Regency Society. Ann Lethbridge

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СКАЧАТЬ after the earl dies. However, I must tell you that he seems much stronger of late. He has come downstairs for the last three evenings and says he means to walk in the gardens with me tomorrow if it is fine.’

      Luke inclined his head, the tiny flicker of a pulse at his temple. ‘I am glad to hear it. However, I have it from his own doctor that he could have a fatal attack at any time, so we must take care not to upset him over small things.’ He hesitated for a moment, then, ‘We are of one mind that there is no point in delaying the wedding—if Grandfather agrees?’

      ‘None whatsoever,’ Roxanne said, though her heart raced and for one second her knees felt weak.

      ‘Then it is settled.’ He smiled and her breath fled. ‘I see no reason why it should not be a pleasant arrangement for us both, Roxanne. I may not believe in the fairy tale of romantic love, but I know how to please in bed, and I believe we should suit well enough. Now tell me—has anything much happened since I left?’

      Roxanne flinched, but managed to show no emotion. ‘Yes. I shall tell you in a moment—but first, pray tell me what happened in London. Is your lawyer to place the advert?’

      ‘We have worded something vague, but enough to arouse curiosity if someone feels they lost a similar jewel.’ Luke frowned. ‘You have remembered nothing?’

      ‘I remembered that Sofia once asked me what the prince looked like. At the time it was a part of the game we played, but I have wondered if Sofia had reason to connect the ruby with India and if her game was meant to jog my memory.’

      ‘How could she?’

      ‘When I was ill I may have rambled in my mind, said something that made her wonder.’

      ‘Would she not have asked you outright?’

      ‘Sofia cared for me as if I were her own. She would have done nothing that might hurt me—and perhaps she feared what might happen if my memory did return.’

      ‘Yes, perhaps. It seems odd she made no effort to find your family.’

      ‘She had no money to hire agents. Besides, I had bruises on my arms and legs, and she wanted to protect me. I think if anyone had asked after me, she would have lied to keep me safe.’

      ‘My lawyer was of the opinion that the ruby came from India. He thought it sinister and found the shape odd, which I suppose it is in a way. Had you noticed that if you turn it on its side it has the shape of an eye?’

      ‘I cannot say I had thought of it that way, but I suppose it does—an elongated eye with pointed ends, but, yes, I can see what he means. Did you have it valued?’

      ‘No. I placed it in the bank in London. I hope you do not mind?’

      ‘It may be as well,’ Roxanne said. She took a deep breath, ‘There was an attempt to break into your grandfather’s strong room when you were in London and Mr Higgins was struck over the head when he went to investigate a face at the window of the tower room.’

      ‘Good grief!’ Luke looked at her in horror. ‘Was he badly hurt?’

      ‘Fortunately not. I visited him at home afterwards and he said it was his own fault. I told him that I had seen someone at the window about halfway up the tower. Mr Higgins was not impolite enough to say so, but he thought it my imagination. The tower has since been searched and there were signs that someone had been there, but has now gone.’

      ‘Frightened by what he had done, I dare say.’ Luke frowned. ‘Did the rogue manage to get inside the strong room?’

      ‘No, I believe not,’ Roxanne said. ‘Do you think it was because of the ruby? It does seem a little odd that it should happen now, do you not think so?’

      ‘The ruby?’ Luke considered for a moment. ‘How could anyone know you had given it to me for safekeeping? I placed it there for one night, no more. Only the three of us knew. Unless you told someone, it was impossible for them to know. Besides, there are more valuable jewels in the strong room. It is mere coincidence that it has happened now.’

      ‘Of course you are right.’ Roxanne drew a breath of relief. ‘It was just that the face I saw was not English—the man had dusky skin and I thought he might be Indian, which was why I wondered if he was searching for the ruby.’ It had all seemed to fit in her mind, but now she felt a little foolish. Of course her ruby was not that important.

      ‘Did anyone ever come looking for either you or the ruby when you were with the travelling players?’

      ‘Not to my knowledge. However, Sofia was respected and loved. If she asked the others to keep the secret, no one would have given us away while she lived.’

      ‘So the only man who might look for you is the one you ran from that day at the Heath—might it have been he?’

      ‘No, I do not believe it was, though he would have hit poor Mr Higgins and he might have attempted to break into a door that looked intriguing enough to hide valuables. However, I am almost certain that his was not the face at the window.’

      ‘Then it must have been an itinerant, an opportunist who found himself a place to sleep and attempted to break open a locked door. I am sure the incident had nothing to do with you or the ruby.’

      ‘I am glad of your good sense. I had been feeling guilty,’ Roxanne admitted. ‘Now I can forget it and concentrate on other things.’

      ‘You should certainly not let it bother you. Shall we go in and have some tea?’

      Roxanne took the arm he offered and walked into the house with him. She was glad to have him back, even though there was pain mixed with the pleasure.

       Chapter Seven

      Luke paused in the act of tying his cravat before dinner that evening. His talk with Higgins had elicited no more information than Roxanne had given him earlier—apart from one thing.

      ‘There was a strong smell,’ Higgins said. ‘Just before I was hit I smelled perfume—not the kind Miss Roxanne uses, but something heavy and exotic. Nothing I’ve ever smelled before. I forgot when I was telling her about it, but then it came back to me. One of my men found a length of cloth in the tower and it had the same smell about it.’

      ‘Might the cloth have been used for a turban, do you think?’

      ‘Yes, sir. As you know, my son is an army sergeant and he sent me a tinted drawing of an Indian soldier he served with when he was in India. The cloth that was found could easily be from a turban.’ Higgins seemed puzzled. ‘What do you think a person like that would be doing in the tower, sir?’

      Luke was thoughtful. ‘I think it best we keep this to ourselves, Higgins. At the moment we cannot be sure of anything.’

      ‘Yes, sir. I understand. The men will keep a sharp eye out for any strangers. Do you think there is something odd going on, my lord?’

      ‘At the moment I am not certain,’ Luke replied. ‘It may just have been a vagrant who saw an opportunity and then panicked when you arrived. Or it may be more sinister. We shall employ more men and patrol the grounds day and night.’

      ‘Right СКАЧАТЬ