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She whispered. “Leah’s fiancé—the Duke of Gillingham.”
“Selina! No!” Thomas said, the corners of his mouth turning upward. He laughed, shaking his head. “You and I are so similar.” He came over to sit down in the chair facing her. He crossed his legs, holding his glass on top of his knee. “Tell me everything.”
“I’m in love with him,” she said blushing. “He’s wonderful, truly. Everything that a gentleman ought to be.”
“Rich, tall and handsome?” Thomas asked, raising an eyebrow.
Selina laughed. “Honorable, kind, and brave.”
“Goodness,” Thomas said, taking a large gulp of his drink, then hissing at its burn.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I was caught sneaking out to go and meet him.
Thomas grinned. “You sly minx.”
“Uncle Latimer’s forbidden me from leaving the house.”
“Well, not to worry—now that I’m here, I can cover for you. He told me earlier that he’s leaving you to my care.”
“Thank you, but I’m not going anywhere while there are murderers about.”
“I’d like to meet him,” he said, tilting his head curiously. “What’s he like?”
“He’s—he’s wonderful,” she said. “You’ll like him very much.”
“Selina—why hasn’t he broken the engagement?” Thomas frowned, suddenly the concerned older brother. Relief bubbled up in Selina. Her brother would solve everything.
“Leah’s hanging onto him with both hands,” Selina replied. “She very much wants to be a Duchess, despite not loving him.”
“Our Leah’s a cold fish,” he commented with a sigh. He beamed at her. “I’m so glad I showed up. Just in time for all of the fireworks, eh?”
“That you did. I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “I’d be bundled off to Staunton, all on my own.”
“Crying the whole way,” he said, reaching out to pat her on the hand. They both laughed. Selina wasn’t much of a crier, even when they were children. Selina sulked—Thomas was the crier. “Not to worry. I’m here now, and we’ll fix things as we’d like them.”
Selina smiled. He was quoting Mamma.
* * *
After freeing Stephen, Jasper found himself at a loose end. He decided to ride home to collect Reuben. The two brothers would make a plan—question those who had been at the ball the night before.
Surely, someone had seen something suspicious. They could start with their mother—see who she’d been speaking with in the time leading up to her discovery of her missing necklace.
He could no longer stand by idly waiting for the next thing to happen. He wasn’t going to rest until he’d solved it. Even if that meant applying to the Regent for another Regiment or two sent his way.
When he arrived home, however, one of the soldiers who’d been accompanying Stephen was there, waiting for him.
“Your Grace,” he said, bowing to Jasper. “Lord Sandbourne has sent for you. It’s urgent, he says.”
“What’s happened?” Jasper asked, a dark foreboding. Stephen was angry with him—he would have only sent for him if it was truly bad.
“Someone’s broken into Sandbourne Hall,” the soldier explained.
Jasper got right back up into the saddle. “Let’s go,” he said, turning Pilot around.
He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know what to think, aside from the fact that in Stephen’s absence, they had gone to Sandbourne Hall. They had all been so busy focusing on Stephen, and making sure that everyone else had returned home safely, that Sandbourne Hall had been left unwatched.
* * *
