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A slight blush warmed Olivia’s cheeks as she listened to her cousins speak. They were becoming a little too forward in what they said, making their interest in Lord Monteforte much too apparent. Lady Dayton did not interject at any point, seemingly quite contented with the conversation and her daughters’ behavior, leaving Olivia feeling all the more ill at ease.
“And you, Lady Olivia?”
She started visibly, almost dropping her needlework as she realized that Lord Monteforte was speaking directly to her. “Yes, my lord?” she asked, not quite managing to look at him in embarrassment, realizing that she had very little idea as to what he had said.
“You do not share in your cousins’ dislike of horse riding, I hope?”
Olivia blinked rapidly, glancing towards Louisa and Margaret and seeing their gazes grew sharp and angry. She managed a small smile, lifting one shoulder in a half shrug. She was not about to lie, but neither did she wish to further involve herself in a conversation with Lord Monteforte.
“I enjoy riding, Lord Monteforte,” she answered carefully. “But only when there is fine weather.”
“As there is now,” he said, with a tilted smile. “Although opportunities to do so must be rather few here in London.”
“Indeed.” She still had not quite managed to look him directly in the eye, feeling far too aware of the pressure placed on her by her aunt and the clear irritation of her cousins.
“Oh! Goodness!” Lady Margaret’s voice suddenly filled the room, catching everyone’s attention. She stared, wide-eyed, at her mother, appearing to be quite distressed. “I have only just realized that my ruby necklace has disappeared!” She clutched at her throat, her eyes widening as an expression of horror filled her face.
Olivia’s stomach twisted.
“Gracious!” Lady Dayton exclaimed, either startled from this revelation or from the belief that the necklace had disappeared only a short time before afternoon calls. “Then you must have the maids search for it.” A small smile was directed towards Lord Monteforte. “You must excuse the interruption, my lord, but the ruby necklace is of high value to our family and I would not have it lost.”
Lord Monteforte kept a pleasant expression on his face, spreading his hands in an understanding gesture. “I quite understand,” he said warmly. “Please, do not hesitate on my account.”
A cold hand clutched Olivia’s heart, but she did not allow anything to show on her face. When Lady Margaret sent a sidelong glance towards Olivia, she kept her expression entirely neutral, feeling only a slight kick of anxiety and praying that the necklace would be safe in Lady Margaret’s bedchamber by now. The maid was duly sent for and instructed to have the staff search for the necklace at once.
“I do hope you find it,” Lord Monteforte said, making to get to his feet, clearly believing his visit to be at an end. “I well understand the importance of such a thing.”
“Oh, thank you for your understanding,” Lady Margaret was gushing now, her eyes fixed on Lord Monteforte and one hand pressed towards her heart, as though he were kindness itself. “You must wait then—to see whether or not it is soon found. I am sure it will be.” She threw another quick glance towards Olivia, who, this time, gave her cousin a small smile.
Margaret’s gaze sharpened.
The conversation went from one place to the next before the maid finally returned. Lady Margaret let out a small exclamation as the maid brought in the ruby necklace, clearly visible in her outstretched hand.
“You have found it!” she cried, whilst Lord Monteforte murmured something that sounded like congratulations. “How wonderful.” She practically snatched it from the maid, holding it up to the light for all too see.
“That is a relief indeed,” Lady Dayton answered, as Olivia continued with her needlework, feeling a tension writhe in her stomach. “How very pleasing it is to have it back in your hand again, Margaret.”
Lady Margaret did not respond to her mother. Instead, she simply fixed her eyes on the maid, who lowered her head.
“Where did you find it?” she asked rather sharply. “Tell me at once.”
The maid did not lift her head. “I found it in a bedchamber, Lady Margaret.”
The look of triumph on Lady Margaret’s face told Olivia that she already believed herself to have succeeded. “Is that so?” she murmured, as silence crept about the room. “A bedchamber, you say?”
Clearly, Olivia realized, the maid had been prompted to search Olivia’s room first but, having found nothing there, had then gone on to other rooms. She looked a little afraid, and Olivia felt almost sorry for the girl, knowing that once Lord Monteforte left, the maid might be at Lady Margaret’s mercy.
“It was in your bedchamber, Lady Margaret.”
“Olivia!”
Lady Margaret threw herself back in her seat in shock, one hand pressed to her heart and her mouth a little ajar. Olivia, who had very clearly heard the maid say that she had found the necklace in Lady Margaret’s rooms, looked up in surprise.
“How has it come to pass that my ruby necklace is found in your bedchamber, Olivia?” Lady Margaret continued, sounding quite horrified. “Please, tell me that you did not steal it?” Her voice dropped to just above a whisper, sending a ripple of shock around the room. It was clear what Lady Margaret had done.
“Margaret,” Olivia said calmly, looking back at her cousin with a small smile touching the corner of her lips. “The maid did not find the necklace in my bedchamber, but in yours.”
Silence flooded the room, leaving ev
