Jack of Diamonds

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

“Oh, I think we’re past that,” Diana said to Lady Norman with a little laugh. “I’ve heard talk from the races I’ve attended as well at parties.” She bent down to help herself to a lemon tart from the plate on a low table. She then picked up the entire plate and moved it to a higher spot where the dog couldn’t get at the treats.

“Does your father know you attend so many races?” Lady Moreton asked the girl.

Diana gave a little giggle around her mouthful of tart and had to make use of her handkerchief. After she swallowed she said, “My father is always with me, my lady.”

“Oh.” Lady Moreton gave her a little smile, but she clearly was confused by a father who took his daughter to horse races. Lydia understood he not only took her but, in fact, encouraged her to ride in them! It was quite scandalous! Lydia loved it.

“I’ve had an unusual occurrence,” Lydia said, during a momentary lull in the conversation. She hadn’t intended to discuss the mystery gentleman she’d seen twice now, but somehow the comment just popped out of her mouth unbidden.

“Oh?” Lady Sorrell asked, turning toward her along with a number of the other ladies.

“As Lady Sorrell is well aware, there’s a gentleman I’ve seen twice now who I’ve never met. I have tried to be introduced to him, but he seems to keep disappearing on me,” she said with a little laugh.

“How could it be there is a gentleman who you haven’t met, Lydia?” Diana asked with a broad smile on her face. “I was certain every eligible man has made himself known to you.”

Lydia laughed out loud. “And a number of those who aren’t so eligible,” she added.

“How is it that you have met so many?” Lady Moreton asked. She seemed to be honestly curious.

“I don’t know, to be honest. I don’t have a great fortune—well, none at all to be strictly truthful. But somehow…” Lydia didn’t quite know how to finish her sentence because she didn’t have an answer.

“It’s your sweet temper and charm,” Lady Norman said without hesitation. “Everyone loves a girl who laughs.”

Lydia giggled. “You are too kind, my lady.”

“No, just honest,” the woman said.

“And correct,” Lady Blakemore said. “More girls should follow your lead, Miss Sheffield. You are always a pleasure to speak with. Deferential to your elders and, as Lady Norman says, always laughing about something. Quite charming!”

Lydia could feel her face heat with such effusive praise. “You are too kind! But as I say, there is clearly one gentleman who not only doesn’t wish to meet me but seems to be deliberately avoiding me. Do you remember when I pointed him out to you last week, Lady Norman? The man in the gray coat?”

“I do remember you trying to point him out to me, but I never saw him. He’d left the room by the time I looked,” the woman said, thankfully not mentioning the fact that Lydia had accused him of removing some pins from a lady’s hair.

“Yes. I saw him again later that evening, but once again, he escaped before I could approach him. And then last night he even spoke to me when I was telling a story to some gentlemen, but then when my story was finished and I wanted to make his acquaintance, he was gone once again! It is the most frustrating thing!” Lydia said. She had to laugh about it; otherwise, she might have wanted to grind her teeth in annoyance.

“Well, since none of us have seen him, how could we possibly tell you who it is you’ve been seeing?” the duchess asked.

“I don’t know. Perhaps there is someone new in Town? A gentleman of about average height with dark blond hair and brown eyes?” Lydia asked.

“He sounds as if he could be any one of a number of gentlemen. Does he dress particularly well or particularly badly?” Lady Moreton asked.

“No. I mean, he dresses in a very elegant but understated way, so nothing that would stand out,” Lydia said with a shrug.

“Then you’ll simply need to point him out to us the next time you see him,” Lady Blakemore said.

“Yes. I suppose I will,” Lydia agreed. “Thank you.”

It was very unsatisfying, but there didn’t seem to be any way around it. She may never know who this mystery man was. She supposed she should simply figure out a way to get him out of her mind. Easier said than done.

~May 15~John took a peek at the cards that had just been dealt to him by the dealer at Powell’s Club. Gambling was his one vice—or so he told himself. At least he wasn’t addicted like so many other gentlemen of the ton.

No, John knew when to stop, which was a good thing because he simply didn’t have the funds to lose. Every penny he could spare went to the good people of the Rookeries. He did, however, set aside a few pounds from those Mr. Meir gave him for his own gambling pleasure. If his luck held and they grew in number, he always gave the lot of it away to those who truly needed it.

Tonight he’d almost walked away when the pile of chips in front of him had dwindled. But the most interesting conversation kept him rooted to his chair.

“Are you certain it was Emmerton who you saw?” Lord Hanslow said, tapping the table with his cards. He did it every time he had a terrible hand.

“Absolutely,” the Viscount Swindon said, with a very pleased grin on his face. He had a good hand, John thought, either that or he was also aware of Hanslow’s habit of tapping his cards. “I even stopped and had a word with him after he left the establishment.”

“You didn’t!” Hanslow said.

“I did. And he showed me a lovely diamond set he’d just purchased,” Swindon added.

“A congé?” Hanslow asked. “That’s an awfully expensive way to cut loose a mistress. I would have gone with rubies or something else not quite as expensive.”

Swindon just laughed. “When the lady in question is the incomparable Maria—”

“A true diamond herself,” Hanslow said on a sigh. “So, she is finally going to be free to seek pleasures elsewhere.”

“Indeed, she is,” Swindon practically giggled.

“You don’t have your eye trained on her now, do you?” Hanslow asked carefully.

“Gentlemen, are you going to gossip or play the damn game?” Lord Meriton asked.

John could only chuckle at the man’s impatience. Swindon put down his cards, displaying a measly seven and a three. “I’ve got nothing. And yes, she’s mine—or soon will be.”

The dealer turned over all the cards on the table and declared John the winner. He was certain if Swindon had been paying more attention, he would have continued playing and probably could have won the hand. John didn’t mind the distraction as he pulled the pile of chips toward himself. Not only did this tip his winnings to the positive side, he’d just gotten invaluable information.

Diamonds.

They were probably sitting in Lord Emmerton’s safe at this very moment, waiting to be presented to his mistress before he sent her packing. A safe that John had discovered the location of only a few days earlier when he’d been at a soiree hosted by the lovely Lady Emmerton. Sadly, she didn’t own any diamonds, or if she did, she didn’t keep them in the safe in their study—he’d checked.

“You wouldn’t happen to know when this lovely is going to be set free?” John asked nonchalantly.

“I believe he’s seeing her tomorrow, which means that I will be seeing her on Saturday. Don’t you get any ideas, Welles,” Lord Swindon said, narrowing his eyes at John.

He gave a little shrug. “Well, if she’s not interested, I do hope you will be kind enough to inform us.” He gave Hanslow a wink.

The man chuckled. “Yes, Swindon, you don’t know that—”

“I’m certain I can convince her,” the man interrupted. “Now are we playing cards or gossiping like a group of old women?”