Chapter 30 #2
Murmuring began around the room as the other occupants began looking at one another and Asher’s stomach dropped as he wished Evelyn had told him this first. He could only hope she had a plan.
“It was exactly as you said. He was going to place a note within the same hiding place where the evidence against him had rested. As the current Lord Eastclere intended to follow his father’s wishes and loan the diamond to the Crown, his fabricated proof would then be discovered.”
A muscle jumped in Asher’s jaw as he tried to breathe calm into his body. There was nothing he could do any longer.
“You broke into the gallery the night of the spring soiree,” Evelyn continued. “Not to steal the diamond for its worth, but to retrieve what Norwood had hidden.”
Thalia nodded once. “All I wanted was to take away the forged note, but then I could not remove the paper,” she said hoarsely. “The compartment jammed and would not open.”
“So, you took the only course left to you,” Evelyn said. “You took the diamond itself.”
Asher closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them. “You should have told me.”
Thalia’s voice broke. “I was afraid of what you would do. That Norwood would be able to place all the blame on you.”
“And then Norwood,” Julian said, speaking for the first time, “became desperate because he needed it back.”
“Yes,” Evelyn said. “Without the diamond, he lost control of the narrative. He could neither accuse Asher nor ensure his own safety. And so, he did what men like Norwood always do when their power slips—he tightened his grip.”
She turned toward Asher again. “The pressure to contain scandal. The sudden insistence that two suspects be married. It was never about propriety. It was about delay.”
Asher nodded, his voice low, hushed. “Marriage would quiet inquiry. Discourage investigation.”
“And keep us both close,” Evelyn added. “Observable. Contained.”
Verity let out a slow breath. “I knew it was too neat.”
Julian glanced at her. “You always say that.”
Evelyn allowed herself a small, fleeting smile before the weight of the moment returned.
“The final piece,” she said, “was understanding why Norwood risked so much to retrieve the Paragon personally. Why did he not simply flee?”
She met Asher’s gaze then, finally. “Because he couldn’t be sure why someone else stole the diamond. If it were someone who just might know the truth — such as the current Duke of Ravnescar — blame could be placed on him again.”
Asher’s expression did not change, but something in his eyes softened, sharpened all at once.
“Thalia, you gave me the diamond back,” he realized suddenly.
She nodded. “When I realized Norwood was holding Evelyn until you gave him the diamond, I knew that I had to return it, so I slipped it in your pocket before you left the house.”
“Thank you,” he said in a low voice.
“Thalia saved you, Asher, by stealing the diamond,” Evelyn said. “I asked everyone here because you all need to know the truth, but also to understand the full reason why Thalia did what she did.”
Silence stretched. The fire crackled softly in the hearth.
At last, the dowager duchess rose. She crossed the room with measured steps and stopped before Evelyn.
“You have done what my husband could not finish,” she said quietly. “You have seen the shape of the truth.”
Evelyn inclined her head. “Only because others were brave enough to act before me.”
Asher turned to Thalia and drew her into a brief, fierce embrace. “You are forgiven,” he murmured. “But never do anything like that again alone.”
Eastclere cleared his throat. “The Crown will need to be informed of the truth.”
“As it must,” Asher said at last, his voice low and steady. “But not before we ensure the evidence is secured—and Norwood prevented from doing further harm. Constable, I am sure you have enough to close your case now? I believe that this must go to much higher authorities, of which I can oversee.”
“Very well,” the constable said, slowly rising to his feet. “As long as the diamond returns to where it belongs.”
“Of course,” Asher said. “Pine, will you help with the details?”
“I will,” Mr. Pine said, rising from his place and tucking his notebook back into his pocket. “This has been… enlightening.”
“Where is Lord Norwood now?” the constable asked.
“With a friend,” Asher said. “I will inform the Crown of him, his traitorous ways, and the murders of my father and Lord Eastclere. This will be… well, it will be explosive, to put it mildly. There are the murders, yes, but the treason… he and his family could lose everything. Titles, estates… possibly his life.”
They were all silent as they considered the truth of his words. But Lord Norwood had put himself in this position and now he must deal with the consequences.
Asher’s heart slowed from the rapid beat it had found. He should have trusted that Evelyn would see that this was all told correctly, that there was a reason for everything that she did.
“You did well, daughter,” Lord Stratford said, taking Evelyn’s hand before returning to Asher’s mother, whispering in her ear.
Asher used the brief moment alone to reach for Evelyn’s hand, his grip warm and certain. “You were right,” he said quietly, for her alone. “From the beginning.”
Evelyn laced her fingers with his, the room still heavy with consequence, but no longer with doubt.
The truth, at last, had found its voice.