My Dearest Grandson Alexander,
More proof of why I have always been a great admirer of Lord Chesterfield and his wise words: “To women, you should always address yourself with great outward respect and attention, whatever you feel inwardly; their sex is by long prescription entitled to it.”
Your loving Grandmother,
Lady Elder
The large doors of the Great Hall were open wide so the evening’s cooling breeze could flow through the stuffy ballroom. Music, laughter, and chatter hummed excitedly throughout the room. Hundreds of candles glittered and sparkled off the walls, making the hall bright and cheerful as Susannah danced across the floor with the handsome Lord Westford, who was doing his best to impress her with his charming smile.
Facing Lord Westford in the quadrille, Susannah twirled under his arm, sidestepped, and clapped her hands. She curtsied and smiled at him in all the right places, but her mind wasn’t on the earl. She had thoughts for no one but Lord Raceworth. Her gaze kept straying to the entrance of the ballroom as she waited for him to appear.
Lord Westford seemed very fit and quite intelligent. He would be a suitable catch for any lady, but Susannah felt no spark of romantic interest when she looked at him. Race had already captured her heart. She didn’t know why she hadn’t told him so these past few days. Perhaps she was just waiting for him to recognize, himself, that he had her heart safely in his care.
Immediately after Sir Randolph’s victory, Susannah had insisted Race go with his cousins to follow Sir Randolph to his house. Even though Race was elated the dashing fellow had won, she could see concern for him in Race’s eyes. She knew he wanted to make sure his friend of long standing was going to be all right and have no lasting ill effects from the hard blows he took from Mr. Prattle.
Susannah and Race had quickly agreed to attend the party at the Great Hall before he left with Blake and Morgan.
Finally, the dance ended, and Lord Westford politely escorted her back to where Mrs. Princeton sat chatting with some aging dowagers, but before Susannah could catch her breath Captain Spyglass walked up to her and bowed.
“Good evening, Duchess. Might I say that you are a vision of beauty tonight?”
Susannah smiled cautiously and said, “Thank you, Captain Spyglass. And how are you on this fine evening?”
Susannah still considered him the primary suspect for stealing the Talbot pearls. Once again, he was wearing more pearls than she had ever seen any woman wear. Tonight, he wore only one earring that consisted of three rather small pearls that fell from a gold stud. Clusters of pearls took the place of buttons on his waistcoat.
“I’m very well, Duchess, but busy. I wanted to make sure I spoke to you this evening, for this may be the last party I’m able to attend. I’ll be leaving London soon.”
Susannah’s heart started pounding. Trying to sound normal, she said, “But the Season is not over. Why would you leave before the last party?”
“I never stay too long in one place. My heart is full of wandering. I have made many friends here and will not hesitate to return to London one day, but for now, I’m ready to set sail for warmer climates. I’ve decided England is too wet for springtime.”
“So, will you be sailing for the South of France, or perhaps Italy?”
He laughed. “No, I won’t be that close by. I will be sailing to much warmer climates than that. I will probably find an island in the Caribbean, though which one I haven’t decided on. Please excuse me, Duchess.” He bowed again. “I see our host for the evening and I must go speak to him.”
“Of course,” she said. “I wish you Godspeed wherever your journeys take you.”
As the captain turned away, so did Susannah. Where was Race? She had been at the party for at least two hours, and there had been no sign of him or Sir Randolph. She was beginning to worry that something was wrong with Race or the winner of the fight.
She was anxious to tell Race about Captain Spyglass’s plans to leave. Even though Race had runners watching the Captain’s every move, he would still want to know the man intended to exit London soon.
“Your Grace, how wonderful to see you this evening. Your eyes are so bright they could light the night sky.”
Susannah forced a smile and said, “Thank you, Lord Snellingly. How are you?”
“Never better now that I’m looking at your fair face,” he said, holding a piece of paper as well as a handkerchief in his hand. “It just so happens I have a poem here that I wrote for you a few days ago. It’s not long. Only four lines. May I please?”
Maybe if she let him read the poem, he would stop pressing her about it. “All right, Lord Snellingly, please do.”
He cleared his throat and sniffed as he looked down at the paper and read:
“Mere words are inadequate
When candlelight graces your face
I long to tell you of my love, dear one
With a fierceness that clutches my heart like a summer wind.”
Susannah stared at him, speechless, searching for something nice to say about his dreadful poem, when suddenly a man’s hand slid in front of her and gave her a glass of champagne. Susannah turned and saw Race standing so close to her she could feel the warmth of his body.
