Eugenie interjected. “We were robbed by a highwaywoman.”
“A highwaywoman?” Lady Isabella repeated, her brows lifting in surprise. “How unusual.”
Lady Elsbeth suddenly picked up a plate of biscuits. “Would anyone care for a biscuit?” Her voice was loud. Too loud.
Niles leaned forward and retrieved a biscuit, his interestpiqued by Lady Elsbeth’s abrupt attempt to redirect the conversation.
His sister, with a gleam in her eyes, continued. “She made off with Niles’s pocket watch. It belonged to our father.”
“Your father’s?” Lady Elsbeth asked, glancing at Niles as she placed the plate down onto the tray.
“Yes,” Niles replied. “It was handed down to me after his passing.”
Lady Elsbeth gasped, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t know.”
Niles placed his cup and saucer down on the table. “I appreciate your concern, but you have no reason to apologize.”
“Yes, of course, I know that. But I would imagine that particular family heirloom means a great deal to you,” Lady Elsbeth said.
“It does,” Niles admitted.
Lady Elsbeth bit her lower lip, her gaze flickering to the tea tray before returning to him. “I hope you are able to get your pocket watch back in a timely fashion.”
“I doubt Niles will ever see it again,” Eugenie declared, her tone more practical than hopeful. “The highwaywoman might have already sold it to the highest bidder.”
“I doubt someone would part with something so valuable so quickly,” Lady Elsbeth contended.
Niles offered her a brief smile, touched by her concern. “What’s done is done,” he said. “I would prefer not to dwell on it.”
Lady Elsbeth nodded, but her expression remained conflicted, as though there were more she wanted to say.
Niles didn’t know how—or when—but he would get that pocket watch back. He had to. But first, he needed to discover the identity of the highwaywoman. Leaning back in his seat, a thought struck him—could Lady Elsbeth be the culprit? Theidea seemed preposterous. Why would a genteel daughter of an earl turn to a life of crime?
But no. He quickly dismissed the thought. Lady Elsbeth’s reaction to his plight was far too empathetic to belong to a common thief.
Aunt Margaret’s voice broke through his musings. “Oh, dear. It might not be the best day to go shopping,” she remarked as she gazed at the rain pounding against the glass.
“I must agree,” Lady Isabella chimed in.
Niles stole a glance at Lady Elsbeth. Her eyes were downcast, and there was a line between her brows. Was she troubled by the conversation? Or was it something else entirely?
But before he could say anything, Aunt Margaret rose. “We do not want to take up too much of your time.”
“Nonsense,” Lady Isabella contended. “I always cherish the visits I receive from you.”
Aunt Margaret smiled. “In that case, I would like to invite you and your family to dine with us this evening.”
“We would be delighted,” Lady Isabella promptly responded.
“Wonderful,” Aunt Margaret said. “We shall see you this evening, then.”
As Niles followed the ladies out of the room, Lady Elsbeth called out to him. “My lord, might I have a word, please?”
Here it was.
Niles resisted the urge to sigh. He knew what was coming. The inevitable flirtation. It always came to this. Women were so predictable.
He turned, keeping his expression guarded. “Yes, Lady Elsbeth?” he asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance from his voice.
