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As Rose took her seatfor the final game, Matthew sidled next to Alice.Sandhurst hadn’t come to the table yet.
“Oh, good evening, Dukey,” she said, slyly.
“Why did you do it?Do you laugh behind our backs when you finagle your twisted games?”Matthew asked.
She smiled at a man passing by.“Because she paid me to and, I do admit, I chuckled a bit.Does that not just seem so apropos after all the trouble you went to in buying your wife?”
“That’s different.”
“Oh, of course it is.But it was quite delicious to see your expression when you weren’t invited to the table.”
“I’m sure it was.So, tell me how this will play out now?”
“A woman must keep some of her secrets.Does all your planning have something to do with Liverpool’s insistent need to be near Sandhurst tonight?”
“What does a man like me know about British ministers and—”
“Liverpool whispered something about treason of the highest order,” she said.
“I’m sure you misunderstood.”Considering Matthew had handed over the letter to Liverpool, it was reasonable to assume Liverpool would do something about it, at the minimum, investigating Sandhurst’s connection to the Cato Street conspirators if not his outright plotting.Matthew just wasn’t expecting it to happen tonight.
“I should also tell you that Sandhurst was near apoplectic after the game, demanding that I release him from the balance of play with the one-hundred thousand pounds he had won so far.”
“Not the diamonds?Apoplectic, indeed.”Sandhurst must smell the trouble brewing for him.
“He doesn’t seem to understand that is why I use tokens instead of cash.It really does solve so many problems.Oh, and I do need the necklace now.I thought I would display it for everyone before the start of the game.”
“Since we are being honest, I have to say it is a little bit harder to trust you with the diamonds now.”
“Aside from one small detail, has it not all played out as you wished?”She laughed again.“Much like providing Rose with a man who met all her requirements for a husband except for his lack of title.I will tell my grandchildren about this twist of the tale.”
“You have grandchildren?”
“It’s an expression, Mr.Hardy.The necklace, please.”She held out her hand.“It’s almost over.You can’t now change your mind.”
Matthew reached behind his back and retrieved the velvet box tucked in his trouser band.It contained fake jewels.He hadn’t told anyone about that.Matthew knew the sort of people who could make counterfeit jewels from quartz, garnets and glass; lead, hand-wrought wire and paint.Probably a good idea since it seemed no one could be trusted.In the candlelight and smoke, no one would be the wiser.Except maybe Rose if she got a good look.At this point, it didn’t matter if Rose or Sandhurst ended up with them.
Sandhurst approached the table with two of Alice’s guards at his side.Another moment of satisfaction as Matthew realized Sandhurst didn’t want to be here—maybe he intuited that he was being backed into a corner: with Rose, with Liverpool, in life.
He’d suddenly decided that the Isis Diamonds weren’t what he really wanted.Freedom had a much bigger appeal.And maybe he was starting to think fondly of the money he was about to lose.
Matthew’s gaze followed Sandhurst’s movements.Stiff.Tight jawed.
Matthew wanted to believe Sandhurst was an ordinary bloke with a title: proud, quick to anger, superior to others.But those wordsacute maniaimplied an emotional reaction.Emotional reasoning about things like anger at military leaders and decisions, trauma from fighting, grief over the death of a brother, the secret thrill of conspiring with like-minded comrades.It was all connected, yet Matthew couldn’t connect anything with assurance.
“Your Grace.”Rose curtsied in front of her brother-in-law.
“Everyone!”Madame DuPuis called.The crowd settled quickly.“The final game is about to begin, and as promised, we have a rare and unique prize tonight.The Isis Diamonds.”
Alice opened the case and displayed them for the crowd.Murmurs of approval sounded as heads came together.
“You can all imagine how difficult it was to pry such a dazzling piece from Mr.Hardy’s hands.But if you were at his recent gala, you’ll know why he must let the priceless jewels go.”
There was a good amount of laughter.Alice had said she’d need a good reason and the expense of the gala was as good as any.Matthew let the poison flow off him.He smiled and wagged his brows.
“And you see that his wife, the duchess, isn’t happy to have such a prize slip from her fingers.But there is another contender who has just as much interest.May the best gambler win.”Alice snapped the case shut.
Rose took a seat, Matthew behind her holding her chair, and Cyril sat beside her, whispering something near her ear.Rose responded so everyone could hear.“Luck has nothing to do with it, Your Grace.”
