“I, er, I dinna believe I made mention of the viscountess. Though she did put on a lovely party, did she no’? The house decorations were magnificent.”
“Do ye think I’m daft, Miss?”
He pierced her with a stare that she felt down to the tips of her toes.
“N-nay, my lord.”
“Then dinna make me ask again.”
She threw her hands up in defeat. “Fine. Ye will find out once we arrive at Tolton and ye see my grandmama’s portrait wearing these verra jewels. With that evidence, obviously, I canna be the Phantom Prowler. That would be Viscountess Wilson.”
“Ye should watch your tongue before accusing someone of such standing of thievery.”
She didn’t bother mentioning that he was doing the exact same thing to her. Though she didn’t hold a standing such as the viscountess. “I agree, which is why I didna care to tell ye such. Ye insisted, might I remind ye.”
Mary’s quick intake of breath brought the dreaded realization that reminded Lizzie that she was speaking to an earl with such disrespect.
“I apologize, my lord. Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my mind and says things it should no’.”
He cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowed as he studied her.
He shifted her grandmama’s necklace from one hand to the other. The beads making a steady rhythm that was almost mesmerizing.
“Dinna apologize for speaking so bluntly. I must confess I find it refreshing. That aside, back to the viscountess.”
Bother, she was hoping he would have dropped that after her change of subject. She watched as he played with the necklace, biting the inside of her cheek for her stupidity.
Realizing that she had no choice, she took a deep breath and flattened her palms on her skirt. “I believe, nay, I am certain, that Viscountess Wilson is the Phantom Prowler that has caught the attention of all of Scotland.” She waited for him to strike out, but he just sat there, looking at her. Watching her.
“And that was confirmed when I found my grandmama’s jewels in her chambers. The pieces had been stolen from my home some time ago at a ball my mama had hosted. The viscountess and her husband were in attendance.”
“For certain there were many in attendance?”
“Aye.” She nodded. “That is a true statement, my lord.”
“Then how can ye be sure that the prowler is the viscountess? It makes no sense. She has no need for jewels.”
“I do agree with ye, my lord. But I have researched extensively since the incident.”
“Researched? Like investigated?” He chuckled. “This is priceless. Like the Bow Street Runners in London?”
She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms. “Fine, dinna believe me. But then explain to me how my grandmama’s jewels got in the viscountess’s armoire in her chamber? And what of the viscountess’s belongings? How is it that she has no’ been affected by the robberies? I bet ye canna do that, can ye?”
“Miss,” Mary warned beside her.
Lizzie jutted her chin out stubbornly. “I apologize, my lord.” She rolled her lips together. “I only asked about the jewels because I wanted to hold them. ’Tis no’ like I can run off with them. We are stuck inside a carriage.”
He reached toward her and when she opened her palm, he dropped the necklace into her hand.
Lovingly, she trailed her fingertips over the gemstones. She could still see it hanging around her grandmama’s slender neck, sparkling in the candlelight.
“Ye canna keep it. But ye can look at it for a few minutes.”
The carriage hit a bump in the road and they all lurched to the side. The coachman shouted an apology and the carriage rambled along. By the time they reached Stonehaven, Lizzie predicted she would have a very sore rump indeed.
“Are ye alright?” the earl asked, concern creasing his forehead.
For a brief moment, she found his concern endearing. A quick glimpse of a softer side that he possessed underneath that gruff exterior.
