Midnight Jewel (The Glittering Court #2)(77)

“Everything’s fine,” said the other. “Sandler got delayed, but he’ll bring it to my place just before dawn. The militia stumbled onto their job, so they wanted to lay low a while. I’ll take them to Burleigh the day after tomorrow.”

“Well, make a count before you go. I don’t want to find out they’re skimming too.”

“Thieves stealing from thieves, eh?” asked the first man. He gave a harsh laugh. “I’ll take care of it. You just make sure the money’s ready.”

“I will. Hey, do you smell rum?”

“I wish. I hate that pretentious port they’re serving.”

One of them snuffed the candle, and they returned to the party. Grant and I stayed put for a few more minutes until we were certain they wouldn’t come back. We let go of each other’s hands, and I had to unkink my fingers after how tightly we’d been gripping each other.

“That was Abraham Miller,” I murmured. Even alone now, I still felt the need for secrecy. “I don’t know the other. I’ve never heard anyone talk like him.”

“That’s a North Joyce accent. I’ll have to find out who was on the guest list. That was definitely conspiracy talk. If I can identify him, maybe we’ll figure out who Sandler is. That’s a new player. Now I’ve got to hurry to get this to Silas and still be back to meet the patrol.”

We both started to get up and then realized what a tangle we were in, half sitting on each other and surrounded in the layers of my skirts.

“You and your clothes,” he muttered, shifting so that I could pull out a part of my overdress he’d been sitting on. “How can a dress that covers so little have so much to it?”

“It might be low cut, but it still leaves plenty to the imagination.” Embarrassment flooded me as I recalled that he didn’t have to imagine much. I managed to free myself and get to my feet. As I did, my hand lightly grazed his face.

“You’re lazy on your shaving again.”

He rose as well, following as I made my way out from behind the piano. We paused in front of it, facing each other in the shadows. “It didn’t suit me,” he said. “And besides, I hear it’s the only endearing thing about me.”

“It was until you brought me the news about Lonzo. Thank you again.”

“Don’t forget the letter.” I just barely made out his hand lifting toward me—and then he swiftly returned it to his side. “I need to go. But whatever you’re thinking—it’s wrong.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“About . . . you know what I’m talking about.”

“Then why—”

“Because . . . . well. Just because.” He moved to the door, brushing against me as he went by. “Oh, and take your letter to Silas. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

And then he was gone, leaving me—as usual—bewildered.




I took a minute to collect myself and then picked up the china cup. My hands were steady, so that was something. As I returned to the party, I tried not to think about Grant because that was a puzzle I couldn’t solve. Shifting my thoughts to Abraham Miller’s conversation didn’t provide any answers either. I wished I could discover more, but he’d left the party.

I delivered the rum to Rupert with a bright smile. He took a sip and looked up at me in wonder. “Miss Viana, be careful, or I’ll stop encouraging you to marry someone else.”

I told him it was my pleasure and then decided to make a sweep of the room in case I might happen upon the man from North Joyce. As I walked toward a cluster of people I hadn’t yet met, I saw Cornelius step away from them and wave. I immediately turned off in a different direction, like I’d actually been on my way to see someone else. I had no desire to hear him try to sell poor Rupert to me again. In my haste, I nearly ran into Clara.

“Smart move on your part,” she said. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

After tonight’s series of events, I couldn’t even guess what she was referring to. “What?”

“Pursuing old Mister Chambers.” Her eyes drifted across the room to him before returning to me. “That’s playing the long game. Or maybe not so long. Won’t be much fun in the beginning, but he can’t have many years left. And then you’re a rich widow, free to do as you please.”

My jaw dropped. “What? I’m not doing that!”

“Well, you’re certainly friendly with him. And word gets around. You’ve been putting off other men.”

She wasn’t entirely wrong about that. Over the last week, I’d realized that, once I could be sure Lonzo was taken care of, I had two paths for myself. One was to earn enough money from my work with Grant and Tom to buy my own freedom. That was a long shot. So, if I did have to get married, an open-minded husband like Rupert—who would respect me and give me my space—was preferable to most of the men I’d met. Once I’d settled on those two options, I saw no point in encouraging other suitors. I wasn’t rude to anyone—but I also made my indifference clear.

“I’m still considering my choices,” I replied.

“Well, I don’t care what you do. I think it’s brilliant, and he certainly hasn’t caught on.”