Darcy Darlington and the Diamond of Desire by Maya Rodale

Darcy darlington and the diamond of desire

Chapter Five ~ In which our heroine makes an unpleasant discovery.

It could be worse, Darcy told herself repeatedly. She had almost been caught spying on the Evil Lord Hartshorne, and her escape had been plain lucky. But not lucky enough—she had left behind her candlestick, which was bad. Being made of plain pewter, it was obviously not from his house. A simple inquiry could tie it back to her, especially since she had also torn her dress, leaving behind a scrap of fabric that obviously came from the uniform gowns provided for the housemaids. Darcy reassured herself that she was unlikely to be discovered from these clues—at least not quickly.

But it was all very telling that someone had been snooping around his house. If he were smart or sober, he would be more vigilant, which would make things just that much more difficult for her.

Worst of all, she had no idea where he placed the box when he was done looking at its contents—whatever they may be.

Darcy couldn’t help but wonder if it was all worth it. As much as she wanted Tristan to return her love, she wanted it to be based upon something a little more genuine than a magic necklace. If the blasted thing even was magical!

She decided to pay a call upon Miss Felicia Weatherby to learn more about the necklace and its owner. Fortunately, it was a Sunday, and she and the rest of the staff had the afternoon free.

Miss Weatherby resided in a boarding house in the reputable neighborhood of Bloomsbury. Upon Darcy’s arrival, she found that Miss Weatherby was not alone. A gentleman was with her, kissing her hand in goodbye. From where she stood, Darcy could not see his face. That is, until he stood and turned

“Darcy!” Tristan exclaimed. He was certainly surprised to see her here. If she wasn’t mistaken, he seemed a little uncomfortable, too.

“Hello, Tristan. I was not aware that you two were acquainted,” Darcy said, straining to keep her voice as light and unaffected as possible. What was he doing here? How did they know each other?

“I thought I had mentioned it,” Felicia said with a little laugh. “He is the friend who told me about you and your work.”

“I see,” Darcy said, unfortunately, seeing what a fool she had been. He must have known about her case all along! He must have known while breaking into Lord Hartshorne’s house. She could only imagine what else he was privy to. She felt certain they did not just forget to mention they knew each other.

Suddenly Darcy felt as if she arrived at a party to which she was not invited.

“You don’t mind, do you, Darcy?” Tristan asked, seeming nervous that he had offended her. “Miss Weatherby confided her need for assistance, and I couldn’t think of anyone more capable than you.”

“Of course, I don’t mind. You know that it’s no secret what I do. But I wonder—how did you two become acquainted?” She had to ask, or she knew she would regret it if she did not.

“The mail coach, actually,” Tristan said.

“What were you doing on the mail coach?” Darcy asked, confused and suspicious. Lieutenants in the cavalry, as he was, did not generally take the mail coach.

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you some other time. I must be going now,” Tristan said. He bid goodbye to them both. And then he paused in the doorway, and turned around to address Darcy.

“I am glad to see you are well after your trip to visit Miss Banbury,” he said with a wink.

“Visiting? I thought you were searching for my diamond,” Felicia said.

Darcy and Tristan grinned at each other and at the pleasure of sharing a secret. But given the setting, and the company, it was bittersweet.

“I’m making great progress in that area, Miss Weatherby. I just have a few questions for you.”

“Of course.”

“Could you tell me more about what the necklace looks like?”

“Why, does The Evil Lord Hartshorne have numerous diamond necklaces lying about?” Miss Weatherby glanced around the room, refusing to meet Darcy’s eyes.

Darcy allowed a long, awkward silent moment to pass before speaking.

“You don’t know what it looks like because you’ve never seen it.”

“Well, I have seen it in portraits,” Miss Weatherby admitted. She provided no help at all.

“Are you sure it even exists?”

“It must!” Miss Weatherby said with such vehemence that Darcy saw her desperate and urgent desire for the necklace. Why?

“Very well,” Darcy said, pursing her lips. “Is there anything else you can tell me about it? Or about Hartshorne?”

“I’m not acquainted with him, so I can’t say more.”

“But he is your brother-in-law. Were you not even at the wedding?”

“It was years ago, and I was out of the country.”

“Yes, indeed,” Darcy said thoughtfully. “It was a long time ago that he married—perhaps over twenty years. There must be quite an age difference between you and your sister.”

“Half-sister, if one wants to be technical. My mother was our father’s second wife. But really, that’s all quite irrelevant. It’s imperative that I have this necklace, Miss Darlington. Even if I have to get it myself.”

After assuring Miss Weatherby she needed only a few more days, Darcy bid her goodbye.

What a useless visit, Darcy grumbled to herself as she stood in the foyer, and buttoned her spencer. She had learned nothing about the diamonds, other than that they might not exist.

And she had also discovered that—she sucked in her breath as the obvious hit her—Tristan courted Felicia Weatherby.

And Felicia employed Darcy to get the stupid supposedly magical diamonds to use on Tristan!

She should really quit this case, she thought, as she pulled open the door and stepped outside. Why on earth would she suffer and risk her life so the man she loved would fall in love with another?

Darcy paused with the intention of going back inside to tell Miss Felicia Weatherby that if she wanted the damned diamond necklace so badly, she could get it herself.

But she didn’t.

Tristan was waiting for her, leaning against one of the newly installed lampposts.

“C’mon, I’ll walk you home,” he said.

Darcy smiled, because she couldn’t say no to him.

“What have you been doing these past few days?” Tristan asked.

“Visiting Hester Banbury,” Darcy answered, and Tristan rolled his eyes. She changed the subject, for she did not want him to know where she had really been. “The mail coach, Tristan, really?”

“Oh, it was an awful day. My horse threw a shoe, and I needed to return to London in time for mother’s birthday dinner. The mail coach was my only option. Miss Weatherby and I became acquainted when she inquired about securing a hack and lodgings once we arrived in town.”

“Where did she come from?”

“West Indies, actually. Since the age of about six, she lived there with her parents. They recently died, and poor Miss Weatherby returns to England to find that the aunt she had planned to live with had also died. She’s all alone in the world, so I like to check in on her.”

“Has she no other relations? No uncles or siblings?”

“I’m not sure about other family, but I know that she is an only child.”

Darcy gave him a very questioning look, to which he replied, “I’m certain of it.”

“Well, that’s interesting,” Darcy murmured thoughtfully. Miss Weatherby was a liar. If the late Lady Hartshorne was not Miss Weatherby’s sister, then what was the connection?

They walked along in comfortable silence for the next few blocks. Occasionally, Tristan would place his palm on the small of her back in a guiding and protective gesture when the crowds got too thick or as they crossed the street.

“Darcy, what are we doing here?” Tristan asked.

It was only then she looked up, and realized they stood at the servants’ entrance of Hartshorne’s residence. She hadn’t meant to, but because she focused more on him than anything else, she had given away her latest scheme,

“You know what I am doing here,” she answered.

Tristan took her hand in his. She stared at the strange, lovely sight of it.

“Darcy…” Tristan murmured, gazing into her eyes. “I need to ask you something.”

To Be Continued…

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