Epilogue
“Well, then,” Eastclere said, “Let’s go find the diamond and see what other secrets it is still holding.”
“I’ll retrieve it,” Asher said, pushing off the mantel. Evelyn watched him, still concerned that he wasn’t happy with her, but he winked at her as he left, Julian and Eastclere at his heels.
The dowager duchess, still rather beside herself, walked out of the room on Lord Stratford’s arm, leaving Evelyn alone with Verity and Thalia.
“I need to tell you something,” Verity began, an assessing look on her face.
“What is it?”
“I found something,” Verity said. “Letters. Very old letters. And I think they are related to the diamond.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened as her heart picked up its pace.
Could there be more to this mystery of the Paragon Diamond?
Not that it should overly matter.
She was about to begin asking more questions when a shadow filled the doorway.
“What did you just say?”
“Lord Julian,” Evelyn said, rising to her feet. “I thought you went with Asher.”
“I forgot something in my cloak,” he said, taking two measured steps into the room, his gaze on Verity so intent that Evelyn couldn’t help but shiver. “Repeat what you said.”
Verity stood herself, her spine straightening. “That was part of a conversation between Evelyn, Thalia, and me,” she said. “Not one meant for anyone to overhear. Most especially you.”
“Is that so?”
“I think we should all take a moment,” Evelyn said, stepping forward, needing to break this strange tension that filled the air.
“I don’t believe any of us need to be overly concerned.
Norwood won’t bother us anymore, not once the Crown knows the truth.
We have the diamond and the note within. All is well.”
“Is it, though?” Verity asked, staring at her.
“Yes,” Evelyn insisted, just as Asher entered the room, panic on his face.
“Evelyn?”
“What is it?”
“It’s the diamond,” he said. “It’s gone.”
Dear reader,
Thank you for returning to the Regency ballrooms with me!