Darcy Darlington and the Diamond of Desire by Maya Rodale

Darcy darlington and the diamond of desire

Chapter eleven ~ In which our heroine solves one mystery.

“Miss Darlington, dare I hope you have finally obtained the diamonds?”

“Actually, Miss Weatherby, I have something even more valuable for you.”

Darcy saw her guests’ gazes settle on the third person in the room: Percy Hartshorne, formerly known as The Evil Lord. In anticipation of this meeting, he had made great improvements to his appearance. His hair was brushed back, and his clothes, though not in the latest fashion, were well made and in good condition.

“Miss Weatherby, this is Percy Hartshorne. I trust that we both know he is not your brother-in-law, but your father.”

“You’ve been busy investigating more than just the whereabouts of the necklace,” Miss Felicia said, addressing Darcy, but stealing glances at Percy.

“Felicia,” Percy said slowly, tears dampening his eyes. “Words cannot express my joy at seeing you again. I had thought you were dead.”

“Dead?” Felicia sounded shocked and alarmed.

“Yes, I thought that you had perished in the fire. But it seems that you had left with your mother and Weatherby. We had agreed you were to remain in London with me.”

“I didn’t know,” Felicia said quietly. “I had been so young when we left for the West Indies. Mother said you had died and Marcus Weatherby was my new father. It was only recently, as she lay dying, that she told me you might still be alive, and that I needed the diamond necklace so I could catch a husband and secure my future. She said the chance was great that you were still too angry at the deceit, and that you would not look favorably upon anyone with the name Weatherby.”

“So you were the anonymous client that the solicitor wrote the letters on behalf of?” Percy asked. The pieces were falling into place.

“Yes. And you didn’t answer them, so I had to ask for help from Miss Darlington.”

“I have received many such requests over the years, all from frauds and schemers.”

“So then you came to me with that tall tale, disguising your real relationship to his lordship,” Darcy said.

“I am all alone in this world,” Felicia said. “I did what I needed to do to survive.”

“You are not alone any longer,” Percy said softly. Felicia smiled hesitantly.

Darcy sensed it was time she withdrew to give them a chance to speak privately. She saw, too, that Percy had brought the box containing the portraits of his late wife and Felicia as a child, and he wished to share them with his daughter.

Darcy slowly retreated to the drawing room doors. But then her mother burst in, all aflutter and distracted and with three dogs and a cat trailing behind her.

“There you are, Darcy! I do need help with the decorations for the ball tomorrow evening. Oh, dear, I didn’t realize you had guests. Introduce me to your friends, darling.”

Darcy obliged.

Her mother showed no indication that the name Hartshorne bore any meaning to her.

“I do hope you will both attend my charity Ball for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that I’m hosting here tomorrow evening. It’s sure to be a crush. ”

“Thank you, Lady Darlington,” Percy said, “But I do not think my reputation will enhance your party.”

“Probably not,” Lady Darlington conceded. “But nothing would enhance your reputation like attending a charity ball with your daughter who is not dead after all. I shall see you both at eight tomorrow.”

Tomorrow night at the ball, Darcy would discover if the Diamonds of Desire were indeed magical.

To Be Continued…

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