Chapter 5 #3
“I believe my wife is referring to the rest of the jewelry that belongs to the estate.” Apparently emboldened by the rudeness of his wife, the earl found his tongue. “There are several pieces missing.”
“And you think I have them?”
Lady Harriet glared at her. “You have the tiara.” Carenza tamped down her instant desire to defend herself and rang the bell. When the butler appeared, she said, “Ask Agnes to bring down my jewelry box, will you? And anything else of that nature that I have in my possession.”
Carenza was too annoyed both with herself and with the couple in front of her to have time to make small talk. She’d genuinely forgotten that the tiara was a Smythe-Harding piece and would never have worn it if she’d remembered.
When Agnes came into the room with the jewelry boxes, Carenza unlocked them, retrieved the tiara, and gestured to the new earl and countess. “Perhaps you’d like to look through all my jewelry and make sure I haven’t taken anything else?”
“That’s hardly necessary,” the earl said, as if he’d finally realized how rude he was being.
His countess had no such scruples. She rummaged in her reticule and brought out a list. “I’ll do it.”
Julian met Carenza’s gaze and raised his eyebrows, obviously offering his help.
Carenza didn’t need it.
After a thorough inspection, the countess appeared somewhat annoyed. “There is nothing that matches the descriptions on my list. What have you done with the other pieces?”
Carenza turned to the earl, who was now bright red. “I suspect Hector pawned the other items to pay his debts.”
“I’m quite certain Lady Carenza is correct,” Julian spoke up.
“As the late earl’s best friend, I can vouch for his propensity to gamble to excess, leading to an inability to pay his bills.
” He studied the earl. “And if I might offer a little bit of advice? Next time you have a family dispute, perhaps you should ask your solicitors to manage matters for you, rather than barging into a lady’s house during visiting hours and calling her a thief. ”
Lady Harrier raised her chin. “She wore my tiara.”
“Considering your appalling manners, I’m surprised you didn’t rip it off her head at the ball.” Julian’s voice dripped with contempt. “Lady Carenza is well respected in society. Your behavior toward her has been noted, and will do you no favors.”
“I quite agree.” Olivia came to stand beside Carenza. “Even Hector wouldn’t have behaved so badly.” She looked down at Lady Harriet. “I hope you enjoy your tiara, my lady, because if this story gets out, I doubt you’ll find anyone who’ll invite you to a social event where you can display it.”
“That is grossly unfair.” The earl cleared his throat. “My wife is a passionate woman who believes in being honest. The fault is clearly Lady Carenza’s.”
Julian walked over to the door and held it open. “May I suggest you leave before I kick you out?”
“You have no authority in this house, sir,” Lady Harriet said as she turned to the door.
“You gave me all the license I need by revealing a family matter in front of Lady Carenza’s guests,” Julian snapped. “If you didn’t wish your appalling behavior to be known, you should have conducted yourself more honorably.”
Lady Harrier visibly bristled. “Don’t you worry about this story getting out, sir. I’ll be telling everyone I know exactly what happened!”
“Be my guest. If you wish to look more a fool than you already do.” Julian bowed as she swept past him, the red-faced earl following.
Julian shut the door and looked over at Carenza. “Please don’t worry about such nonentities.”
“But I was at fault. I completely forgot about that silly tiara.”
“That may be true, but the new earl and his wife handled the matter badly,” Julian said. “A simple letter to your man of business would have solved the problem without causing you such distress in your own home. They were both ill-mannered and undignified.”
Carenza sighed as she sat down. “She’ll tell everyone, won’t she?”
“Of course she will.” Olivia patted her hand. “But she knows no one of any consequence. You can remain silent while Julian and I make sure that everything she says is treated with the contempt it deserves.”
Julian nodded as he took the seat next to Olivia.
“You don’t have to do anything at all,” Carenza said. “The last thing I need is a war with my deceased husband’s family.”
“A war they started and brought into your drawing room,” Olivia said firmly. “As I said, leave it to us. I can assure you that your reputation will remain intact.”
Olivia stood up, came over to Carenza, and kissed her cheek. “I have to go. My dressmaker is due at my house within the hour.” She stared down at her friend. “Please don’t worry.”
Julian escorted Olivia down to the hall and then came back up into the silent drawing room. “She’s right, you know,” he said.
“Who? Olivia or Lady Harriet?” Carenza asked.
“Olivia, of course.” Julian sat opposite her, crossing one elegant, booted foot over the other. “No one will take any notice of Lady Harriet’s shrill accusations.”
“If only I hadn’t tried to dress up last night to impress … people. I would’ve left the bloody tiara in its box.”
Julian’s eyebrows shot up. “It’s not like you to curse, my dear.”
“Maybe I am not used to being at fault.”
“No one is perfect.”
“You have no idea what it is like to be the daughter of a woman who is considered socially unacceptable,” Carenza said. “Allegra and I are not allowed to be wrong-footed. Someone might suggest it is because of our inferior breeding.”
Julian studied her carefully and then nodded. “Actually, it explains a lot.”
“How so?”
“Why you put up with Hector for so long, for one. You never appeared to care, even when he was behaving outrageously.” He paused. “I always admired your inability to be shocked or hurt by him.”
“I couldn’t afford to behave in any other way,” Carenza said simply.
“Imagine if I’d thrown a tantrum at a ball when Hector danced right by me with one of his mistresses?
I’d have been the one scorned, and you can guarantee that my mother’s name would have figured prominently in the condemnations of my common behavior. ”
“Not by me.”
“Thank you. You might be a great arbitrator of fashionable society, but even you couldn’t have changed the tide in my favor.”
“I would’ve done my best.”
It was unusual to see Julian without his usual slightly mocking smile, but Carenza appreciated his sincere address of the topic.
“Anyway.” His smile returned. “This isn’t about me. I do think Olivia is right and that you should carry on as if nothing has happened. Let Lady Harriet vent her spleen to her little friends, and I doubt we’ll hear any more about it.” He stood and came toward her.
“I hope you’re right.” Carenza rose to her feet.
He cupped her chin. “You’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.”
He kissed her gently on the lips. “I do. And as your official lover, I suggest you turn your mind to more enticing thoughts. Like when I’m going to bed you.”
“We’re official now?”
“Oh yes.” He kissed her again more roughly and released her. “Goodbye, my dear.”
He turned to the door only to find that it was already open, and Allegra was standing there staring at both of them.
Carenza froze, but Julian wished Allegra a good day as he walked past her and went off down the stairs.
“Well,” Allegra said as she stared at Carenza. “I take a stroll around the park and miss all the excitement. What on earth has been going on?”