He smiled, and her heart fluttered excitedly. All her earlier frustrations melted away.
“Excuse us, Snellingly,” Race said and ushered Susannah away from the poet.
“Thank you for rescuing me. He was reading me a poem that was positively dreadful.”
“I’ve heard his poetry and I agree. But it seems you have been busy tonight. You were talking with Spyglass.”
She gave him a teasing smile. “Well, you know better than I what Lord Chesterfield said about ‘while the cat is away.’”
Race moved closer to her, and in a low voice said, “The mice will play. And yes, thanks to my grandmother, I know Lord Chesterfield’s poppycock better than I know the back of my hand, and that saying did not come from him, but I do think it fits you perfectly right now.”
“It’s so easy to attribute everything to him, don’t you think?”
“Yes, whether he said it or not.” Race took a sip of his champagne. “Now, tell me, what did Spyglass have to say?”
“As it happens, the captain told me something very interesting. He said this would probably be his last party as he will be leaving London soon.”
The humor left Race’s face, and his eyes narrowed. “That could mean he is already preparing the Golden Pearl to set sail.”
“My thoughts exactly. Mr. Bickerman is going to have to make haste with his plans if the pearls are on his ship, as we suspect.”
“I’ll talk to Bickerman later tonight and tell him about this, if he doesn’t already know about Spyglass’s plans. He’s keeping a tight watch on the ship. But don’t worry, Susannah, I’ll see to it that Captain Spyglass’s ship doesn’t leave port until it has been thoroughly searched, even if I have to get the Thames Police to detain it. Now, I don’t want you worrying about any of this. Bickerman will take care of everything. Understood?”
“Race, I trust you completely.”
His gaze swept lovingly across her face. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”
For reasons she didn’t understand, Susannah suddenly felt shy. “I was watching the entrance for you. I didn’t see you come in.”
“I came in one of the side doors with Gibby and my cousins. We knew if we came in the front doors, Gib would immediately be swamped with people wanting to congratulate him.”
“How is Sir Randolph?”
“You mean other than the fact he has a cut lip, a black eye, and very swollen knuckles?”
“Ouch!” she said with a grimace.
Race chuckled. “No, really, he’s doing exceptionally well for an old man who went four rounds in the prize ring.”
“I’d like to see him and offer my congratulations on his victory.”
“Let’s go and do it now, as I’m desperate to have some time alone with you.”
They started toward the ballroom. “I don’t think that will be possible tonight.”
His brows drew together as they made their way through the crush of people. “Duchess, that is not what I want to hear from you.”
“You must speak to Mr. Bickerman about Captain Spyglass’s ship.”
“Never fear. That will be done first. But then I’m coming to see you, and I will continue until you come to your senses and agree to marry me.”
Susannah gasped and looked around. “Race, you shouldn’t say that so loud. Someone might hear you.”
He smiled. “So be it. I am not afraid to let people know that I love you and I want to marry you.”
Susannah’s heart lifted; her hands trembled with expectancy. She stopped in the middle of the room. “Are you really asking me to marry you?”
Suddenly a hand clapped Race on the back, and Blake, Henrietta, Morgan, and Sir Randolph gathered around them. Susannah smiled as greetings were exchanged among the group. There would be time later to talk to Race about love and marriage. But for now, she was so happy he wanted to marry her, she felt as if she were walking on air.
She knew she was not Race’s cousins’ favorite person, but at least they tolerated her in good humor. She liked the fact that it didn’t bother Race, but instead he reveled in it. Sir Randolph’s face was horrifying. Both his eyes were swollen as well as one side of his mouth, and there was a cut above one eye.
“Sir Randolph,” Susannah said, “how wonderful to see you looking so well. Congratulations on your victory.”
The dapper gentleman bowed. “Duchess, thank you kindly. There was one time this afternoon I was beginning to have doubts as to whether I would win.”
“I never lost faith in you,” she said with encouragement.
“I want everyone to know that Gibby promised us,” Race said, pointing to his two cousins, “that he would never do anything as foolish as this fight ever again. We intend to hold him to that.”
“I gave my word,” Sir Randolph added.
“And we all know what your word means to you, don’t we?” Henrietta said.
“Indeed we do,” Susannah agreed. “I believe he once said something to the fact that if a man loses his wealth, he’s lost nothing. If he loses his good health, he’s lost something, but if he loses his honor, he’s lost everything.”
“That is exactly what Lord Chesterfield said, and I believe it and live by every word of it,” Sir Randolph agreed.
