“Thedevilhe did!” His grey eyes flashing, Gideon exclaimed hotly, “Of all the unmitigated gall! I judge him my friend, and he slithers into an offer behind my back! By God, I’ve a mind to call him out!”
Naomi chuckled. “And this from the man who complains that August Falcon is hot-at-hand! My dearest, how was Bracksby to know we are still—er, I mean—”
“You mean that you still love me,” he prompted.
“A little bit, perhaps,” she said, with a bewitching dimple and a saucy flirt of her shoulders.
This time, there was no approaching groom to terminate their embrace, and after a while, Gideon said huskily. “Only a ‘little bit,’ my lady?”
Breathless, she straightened her hair. “Sufficiently that I refused poor Mr. Bracksby.”
“So I should hope. Did you give him a reason?”
“I told him I shall never marry, and— Gideon—no! Wicked one!”
“Then tell the truth, my beautiful imp.”
She gave her little rippling laugh. “I told him that our betrothal should never have been broken, and was to be reinstated.”
‘Collington will be in a flame,’ he thought, and asked, “Was your Papa very displeased?”
“He was livid, but Mr. Bracksby interceded for me. With great firmness. He turned the conversation to the lost chess piece and its strange return, and Papa became calmer. I retired before Mr. Bracksby left, but I was sure Papa would come to my room and scold me. Thank heaven he did not.”
“Have you seen him today?”
“No. I left before he came downstairs.”
“My dear brave lady. All the more reason for me to get to work.”
“Do you mean by inspecting the little ruby chessman?”
“No. I suspect the indomitable Jamie still lies snoring. I mean to get into Derrydene’s house and have a look about.”
Naomi gave a cry of alarm. “How? What do you hope to find?”
“I’ve no least idea, but he was one of my father’s major stockholders, and saw the crash coming in time to withdraw all his funds. I have been unable to talk to him, but I’d give a deal to know from whence came his advance knowledge. I hope to find some correspondence, or a ledger, oranyleast evidence of wrongdoing.”
“But—but if thereissuch evidence he will surely have it well hid! It would take you too long! Oh, my love! You will be discovered!”
“Not an I am careful. Derrydene is in Russia, and his nervous lady is at their country seat.”
“No! She is not! I saw her but yesterday when I was driving out of Town.”
“Do you know her well?”
“Not at all well, for my papa despises her husband and will have nothing to do with them. But I’ve met her at social functions, of course. That horrid Reggie Smythe was out riding and he stopped to chat with a lady in a carriage. I glanced to see who was suffering from his attentions, and caught a glimpse of the captivating Lady Ada.”
“Are you quite sure, dear girl? That will make things a trifle more chancy.”
“I am very sure. I think she did not wish to be seen, for she drew back at once, but I saw that way she has of fluttering her hands. ’Twas Ada Derrydene, past doubting.”
“Hmm. I thank you for the warning.”
“But you mean to proceed nonetheless. You are prodigious exasperating, sir! Pray tell what I am to do when you have got yourself shot for a robber?”
He grinned. “I’ll have you know, Lady Cheerful, that I am a skilled miller of kens, as Tummet would say, and have in fact considered taking up the trade so as to restore my fortune. You cannot object, ma’am, since I’m well aware that your great-grandsire was a successful pirate.”
“I shall ignore that wicked libel,” said Naomi, and added thoughtfully, “what you need, dearest, is a diversion.” She brightened. “And I do believe the pirate’s great-granddaughter knows the very thing!”
