Page 18 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“Mr. Baxter,” Alexander continued, “you have a reputable business here. You deal in very expensive goods. You have customers who pawn their heirlooms and priceless jewels, and ask for their receipts to collect them a week later. You surely mean to lie to my face and tell me that you do not remember a Lord Kinsfeld coming into your shop recently?”
“I do not.”
Alexander laughed quietly. “I see. Well, thank you for your lack of cooperation. I shall ensure thetonhear of it. And Mr. Baxter? If you breathe a word of me and my companion coming here to ask about Lord Kinsfeld, I will see you out of business before you can argue against me.”
His intimidation was working. He could see the cracks spreading over the man’s facade. Mr. Baxter’s gaze flickered to the carriage, where Madeleine was pressed just out of view.
His eyes flashed, meeting Mr. Baxter’s. “It is a shame that your reputation could crumble so easily.”
He went to leave, grasping the door, when he heard the splutter of the man behind him.
“Your Grace, wait!”
He turned,. Mr. Baxter produced the papers tucked beneath his arm. “I—I have recalled this. In the heat of our discussion, I forgot I brought these with me, you see.”
“I am sure.” Alexander moved closer to him. “Tell me.”
“Lord Kinsfeld came in here months ago, and gave me a ring. A beautiful ring. He said it was meaningless, and he wished to rid himself of it, but his hands shook when he gave it to me. I always remember because he looked so desperate, and attempted tobargain me higher than the price I offered him for it. I know desperation, Your Grace, and Lord Kinsfeld reeked of it.”
“A ring?” Lady Kinsfeld asked quietly, showing her face. “What did it look like?”
“It was a diamond ring,” Mr. Baxter told them.
Beside him, Alexander felt Lady Kinsfeld stiffen, the catch of her breath. Unable to help himself, he glanced down at her hand—her empty left hand.
“A silver band, and there were small rubies inlaid around the diamond,” Mr. Baxter added.
Alexander was only glad the lady turned to leave before she saw the pitying grimace the jeweler gave her. Alexander all but growled at the look, warning him.
Alexander nodded. “Very well. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Baxter.” His words were dry. “I do not have to warn you again regarding my questions and company, I hope.”
“You do not.”
“Good.”
Alexander swung back into the carriage and knocked on the roof to have them pull away.
“That was my engagement ring,” Lady Kinsfeld finally said once they were alone, her words hard and clipped. “My birthday is in July, so he bought me a ruby-themed engagement ring, the exact month we also got engaged. I have not been able to find it for months.”
Her hands clenched at her sides but she was not upset—not with tears, at least. As if the words were not those of a saddened woman learning of her husband calling her engagement ringmeaningless.
No, she sounded like a woman angered—a woman who knew the truth, presented to her clearly. A woman who was trying to keep her composure.
“Before you ask,” the lady said sharply once they were further from the jeweler’s, “I am not affected. I care little what my husband has done with my engagement ring. I only care that he lied to me about it all these months when I asked if he had seen it. When this whole time… the whole time…”
Her voice trailed off, and he knew she was more affected than she said.
She knows about the other women, Alexander realized.
Did she know the extent of Lord Kinsfeld’s escapades? If she saw Lord Kinsfeld’s debts, and what services he’d received to accrue some of those debts to the Raven’s Den, she might very nearly faint.
Something twisted inside of him at watching such a strong woman try to hold herself together. Her lower lip trembled but her jaw remained set, her eyes straight ahead.
“Let me take you home,” he offered, expecting her to argue against it.
But her shoulders slumped as she shook her head.
A soft sigh slipped through her lips. “My carriage is back by the Golden Hand. It’s better I returned with that one instead of yours.”