Morgan chuckled. “I think one or both of you have added words or taken words from Chesterfield’s actual quote, but you are probably close enough.”
Susannah noticed, as they continued to chat, that the noise in the room slowly got quieter. Suddenly, she saw the people in front of them stepping aside, parting as if to let someone pass. Gasps and soft whispers rumbled throughout the room.
Race gave Susannah a questioning glance. “I wonder what’s going on.”
“I have no idea.”
“Maybe the prince came in to offer his congratulations to Sir Randolph,” Henrietta offered.
“Can’t be,” Gibby said. “He’s already sent me a congratulatory note. Besides that, the prince always has someone announce him. But I don’t know of anyone else who would bring about this kind of hush in such a large crowd.”
“Damnation,” Morgan said and then looked at Race. “It’s not the prince, but who the hell is she?”
Morgan pointed to the entrance to the ballroom where on the landing stood a regal older lady dressed completely in black except for five strands of pearls that circled her neck and fell to her waist.
Race’s chest tightened as he stared at the pale woman surveying the faces in the ballroom.
“Who is she?” Blake whispered.
“I have no idea,” Race murmured. “I’ve never seen her before, but I have seen those pearls around our grandmother’s neck many times.”
Susannah swallowed a lump of fear that lodged in her throat and took her breath. Slowly she stepped forward. “I know her. She is my mother, Mrs. Madeline Parker.”
Race whipped his head around to Susannah and she groaned. She saw doubt and distrust in his eyes once again. What was her mother doing walking into the ballroom wearing the pearls?
“Race, let me explain,” she whispered.
His eyes were wide with disbelief. “You took the pearls and gave them to your mother?”
His accusation stung. “Race, no.”
“You told me you didn’t steal the pearls and I believed you.”
“I didn’t,” Susannah insisted.
His gaze held fast to hers, as if he searched for answers. She couldn’t believe this was happening after their relationship had just begun to heal.
“Are you telling me your mother stole them?”
Susannah gasped in shock. “Of course not. I asked her to send them, not bring them and wear them. Let me explain.”
“There’s no time for that, Duchess,” Morgan said. “Spyglass and Winston are descending on your mother right now, and she looks like she’s about to faint.”
“With those pearls around her neck, she could be in danger,” Blake added. “I don’t trust either one of them. They might try to grab the pearls and run. We’ve got to get her out of here.”
“Morgan is right. You can explain at your house, Susannah,” Race said. “Right now, we have to get your mother home. I’ll go with you and ride up front in the carriage with your driver.”
“You are not leaving without us,” Blake said to Race. “Morgan and I will be right behind you in my carriage, just in case Spyglass or Winston decides to follow and cause trouble. Henrietta, you ride with Gibby, and I’ll see you at Susannah’s house.”
“Let’s go,” Race said. “They’ve reached her.”
Like horses heading for the barn at feeding time, Race, Susannah, Morgan, Blake, Henrietta, and Gibby all waded through the crowd toward the entrance of the ballroom.
By the time they arrived, Spyglass and Winston were standing in front of Susannah’s mother, admiring her and the pearls. She was backing away from them, her eyes sweeping from one to the other in fear.
Susannah rushed up to her and the words started tumbling past her lips. “Mother, how did you get here? What are you doing here? You don’t look well.”
“I don’t feel well either, Susannah. Thank God you are here.” Her voice trembled and her eyes darted fitfully from side to side. She grabbed hold of Susannah’s arm and held tightly.
“How did you find me here?”
“Your maid told me where you were, but I was beginning to doubt her information.”
“This lovely lady is your mother?” Spyglass asked Susannah.
“Yes, I can see the resemblance now,” Winston added. “We were just welcoming her to the ball.”
Captain Spyglass stepped in closer. “And, Madame, may I be so bold as to ask about the exquisite pearls you are wearing?”
Susannah’s mother lifted her chin disdainfully and turned her pale face away from Spyglass in contempt. “No, sir, you may not.”
The Captain turned to Race. “Lord Raceworth, I know you have the Talbot pearls, so these must be Bess of Hardwick’s pearls. I’m told the two collars were similar in length and rarity.”
Before Race could speak, Susannah’s mother clutched the pearls to her chest and said, “These are not Bess’s pearls, sir. Susannah, who are these gentlemen? Is this the sort you have been cavorting with while in London? I’m astonished and can see I have arrived not a moment too soon.”
Mrs. Princeton appeared as if from out of nowhere and stood close to Susannah’s side, watching every man around her charge as if she was a vulture and they were her dinner. “Mother, I was preparing to leave. I need you to accompany me.”
