Page 95 of Tempting the Highland Spy
Harrison reached for Grace’s hand, covering her fingers with his own. She’d gone pale, tension pulling her mouth to a seam. Turning to Lady Sybil, he spotted the malicious gleam in her eyes, the delight the shrew’s solemn tone could not disguise. What had possessed her to level such a vicious accusation?
She turned her cutting gaze to him. “Perhaps you were not aware of your wife’s past, Dr. MacMasters. I do understand that our, shall we say, baser emotions, may impair our judgment. A woman’s beauty can blind a man to unpleasant truths.”
His blood boiled, but he forced a calm dignity into his voice. “What is the meaning of this? Surely you do not believe I will sit here and allow you to cast aspersions on my wife.”
“I realize this must come as a shock to you. But I have it on good authority that she is a thief.”
“Lady Sybil, I must insist that you cease these baseless accusations at once.” Raibert’s complexion had reddened with anger.
“If only they were baseless,” the shrew said. “I’ve been searching my mind, trying to recall where I’d seen Mrs. MacMasters before. After my brooch went missing from my jewel case, the memory crystalized in my thoughts. Lord and Lady Fenworthy’s ball last summer in London was a grand affair, marred by the theft of Lady Fenworthy’s emerald ear fobs. Your wife was there, though her hair was darker. Nearly sable, as I recall.”
“I was a guest at that ball, as were hundreds of others. I can assure you I took nothing from Lady Fenworthy. Or anyone else there, for that matter.” Grace’s voice was quiet and oddly calm, but strong. “Words cannot express my dismay at this horrible accusation.”
Lady Sybil’s eyes narrowed to slits. She leaned toward Grace, a serpent’s smile pulling at her mouth. “My, what is that you’re wearing now, Mrs. MacMasters? Lovely emeralds adorning your ears. How brazen can you be?”
“These?” Grace removed a jeweled adornment from her ear and placed it on the table. “It’s paste. Nothing so grand as what a woman of Lady Fenworthy’s stature would wear.”
“Whatever you say, dear.” Lady Sybil dismissed her words. “Is it possible you suffer an illness? I’ve heard tell there are some unfortunate souls who simply cannot withstand the temptation to pocket something that appeals to them, regardless of the consequences.”
“I’ve had just about enough.” Belle pinned the woman with her sharp gaze. “If you refuse to treat Mrs. MacMasters with due respect, I must ask you to leave this table.”
Lady Sybil cocked a brow. “Dear, you do realize precisely with whom you are speaking, don’t you? I understand you are an American—with American ways—but surely you must realize the impact a woman in my position can wield.”
“You have impugned the reputation of a friend,” Belle said. “I will not stand for it.”
Rising, Lady Sybil sighed, a dramatic heave of air. “I’ve said my peace. Remember, I’ve warned you all. I’d suggest quite strongly that you advise the guests arriving over the course of the next three days to keep their jewels under lock and key.” She turned to Lady Edythe. “Come along, Edie.”
“No, I don’t think so,” Lady Edythe said softly. “Perhaps later, after you’ve had a chance to cool down, you’ll understand how unfounded your accusations are. I’ll have no part of it.”
Lady Sybil sniffed as if she had detected a most unpleasant odor. “Very well. But do be sure to keep watch on your valuables.”
With that, she swept out of the room, her skirts swishing against her ankles, the sound like a burst of wind announcing her exit.
“I am so very sorry, Grace,” Lady Edythe said. “I don’t know what’s come over her. I cannot imagine where she would gather such notions.”
Grace trembled slightly against him. “I must say, I had not expected that.”
“Please accept my apologies,” Belle said, toying with a silver chain that encircled her throat, inching it out from beneath her high collar. “I’ve never known her to cast stones without reason.”
“I simply don’t know what’s come over her.” Lady Edythe’s features were drawn taut. “She hasn’t been herself lately.”
“She’s always been a bit…easily agitated, but this is beyond the pale.” Belle’s fingers tugged absently at the necklace, slipping the pendant into view. Gaslight from the wall sconce glimmered against the heart-shaped stone. White as an opal, yet translucent as a diamond, the gem appeared to swirl the light, as if it were drawn into a vortex, capturing his interest like a mesmerist’s tool.
His thoughts raced. A pendant with a peculiar stone had been taken after the brutal assault on the curiosities dealer in Glasgow. Was that the stolen necklace, coiled around Belle’s nervous fingers?
And if it was, did she have any idea of the pendant’s origins?
He slid Raibert a glance. Pouring himself a drink, the actor didn’t seem to notice Belle had revealed the necklace. Good. The less he knew, the better.
“I’ll check on her in a little while,” Lady Edythe said, her expression softening.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. Everyone has one, don’t they?” Thornquist said with a low chuckle.
“Has one?” Lady Edythe puzzled over his statement.
“An eccentric aunt.” He flashed a smile which Lady Edythe enthusiastically reciprocated.
“Shall we turn our attention to more pleasant topics?” McGinty said, adjusting his striped necktie. “The Black Plague, perhaps?”
“She’s a pip,” Raibert said, pouring a drink for himself. “Still, I do recall that incident, the one with Lady Fenworthy. Word of it reached as far as New York. The unfortunate woman lost more than a pair of ear fobs that night. Someone also made off with a fortune in jewels. They’ve never been recovered.”
“Oh, my,” Lady Edythe said as Grace’s mouth pulled even tighter. “How very distressing.”
“The tragedy didn’t end there,” Thornquist added. “I have this on good authority—a fellow in the theater company who was acquainted with the family. A few days later, Lady Fenworthy ended up at the bottom of her spiral staircase, dead of a broken neck. Supposedly, her death was an accident. But there were those who had their doubts. I include myself among those inclined to believe Lady Fenworthy’s demise might have been murder.”
