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Albert smiled. “Have a good night, Matt.”
“You, as well, Bert.” Matthew smiled and walked out of the room.
He left Albert’s house and rode back to the castle. It was drizzling when he arrived, and he handed the reins of his horse to a groom in the stables before going inside through one of the doors on the side of the structure.
Weary, he went straight to his chambers, and when he entered his dressing room to change his clothes, he found Glover inside, polishing his boots. “I thought you would be asleep.” Matthew began to remove his black coat.
“No, Your Grace. I was actually waiting for you. I heard something.” Matthew paused, hoping to receive useful news. “I met Crawford’s valet in the pub, and he was ape drunk. I took him aside and asked him some questions. Crawford never traveled to London.”
Matthew’s eyes narrowed. “Does he know anything about the money Crawford appears to have acquired recently?”
“Unfortunately, he does not, but he thinks there is an orphan involved.”
“Orphan?”
Glover nodded. “Do you want me to search?”
“Yes. Please.”
Chapter 23
Diana’s heart was aching, and she did everything in her power to keep herself occupied. Thinking excessively about the decision she had made could bring about a change of heart, and that should not be allowed to happen. She was standing under an oak tree with Emma on the afternoon of the Saville garden party two days after their picnic.
The only reason she attended was to find Matthew and speak to him. She had something important to tell him.
“More lemonade?” Emma asked her when a footman offered them some.
“Yes, please.” Diana picked up a glass and took large gulps, not because the weather was very warm but because she was nervous.
Emma caught Viscountess Saville’s eyes and waved pleasantly at her, and Diana was forced to smile and wave too when the Viscountess’ gaze shifted to her. The hosts were good friends with Emma’s aunt, and as such, Emma was well acquainted with them.
“Diana, is something wrong?” Emma asked, and Diana flinched inwardly because she had endeavored to not allow her friend to notice her discomposure.
“I think it is too warm out here,” she lied.
Emma took her arm. “We should go inside. Why Lady Saville decided to host a party in the afternoon on a hot day is beyond me. I am sure we could find an empty room to sit in.”
“Yes, that would be great,” Diana murmured as she was led away from the tree. She had not seen her aunt or cousin since their arrival but she did not care.
“Where are you two off to?” came Albert’s voice and they stopped to see him approaching them slowly from their left. It appeared his leg was aching today, and he was leaning heavily on his cane. Diana looked behind him, expecting to see Matthew, but he was not there.
“Retreating from the heat,” Emma replied.
“Wise decision. I think I will do that, too.”
Diana almost asked him where Matthew was but did not. As they continued toward the house, a handsome light-haired gentleman walked up to them.
Emma introduced him to Diana as the Earl of Dereham, after which he asked Emma to take a turn about the garden with him. “I won’t be long,” Emma whispered to her, looking a little worried.
“Spend as much time as you want, Emma,” Diana encouraged her after noticing the blush on her friend’s cheeks. “Go.” She nudged her forward.
She watched Emma leave with the earl before she turned to Albert, who offered her his arm. “I am waiting for him, too,” he said.
Her eyes widened a fraction and she felt her cheeks warm. “Is it so obvious?” she asked sheepishly.
He smiled. “No, but I did hazard a guess. Shall we wait for him by that tree?” He pointed at another tree in the garden with a broader shade.
“Of course.” Diana took the arm he offered. When they sat on a bench beneath the tree, she asked. “Do you know if he is coming?” She was comfortable talking about Matthew with him because she felt as though he was her ally. After all, he had helped Matthew give her a message the night they had dinner at the castle, and he was his dearest friend.
