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Chapter Seven
Matthew jotted a fewnotes during the carriage ride home.Hopefully, he would be able to read his writing in the morning.He’d been busy with partners, clients and accountants.Normally, he was invigorated by the excitement of new business and plans and profits.Today, he was exhausted thanks to a nearly sleepless night in bed with his wife.And if that weren’t enough, his curiosity was piqued thinking about the Isis Diamonds.Business had never taken third place before.
He liked the idea of owning such assets, but with jewels and paintings and other art came the subjective nature of its value.Such things couldn’t produce income, couldn’t produce goods and couldn’t be easily stored or sold without enticing someone else to mischief.Rose’s Gainsboroughs were the extent of the Highwood art collection, unless one counted his support of the arts and crafts at the Grand Gala Bazaar.
He made a note: take Rose and the children to the bazaar.He also needed to work out a scheme for Ava and Elaina to earn money and learn how to manage it.Most women, and he used his mother as an example, were not properly educated in handling finances.
What he hadn’t admitted to Alice DuPuis was that he had a pretty good idea where the diamonds were.He wasn’t a wagering man, but he thought it a safe bet that Rose’s sister was in possession of the jewels.How long would it be before anyone else realized that?Who even knew about them?Alice had somehow found out.
They would need to be retrieved and he had no doubt he could convince Rose to do so.It was only the next part, that of Alice’s tournament of wealthy clodpolls, which would require some skillful negotiation with Rose.
Once Matthew arrived at Highwood, Raleigh came tripping down the front steps before Matthew could get out of the carriage.
“Mr.Hardy, we’ve had somewhat of a disaster today.”Raleigh went into some detail about Rose’s day, including the debacle of Sandhurst’s visit.“And she’s gone.We’ve been looking for her for the last hour.And her particular friend Lady Chester is here and very worried about her.”
“Don’t you think you ought to have told me she was missing before you went into the particulars?Who’s out looking?”How lost could she be in Islington, though?
“Four footmen.”
“Walking or on horseback?”
“Walking.”
“She didn’t mention anything before she left?Did the footman who walked with her yesterday happen to go out?”
“No, he’s been helping in the kitchen.Evidently, Cook has a delivery of meats that needed to be hung in the cooler, and you know how heavy a side of beef can be.”
“Raleigh!”Matthew held up his hand.“I am not interested in meat deliveries.Get the young man out here.Now.”
While he waited, Matthew walked into the front drawing room and saw the two letters she’d received.He read them quick, then placed them in his jacket pocket.The box with remnants of Rose’s broken china still sat on the floor.
He then went to the small red room where Rose’s friend had been seated.
“You must be Mr.Hardy,” a woman said.She sat in a comfortable chair and appeared most upset.A tea tray had been placed in front of her, untouched.
“Indeed.And you are?”
