My one joy throughout the day is when I pick up your letters and reread them. I do miss you, my dearest, but I am tremendously grateful for what you are doing for me. Do not fret over my condition. Just do what you went to London to do, and hurry home to me so that I may have the joy of your company once more.
With all my love, I am your
Mother
Susannah’s shoulders sagged; her heart ached. She laid her forehead in the palm of her hand and took in a deep, steadying breath. Susannah didn’t know how or why she had wasted so much time in London. How long ago had she first met the marquis and asked him about the pearls? Three weeks or maybe closer to a month, and she was no nearer to getting them. No, she was farther away, in fact, because she no longer knew who had them.
Suddenly a thought crossed Susannah’s mind, and her heart started racing.
That’s it!
Why hadn’t she thought of that idea before now? She knew exactly what she needed to do, and it would be the perfect foil to draw out the person who had the pearls.
She quickly figured how long it would take for a special courier to get a letter to her mother and how long it would take for her mother to respond back to her. If the spring rains hadn’t bogged too many roads, a few days, possibly a week at most? Would fate, for once, be kind and give her that much time to work on finding the pearls?
It was a chance she had to take.
She dropped the letter from her mother onto a chair and said, “Mrs. Princeton, I need a quill and vellum. I want to write to my mother immediately.”
“What is wrong? Does her letter bring bad news? Is there anything I can do to help you?”
“No, nothing right now. Continue what you are doing, but I will want this letter posted to her today.”
It took Susannah several tries and much longer than she had hoped, but she finally had the letter to her mother worded the way she wanted and sealed it. Susannah hoped her mother would not fret or worry about the odd request she was making but simply honor it speedily and without question.
“Your Grace,” Mrs. Princeton said, turning to Susannah from where she sat surrounded by invitations. She extended a note to Susannah. “This arrived for you a couple of days ago. Captain Spyglass is giving a party on Saturday night and you received an invitation to it. Should we decline this one?”
“Captain Spyglass?” Susannah drummed her fingers on the desk. “I heard he was having a party, but since I hadn’t received an invitation I thought I wasn’t invited.”
“It’s still three days before his party. There is time before you have to make a decision whether to go.”
“No, no, of course I want to go. I can’t pass on a chance to spend an evening in his home.”
As Susannah said the words, an idea formed in her mind. She rose and walked over to the window again and stood in the sunlight while she studied over the plan. She could do it. She was sure of that. All she had to do was persuade Mrs. Princeton to help her.
“Mrs. Princeton,” she said, walking back over to the settee. “I need a word with you.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” She rose to face Susannah.
“Do you remember I told you a few days ago that I might have to do some things you may not approve of or perhaps do something you don’t think is in my best interest?”
“Yes.” She remained perfectly still, as if bracing for what might come next.
“I hate to ask this of you but I truly have no one else to trust.”
Mrs. Princeton relaxed slightly. “You know you can trust me. I am at your service. Whatever you need, I will do.”
“Good.” Perhaps fate had finally decided to smile on her. “This will be so much easier with your help. When we are at the captain’s party Saturday evening, I intend to search his bedchamber for the pearls.”
Mrs. Princeton looked at Susannah as if she’d lost her mind and whispered, “You can’t do that.”
“Of course I can.”
“Then let me rephrase what I said. You shouldn’t do that.”
“Nonsense. The way that man covets pearls, I would think he keeps his collection in his bedroom, guarding them with his life, and that’s the first place I’m going to look. If I don’t find them there, I’ll search his book room.”
Mrs. Princeton’s eyes were wide. “You simply cannot be caught in that man’s bedchamber or anywhere else, Your Grace. It’s just not acceptable for you to be there for any reason. Besides, he is a dangerous man. I heard some ladies talking about him when we were at Lord Kendrickson’s house last week. They think that man used to be a pirate and that he has acquired most of his wealth by robbing ships at sea.”
