora returned his ring at the end of it all.
His friends sat there, eyes wide and practically bulging.
“That is what happened. And I thought you would be glad to know that your money should be delivered within a week.”
Ambrose shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m going to need a minute.”
“What am I to do about her as a client?” Langford asked, looking between the men as he gripped the arm of the settee. “If she is a thief, I cannot in good conscience keep doing her business dealings.”
“That is something you will have to decide for yourself, Andrew. If it was an inheritance from her husband, however, there is nothing dishonest about that.”
Andrew rubbed his mouth. “Sheisa whizz with numbers. I gave her my opinions, but she knew just where she wanted her money invested and when to move funds around.”
“Now what?” Ambrose asked, and all their eyes moved to the ring in the center of the table.
“Now, I suppose I will sell this and pay everyone off.”
“But what of Mrs. Gillingham?” Ambrose asked.
Leonard shook his head. “What of her? There is nothing there to pursue. She stole from me, lied to me, led me across the city on a fool’s errand, and got me into a fist fight.”
“So why are we here?” Ambrose asked.
Silence reigned once more. For that was the question indeed. Leonard hadn’t needed their advice regarding what to do aboutthe wager. He now had the means to take care of that. So why had he gathered all of his friends?
Ambrose held up a hand. “Stanton, you have never mentioned a woman to any of us before. Yet you called this whole meeting simply for the task of doing just that. I want to know more before we move on from this.”
“What is there to say?” He shrugged, then fidgeted in his seat. “She is not suitable.”
“But she did claim she was going to turn a corner,” Ambrose pointed out. “And she has manners enough. That was clear when we met her at Tristan’s. But my real question is, do you like this woman?”
Leonard’s stomach tightened, but lying would do him no good. “She said she would turn a corner, and yet she didn’t at all. She had the ring the whole time.” He shook his head. “The whole blasted time!” he yelled before clamping his mouth shut and shoving his hands over his face.
The men across from him waited for his dramatics to settle. “And what did she have to say for herself?” Ambrose asked.
“Nothing. I stormed out as soon as I could.”
“I think,” Ambrose began, then paused. “You would regret it for the rest of your life if you didn’t at least go speak with her again. Something seems wrong about this entire situation.”
Langford’s head shot to Ambrose, his mouth gaping. “You are mad.”
