“Consider, Jamie. The ransacking of Promontory Point, your thieves, the attack on Byrd—By heavens! Perhaps my stolen saddlebags as well! Theremustbe some connection!”
Deep in thought, they rode on slowly, turning at length onto Great Ormond Street, where the distant roofs of the Foundling Hospital could be seen, with open countryside beyond.
“But a’God’s name, why?” said Morris baffled. “It makes no sense unless somebody wants something we brought back from Holland. I brought nothing to inspire such frenzy. No more did—Oh, what luck!”
Glancing up, Rossiter’s reaction was slightly different.
Three ladies strolled towards them, followed by a footman. Two were startlingly lovely and clad in the height of fashion. The third had a fine-boned face and a mischievous look, and walked with the aid of a cane.
The two men dismounted at once. Very aware of the aloof hauteur in Lady Naomi’s eyes, and the frown on Miss Falcon’s beautiful face, Rossiter bowed and paid his respects.
Miss Falcon, a vision in a walking dress of light rose, nodded to him with cool disapproval. Lady Naomi wore a pale green toilette and a cream damask cape richly embroidered in the same green as her gown. A broad-brimmed hat of cream straw with green ribands hanging down the back was setà la bergèreatop the belaced cap perched on her lightly powdered curls. She bowed politely but there was a sparkle of vexation in her green eyes.
“I am so glad we fell in with you, Gideon,” said Gwendolyn merrily. “Are you come to fetch me?”
Rossiter started and wrenched his gaze from the lady who had been for so long the embodiment of his every dream. “Er, no. I thought you had gone out for a drive, under Tummet’s escort.” An elbow was in his ribs. He ignored it, but the succeeding jab almost made him stagger.
It was quite apparent that two of the ladies wanted nothing so much as to terminate this encounter. Gritting his teeth, Rossiter introduced the persistent lieutenant, and Miss Falcon’s chilly demeanour was replaced by an expression of horrified accusation. “You are the man shot my brother!” she exclaimed, drawing back.
“Pray do not take me in deep aversion,” pleaded Morris earnestly. “I’d not have done so had I not thought he was a rank rider. ’Twas a perfectly natural mistake.”
“’Twas nothing of the kind…,” she began indignantly.
Morris attempted a gabbling and involved explanation, during which Rossiter turned aside and said quietly, “I’d not realized you and my sister were still—ah, acquainted, ma’am.”
Lady Naomi turned her cool gaze to him. “You object, Captain Rossiter?”
“Of course he does not,” said Gwendolyn. “We have had such a lovely cose, Gideon. Mr. Falcon has the finest dog, and let me throw a stick for him, only he took a little tumble. Mr. Falcon did, I mean, and was in such a humour we decided to leave him alone with it, didn’t we, Naomi?”
My lady smiled at her. “He was rather cross, but you must not regard it.”
“Just so,” agreed Rossiter. “August Falcon is renowned for several traits, but a conciliating manner is not among them.”
“True. It has in fact become a rare quality in a gentleman,” sighed Naomi regretfully.
Rossiter gritted his teeth. “Am I obliged to offer him an apology, Gwen?”
“No, no,” said Naomi. “You must not trouble yourself with the niceties.”
“Still, Apollodidbreak a vase when I was playing with him,” admitted Gwendolyn with a sparkling look.
“Then I shall most certainly replace it.”
“Thank you, dearest. That would be nice.”
“If a trifle difficult,” murmured Naomi, watching a sparrow hop along the iron railings beside them.
“How so, ma’am?” asked Rossiter. “Do you infer this vase to have been the only one of its kind in the entire world?”
“Not at all. I imagine there must be others. In China. His grandmama brought it with her, I believe.”
Gwendolyn halted with a distressed cry. “Oh, how dreadful! I could see he was terribly angry, but I thought ’twas because—Oh—Gideon!”
“Never worry so, Gwen,” said Naomi, relenting. “I doubt Mr. Falcon ever looked at the silly thing.”
“Of course he did. Clearly, he worships his grandmother’s memory.”
Naomi patted her hand kindly. “Then we shall find another vase. My father is quite expert on antiquities. I’ll ask him to—” Glancing up, she stepped aside hastily.
