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Jane’s shoulders sagged as the tension she had been enduring seeped away from her. Her hands were shaking and her knees felt boneless.
‘I am mortified,’ Mrs Caulder went on. ‘I really am sorry, but if his lordship is prepared to make it up, we shall not lose by it.’
‘That is not the point.’ Mark put in. ‘It is theft and we must discover who is responsible. We cannot have people thinking it pays to steal.’
‘No, I suppose you are right, but I have no idea who it was.’
‘Did they take only the money or the jar with it?’ Mark asked
‘The jar. Everything. There was a five-pound donation from Sir Mortimer Belton, as well.’
Jane had not seen the Member of Parliament arrive. ‘That was generous of him.’
‘Yes, but now it is lost. Some people gave more than sixpence to come in, too. They said it was for a worthy cause. There must have been nigh on ten pounds altogether.’
‘Did you see anyone loitering nearby?’ Mark asked.
‘Not that I can recall.’
‘Leave it to me,’ Mark said. ‘We will keep it to ourselves for now. We don’t want to cause a stir.’
‘I won’t say a word. Thank you, my lord.’ She hurried away, leaving Mark facing Jane.
‘What did he have to say?’ he asked.
‘Who?’
‘Bolsover. What did he say?’
‘Nothing he has not said before. I begged him to give me more time. I said I would give him his answer after your wedding.’
‘My wedding! Did he agree?’
‘He neither agreed nor disagreed. Mrs Caulder interrupted us.’
He laughed. ‘Oh, well done, Mrs Caulder.’
‘It is not funny, Mark.’
‘No, but if she has afforded us more time...’
‘Us, Mark?’
‘Yes, us. You do not think I am going to let you marry that scoundrel, do you? I have tried to find something to discredit him, but though he is not at all liked, no one seems to know anything against him. There are rumours of sharp practices, but nothing to substantiate the rumours. I shall keep trying.’
‘Mark, please do not raise my hopes, if they are to be dashed. I don’t think I could bear it. Really, you should be escorting Isabel round the fair and buying her trinkets, not talking to me. I can see her over there and she is looking at us. Go to her, please.’
* * *
‘You have been neglecting me,’ Isabel complained as soon as he joined her. ‘People are beginning to notice.’
‘I am sorry, Isabel, but I have had much to do with the organisation of this event and seeing that everything is running smoothly and I had to escort my mother back to the house; she finds events like this tiring. Now something else has happened that demands my immediate attention, so I am obliged to leave you again.’
‘A fine marriage we shall have if you are forever going off and leaving me.’
‘If you wish to change your mind about that again, please say so.’
‘No, no, I didn’t mean anything,’ she said quickly. ‘Go and do whatever it is you have to do. But I hope it will not take too long. Papa has said we may stay for the dancing, so I shall expect you to stand up with me.’
* * *
He had bowed and left her to watch the races with her parents while he spent the next hour and a half going round all the stalls, asking if anyone had been spending unusually freely, but no one had. Perhaps the thief was no longer on the field, perhaps had never been any further than the gate. If that were so, it was going to be doubly difficult to apprehend him. Or her.
He went to the gate to ask Mrs Caulder if anyone had approached and not entered, but the good lady must have decided that there would be no more arrivals and had left her post. He turned away and it was then he saw the woman out of the corner of his eye. She was carrying a jar close to her chest, which looked very like the one Mrs Caulder had been using. He dodged behind the hedge and watched her. She approached the deserted table and, looking furtively about her, set the jar on the table. Mark left his hiding place and confronted her.
‘It is Mrs Butler, is it not?’
‘Yes.’
‘What were you doing with this?’ He picked up the jar. It was heavy with coins.
‘Putting it back.’
‘What were you doing with it in the first place?’
‘Nothing. Putting it back, I told you. I found it.’
‘Oh, come, madam, you do not expect me to believe that, do you? Shall I tell you what I think? I think your boy took it.’
