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Rose wanted to speak with him.He knew it, but he dreaded the idea—any revelations from him would only diminish him in her eyes.All along, it was a risk.Once she found out all Matthew Hardy’s mysteries, she would more than likely think of him as a common fraud.
Damn.His empire still required substantial wrangling.Welliver.Alice DuPuis.A gambling con with Sandhurst.He still hadn’t found a permanent solution for Mary Trimble and her granddaughters.The Earl of Cheltham had passed last week and Matthew needed to look at those estates with property manager, Frank Kulp.He had three unentailed farms Matthew wanted to snatch up, if there were of the quality he hoped.
And Rose.He wasn’t a coward, but he had hoped Rose’s attention would be on the running of the household, caring for her daughters and the social concerns of a society woman rather than all the pots in which Matthew had his fingers—past or present.
An hour later, he was walking into the foyer of his home in Islington.Rose was descending the stairs and hurried to him, clutching his arm.“Oh, Matthew.I’ve done something so irresponsible,” she said.
His brows lifted.Rose Elliston did very little without careful thought, such was his observation.“What is that?”
“I’ve misplaced the Isis Diamonds.I took them off this morning, after I retired from the ball.I thought I put them in the velvet case, but they are gone.”
“If you put them in the case, that is where they should be.Who was still in the house when this happened?”
“No one.After I saw the girls this morning, I waited in the drawing room until the last carriage left then I went to my room.Isaac wouldn’t have taken them, would he?”
“Isaac would not step foot in your room even if I ordered him to do so,” Matthew said.
“What about the extra servants, the ones we don’t know well?”She lowered her voice.“Surely someone didn’t steal the necklace?”
“Let’s start by assuming they are misplaced before we accuse anyone.”He was very thankful he hadn’t borrowed the diamonds just yet.But he would soon.“Have you talked with Eunice to see if she saw anyone enter your room?”
“No, I’ve only told Raleigh.He is making inquiries.Oh, if I have lost them, I won’t forgive myself.I was so tired this morning.I am sure I took them off in my room before I removed my dress and laid down.”
“Be calm,” he said, then took her hand and led her upstairs.“We’ll find them or find out who has them.”
When they entered her room, both Eunice and Raleigh were searching through drawers, clothes, nooks and crannies.Rose entwined her fingers, unable to move, and bit at her lower lip.“My father trusted me with them.They are irreplaceable.”
“I will buy you ten sets of diamonds.Please do not chide yourself over something that can be replaced.”
“They are important to me.”
“I know.And you are important to me.That is why I will make this right if they can’t be found.Raleigh,” he called.“What have you discovered?”
Raleigh straightened, and said, “No luck so far, but we’ll keep searching.”
“Talk to every servant.Rose, come with me.We’ll have a drink before dinner.”
“I should help look for them.”
“If they are misplaced, you are too emotional to contribute.If they are stolen, there is nothing you can do until gossip begins to circulate about who may have them.They can’t be sold in London and anyone in possession of blue diamonds will be immediately suspect.Raleigh, we will be in the library.”
“Yes, Mr.Hardy.”
Matthew held her hand over his arm, and they quietly walked down the stairway.“I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed a quiet home,” he said.He glanced at her to see she was wiping away tears.He stopped them mid-stair and handed over a handkerchief.“Please don’t cry.”
“Matthew, they are the most valuable thing I own.If something happens...It’s how I planned to care for my daughters, if need be.”
“You have a husband for that.Come.Let us cry in private, shall we.”
Inside the library, Rose hurried to one of the new, large brocade chairs and dabbed at her eyes again.Matthew glanced around the room, all the décor new to him.He had not been in the room since they’d married, using his office for nearly everything.The shelves were full of shiny, unread leather-bound books and— Well, that didn’t matter so much.He went to the lovely new sidebar stocked with several bottles and poured glasses of port wine.
She accepted the glass.“How could I be so careless?”
“You were exhausted, not careless.”
“I feel like I need to do something.”
He sighed.Now was as good as time as any to distract her and to explain somewhat.“Rose, what you heard the other night was all true.”