“I’ll call for your carriage,” Race said, throwing a quick glance at Susannah. “You get your wrap.”
“Excuse us, gentlemen,” Susannah said and slid her arm around her mother’s arm.
“Madame, before you go,” Captain Spyglass said, “I would very much like to call on you and talk to you about the pearls you are wearing. I collect pearls.”
“And I buy jewels for the prince,” Mr. Winston said, elbowing in front of the pirate. “I know Prinny would be interested in your exquisite necklace.”
Race stepped between Susannah’s mother and the men. “Take your mother to your carriage.”
Susannah immediately started walking toward the door with Mrs. Princeton on one side and her mother on the other. Morgan and Blake followed her.
“I have always wanted to see the Talbot pearls,” Captain Spyglass said to Race with a smoldering glow in his eyes. “I don’t suppose you would agree to let me have just a glimpse of them before I leave London, would you, my lord?”
Race looked at the man with contempt in his eyes. “Not a chance in hell, Captain.” Race cut his eyes around to Winston. “That goes for you, too. Stay away from the duchess’s house or I’ll see to it that both your bodies are found at the bottom of the Thames.”
Winston gasped.
Spyglass laughed.
Race strode out of the ballroom and into the night air, his mind whirling with possibilities. Was the reason Susannah hadn’t told him she loved him because she knew all along where his grandmother’s pearls were? She must have known her mother had them. But she looked as shocked as he was to see her mother. If Susannah didn’t steal them, who did and how did Mrs. Parker get them?
No matter what the true answer was, he was certain that right now Susannah was wondering how she was going to explain it to him. Whatever the answer, he was not going to turn his back on Susannah again. He loved her, and he intended to marry her.
It was a wet ride to Susannah’s house, but they made it inside without incident. Susannah had one of her servants stoke the fire in her sitting room to take the chill off the dampness, and then pass a glass of sherry to everyone except Henrietta and Sir Randolph who had not yet arrived. Susannah had made her mother comfortable on the settee with a blanket tucked around her legs. Her face was ashen, and Race noticed she cupped her glass with both hands to hold it steady enough to take a sip. It was obvious to him that the woman was not well.
After proper introductions were made, Susannah turned to Race with somber eyes and said, “May I explain?”
“Please do, Duchess,” Morgan answered for Race. “Because right now someone in this room is looking guilty of theft.”
“Enough, Morgan,” Race told him.
Susannah walked over and stood in front of Race. “More than a week ago, I wrote to my mother and asked her to send the fake pearls she is wearing to me.”
“Wait a minute,” Race interrupted. “Those aren’t real?”
“Fearing I must be in some kind of trouble, she decided to leave her sick bed and bring them to me.”
“Let me tell him, dearest,” her mother said in a soft voice as she lifted the strands in her hands. “Yes, my lord, these are nothing but glass beads expertly made to look like pearls.” With shaky hands, she held them up for his close inspection. “As best I understand it, the Talbot pearls were pawned by one of Lord Talbot’s daughters after his death. They ended up in the hands of a wealthy merchant. My father bought them from that merchant for my mother at a great cost. My mother had such fear they would be stolen that she had a jeweler make a copy to look as much like the real ones as possible. These.” She fingered the pearls as her mind seemed to drift back in time.
“Go on, Mrs. Parker,” Race said.
“Unfortunately, the real ones were eventually stolen from my mother anyway by a trusted servant who knew the difference between the fake and the genuine. The servant was never seen or heard from again. No doubt he sold them to whoever bought them for your grandmother or, who knows, they could have changed hands several times before Lady Elder obtained them.”
Race turned confused eyes to Susannah. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Susannah’s stomach was jumpy. She would rather have been alone with Race to explain all this to him, but she couldn’t very well ask his cousins to leave.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “At first there was no reason to tell you. We were not on the best of terms with each other when I asked her to send them to me. And later when we, ah, well…” she said, stumbling over her words.
“When our relationship mended,” Race said.
Susannah gave him a grateful smile. “Yes. I hadn’t heard from my mother and didn’t know if she would send them. I thought it best not to tell you about the fake pearls until I could show them to you. My plan was to do exactly what my mother did tonight. I would wear them with the hope of drawing out the real thief and make him wonder if he had the real pearls or the glass beads. It never dawned on me that anyone would think they were Bess of Hardwick’s pearls.”
Susannah’s mother reached up and touched her arm affectionately. “Though Susannah worded her letters carefully, I sensed she needed my help. I decided to come to London without her knowledge. I had to stop often to rest, so it took me longer to get here than I had hoped. When I arrived tonight, she had already left for the evening. I asked her maid where she had gone and then dressed and followed her.”
Morgan threw up his hands. “All of this is well and good, but we still don’t know where the real pearls are.”
“No, but this was a clever idea,” Race said. “Mrs. Parker told Spyglass they were not Bess’s pearls. So perhaps whichever man has the real pearls will be looking for an expert to examine them first thing tomorrow morning to make sure they have the Talbot pearls, and Bickerman’s runners will be there to capture them.”
“Your Grace?”
Susannah turned to her companion. “Yes, Mrs. Princeton?”
“Sir Randolph and the Duchess of Blakewell are here to see you.”
“Show them in.”
Sir Randolph and Henrietta walked in, and Susannah noticed at once that Sir Randolph was carrying a small satchel.
Introductions were made, and Race took time to briefly tell them about the fake pearls.
“I knew that,” Sir Randolph said.
He reached into the satchel he carried and pulled out a black velvet drawstring bag. Susannah’s mother and Race gasped as they recognized the black bag. From inside, Sir Randolph drew out five long strands of pearls.
“Those are the real pearls,” her mother said, reaching for them. “I would know them anywhere.”
“Gibby?” Race questioned with denial etched in his face. “How did you get those?”
“I stole them from you. I am the thief,” he answered.
“Why? How? How did you get into my safe?”
“As to how, I might be old but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I was in the King’s army for several years. I learned a few things during that time.”
Sir Randolph walked over to Race. “I meant only to take the pearls, but figured if I did that, you might know it was me, so I took everything else that was in your safe. It’s all in there,” he said placing the satchel on a chair. “As to why I had to take the pearls, they belonged to your grandmother. I had to protect them for her. When the fourth person came knocking on your door wanting them, I knew it was only a matter of time before someone tried to steal them from you so I decided to do it before anyone else had the chance.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Race asked.
Sir Randolph’s smile was misshapen from swelling. “Now why would I have done something like that? You would have made me give them back to you.”
“Gibby, do you know what I have been through trying to find out who took those pearls?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Race said angrily as he advanced on the battered man. “You know that I accused Susannah of taking them.”
Gibby looked at Susannah. “I’m sorry about that, but there was nothing I could do.”
“I should wring your neck and finish what Prattle—”
“Race,” Blake said and stepped in front of him.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Morgan added. “The pearls are back in your possession. That’s all that matters.”
“I’m afraid not,” Susannah’s mother said in a quiet voice from the settee. “There’s the matter that they rightfully belong to me. Susannah has documents proving my grandfather bought the Talbot pearls and where they were reported stolen. The pearls belong to me.”
“I’m keeping the pearls, Mrs. Parker,” Race said without hesitating.
Susannah’s mother’s eyes widened and she looked to Susannah for help.
It had always been Susannah’s fear that if Race found the necklace he would keep it. “Mother, the marquis has promised me that he will look at our evidence, and I’m sure that once he does he will have a change of heart as to who they belong to.”
“No, I won’t,” Race said as he walked over to stand by Susannah. “They belong to the Raceworth family.” He looked over at Mrs. Parker and said, “With your permission, I’d like to marry your daughter.”
Susannah gasped and felt her heart rising up to her throat. Race looked at her with loving eyes before gazing back at her mother.
“The Talbot pearls will no longer be yours or mine. I will give them to Susannah on our wedding day, and then they will be hers.”
Race took Susannah’s hand and kissed it. “I know I’m asking a lot of you to give up your title as duchess to marry me, but I promise to love you forever and never make you sorry you agreed.”
Susannah was too astonished, too euphoric to speak at first because he had asked her in front of everyone. “You want me to marry you?”
He smiled. “As soon as I can make it happen.”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation as she looked up into his glowing eyes. “I love you, Race, and I will gladly give up my title to marry you.”
The room erupted into cheers and clapping from everyone, including Susannah’s mother.
Race bent down and whispered into Susannah’s ear, “Leave your door unlocked. I will be coming through the yew again tonight.”
“You can’t. My mother is here,” she whispered back to him.
“Then I suggest you put her on the second floor with Mrs. Princeton. I will not be denied your bed tonight.”
Race turned to Susannah’s mother and with a smile said, “Hide your eyes if you so desire, Mrs. Parker, because I’m about to kiss your daughter.”
Without further warning, Race pulled Susannah into his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips.
Susannah thrilled to his touch.
THE END