Jack of Diamonds

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

~May 13~

There were very few diamonds John didn’t like, but what society called a “diamond of the first water” was one. He had no time or patience for the diamonds of society, not after what two of them had done to his sister when she had made her debut. No, his only interest in society now was the diamonds he could steal from the wealthy ladies who dripped with them and hardly noticed when one or two went missing, and he only liked the stones for the money they brought which allowed him to help the poor.

And yet it was a diamond who grabbed his attention this evening as she held court in the middle of a bevy of dandified suitors. His natural inclination and her brilliant charisma drew him to her, and at the moment, it was more than he could resist.

A burst of laughter drew him into her web of admirers. What in the world could this young woman be talking about that enthralled so many gentlemen? He couldn’t have moved away even if he’d tried.

“Have you seen Lord Macomb’s newest stallion? I declare, no horse that large should be allowed on Rotten Row at the height of the promenade, and then there was this child holding his reins!” she said with a broad smile on her full, pink lips.

“How old was the boy?” someone called out.

“He couldn’t have been above five or six, and hardly stood taller than the horse’s knees!” she answered with a giggle.

The group of men burst out laughing again. John was horrified that such a small child would be left to care for a horse of that size and strength.

“What did you do, Miss Sheffield?” another gentleman asked.

“Me? Oh, I stayed a few feet away—far enough so the child couldn’t see me, but close enough in case assistance was required,” the girl said.

John nodded approvingly but managed to keep his mouth shut. He shouldn’t even be here listening to her. He wasn’t here to enjoy the party, he reminded himself, and he was here to do a job. He should simply move off, but something kept him rooted right where he stood.

“Did Macomb come back when he said he would?” someone asked.

“No! He came back a full ten minutes later, and when he did, he started to hand the boy tuppence. The child stopped him from retrieving the reins and held out his little hand and said, ‘That’ll be five pence and a farthing, if you would, my lord.’”

The men all burst out laughing again, and even John had a hard time keeping a smile from twitching onto his lips.

“Macomb began to argue with the child,” Miss Sheffield continued, “but the boy stood firm. His lordship had promised him a tuppence for ten minutes, but he’d been gone for well over twenty. The child wanted his due!”

“Did he pay the boy?” John asked despite himself. The young woman blinked her lovely deep-green eyes at him before a smile lit her face. “Of course, once I had caught his lordship’s eye and let him know that he had to do so.”

“With just a look?” John asked.

“Oh, I can convey a great deal of meaning with a look, my lord,” Miss Sheffield said.

The gentlemen around her once again exploded with laughter.

“Indeed, Miss Sheffield, you could slay me with one glance of those beautiful eyes,” a man said, placing his hands over his heart.

“And I!” another piped in.

“I could only hope to be spared such a look,” a third gentleman said, reaching out an imploring hand in her direction.

The girl laughed. “Oh, gentlemen, you should be on the stage. I would come to see you all every night.”

John laughed and shook his head before moving off to scout for the sort of diamonds he’d originally come for.

~*~

When Lydia had finished regaling the gentlemen with her story, they all drifted away except for a few lingerers. She excused herself, however, and went in search of the gentleman who’d joined the group late.

He was the same man who she’d seen a few nights ago at Lady Kershaw’s ball, she was certain of it. He was the man in the gray coat who’d stolen the diamonds!

How had she never noticed the gentleman before? Somehow, he hadn’t come to her attention before this, although it was true she hadn’t been in town for very long. She’d been sure she’d met every eligible gentleman, and even a number of whom were not so eligible but wished they were.

She gave a little laugh at that thought and strolled deliberately through Lady Emmerton’s drawing room looking for him.

“Good evening, Miss Sheffield,” Lady Sorrell said, forcing Lydia to stop.

“Oh, good evening.”

“You seem to be looking for someone. Perhaps I can help?” asked her friend and fellow member of the Lady’s Wagering Whist Society. Joining that elite group of ladies had definitely been the smartest move Lydia had made since coming to London. With it, she immediately gained seven very good friends, nearly all of them older and wiser than she. Only one other woman was new to society like herself, and Lydia had quickly made fast friends with her. It was so wonderful being with someone as forthright and clear-headed as Diana Hemshawe.

“Thank you. There was a man in a dark blue coat who was part of a group of gentlemen I was speaking with, but he disappeared before I could ask for an introduction.”

“What did he look like?” her friend asked.

“Rather ordinary, actually. Dark blond hair, brown intelligent-looking eyes,” Lydia answered, still looking around.

“He sounds exactly like the sort of gentleman your father would be happy to see you with,” Lady Sorrell answered with a little laugh.

Lydia turned back to her friend, giggling. “You’re right. I’m certain he is. Papa would be so happy if I married someone who was as clever as he.”

“Well, lets see if we can’t find your mystery man,” Lady Sorrell said, tucking her hand into Lydia’s elbow.

They proceeded to promenade about the rooms, but it seemed as if the fellow had just disappeared!

~May 14~“Did you see Tina driving through the park yesterday with my nephew?” Mrs. Aldridge gushed the moment she walked into Lady Norman’s game room the following day.

Many of the ladies were already assembled for the weekly meeting of the Ladies Wagering Whist Society and having a cup of tea before they all sat down to play cards.

“Who hasn’t seen them?” the Duchess of Kendall asked, depressing Mrs. Aldridge’s excitement quite effectively.

Lydia felt bad for Mrs. Aldridge. She was trying so hard to fit into a very well-established society. It wasn’t her fault her husband was in manufacturing. She was doing all she could to better the family’s social standing and provide opportunities for her son who, Lydia understood, was quite a catch in the marriage mart.

She, herself, wasn’t interested in marrying for money—not that her father was wealthy. As the third son of a marquess, he had had to work for most of his adult life, much like Mr. Aldridge, but at least she was not being compelled to find a rich husband. There were a number of girls her age who were, and therefore looking quite closely at the younger Mr. Aldridge when he actually attended society functions, which he didn’t do quite as often as Mrs. Aldridge wished. The family did have the benefit of being related to Lord Ainsby, who was an earl and the nephew under discussion at the moment.

The duchess, however, felt it was her job to keep the mushroom—the duchess’s word, not Lydia’s—in her place. Clashes between the two ladies were, sadly, growing each time they met. Luckily, things hadn’t come to a head yet, and Lady Norman or Lady Blakemore always managed to keep the women at different card tables so they wouldn’t have to spend too much time in each other’s company.

One thing the duchess absolutely hated about Mrs. Aldridge, which Lydia happened to adore, was her sweet little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which she brought with her nearly everywhere she went. Mrs. Aldridge’s husband had named the dog Duchess, which annoyed the Duchess of Kendall to no end. Lydia thought it was immensely amusing. She wondered at anyone who could not love such a sweet-tempered, adoring little pup!

Lydia reached down and scratched the dog in question, which was sitting expectantly next to her owner, behind her long, floppy black ears and got her hand licked in appreciation. “Haven’t they been seen together a number of times already?” Lydia asked.

“Three times in just this past week,” Mrs. Aldridge gushed.

“My word!” Lady Norman said. Since Tina was her daughter, Lydia was rather surprised she wasn’t aware of how many times they’d been out. “I wonder if I should have a word with her. Being seen so often with just one gentleman could make people talk.”