Suitors and Sabotage(22)

“Symbolic for a bag of moonshine?” Matt asked, trying to maintain a serious expression—with little success. He placed his load carefully on the bed and then opened the wardrobe door. “Do you wish to change your watch this evening? Perhaps the silver fob—” He lifted a chain out of the small box that housed Ben’s pocket watches, fobs, and rings, but it caught on the edge and tumbled from his grasp. Bending to pick it up, Matt said with a muffled voice, “What’s this?” He rummaged behind the leg of the wardrobe. He stood and then glanced over his shoulder at Ben.

Ben met his quizzical gaze. “Is something amiss?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Though I am surprised that you are in possession of a lady’s necklace.” Matt turned with the silver fob in one hand, a topaz necklace in the other.

Recognizing it as the one that Imogene wore on the evening of their arrival, Ben stepped forward, taking it gingerly. “Odd. It belongs to Miss Imogene.” He frowned down at the pendant, trying to understand how it came to be in his room. And why.

“To say the least, sir.”

Ben looked up. “Pardon?”

“Odd. And dangerous.”

Ben snorted and then realized that Matt was in earnest.

“Why would you say dangerous?”

“If the housemaid found it here … in your room, where it has no business … it would look like thievery. Or that Miss Imogene … well, you know … visited.”

“Matt!”

“Exactly so, sir. You now understand my concern.”

“Indeed.” He continued to stare at it for some minutes. Then he shifted closer to his evening coat, which hung over the desk chair, and dropped the necklace into the pocket. “I’ll give it back to Miss Imogene this evening.” He wanted it out of his possession as soon as possible.

Matt nodded and turned back toward the wardrobe, but not before Ben saw that the valet’s frown had deepened.

“This will not fall on you. I will make sure of that.” Ben watched Matt nod, though the man did not turn around. “I suspect this is yet another lark by a couple of mischief makers. They are likely unaware of the repercussions. Tomfoolery is all.”

Despite his words, Ben was certain the two troublemakers he had in mind would know exactly what the accusation of thievery would do to Ben’s reputation. He would be asked to leave forthwith, and likely Ernest would be given the boot as well. This was not the work of a couple of rascals—this was spiteful.





chapter 6


In which the words “dreadful” and “secret” are bandied about

“You are so very clever, Imogene. That will do very nicely. Pending parental approval, of course, but it will certainly do the trick. Especially since we have been forbidden to cross the bridge to the old castle until the work is complete. Clever, clever girl.”

Imogene shifted her gaze from her own reflection in the looking glass to that of Emily, who was standing behind her. “Clever?” Imogene laughed. “Not the usual description of my character.”

“Only by those who know you not. I would never omit such an obvious trait.”

Kate’s grin and nod brought Imogene’s eyes back to the maid, who was combing out her hair, preparing to twist it into an upsweep. Imogene watched Kate work out the tangle of knots formed during a restless night of tossing and turning.

“Well, I have yet to put the idea to the boys. It might not be to their liking … or other plans might have been made.”

“Last night, I believe I overheard your father suggest a visit to the oast house. He seemed to think Ernest would be interested in the process of drying hops. I did not discern any enthusiasm.”

“Oh dear. I’m sure a picnic by the abbey will be more to his taste … their taste. Especially since the weather is being so obliging. Ben can examine the ruins and Ernest can—”

“Make calf-eyes at you without any interference.”

“Really, Emily, I am nervous enough in his presence without—Oh.” Imogene frowned on recollection of the previous evening: the easy manner of their conversation about Sir Walter Scott, his rich laugh when Pauline suggested that he try his hand at playing the bagpipes, and the way in which he included Harriet in their discourse. “Strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“Hmm? Oh, I beg your pardon. I just realized that I am far more comfortable with both the Steeple boys than I ever would suppose after such a short acquaintance.”

“I think everyone noticed.”

There was an edge to Emily’s comment that Imogene didn’t quite understand. “Did they?”

“If I didn’t know you better, I would think that you were trifling with Benjamin as well as Ernest.”

“Oh, Emily, that is nonsense.”

“Yes. I know it is.… But something was going on, Imogene. Benjamin kept looking at you, trying to get your attention. And then, after dinner, he sat next to you … and passed you something.”

Imogene sighed deeply. “Yes. I’m not really sure what to do about that. Percy and Jake have been up to their usual tricks, but this cuts a little too close to the bone. Ben found my topaz necklace in his room. I didn’t even know it had gone astray until he handed it to me.”