The Tudor Signet by Carola Dunn Read Free Book Online Page B

dangerous a ploy! Had she been as desperate as her cousin to retrieve the sphinx seal without revealing her identity? Malcolm did not want to believe it.
    “I am quite willing to give it to you.” He took the signet ring from his pocket and put it in the drawer of the bedside table. “Its...sentimental value is far greater than its actual worth, I feel sure.”
    “Thank you, sir, but I shall pay you whatever sum Ralph pledged it for.”
    “Unnecessary.”
    She looked at him askance. “It’s a debt of honour. I can afford it. My allowance is far greater than I need.” Biting her lip, she went on shyly, “You have been much kinder than I deserve, my lord. I haven’t thanked you yet for...for not leaving me to bleed to death, and for not telling Lady Lilian of my disgraceful behaviour--”
    “What a catalogue of negative virtues!”
    “...And for thinking of the straw for me to drink through. That was a vastly clever notion.”
    “I considered myself vastly clever when first I came up with the notion as a child--only to be told my older brothers had done it years before.” He sighed. “The story of my life.” Now why in heaven’s name should he confide in this headstrong, quixotic chit, when he had never revealed to his most intimate friends his driving need to prove himself his brothers’ equal?
    She echoed his sigh. “I always thought it would be nice to have an elder brother. Or a sister. But how pleased Ralph will be when I take his ring back to him tomorrow.”
    “My dear Miss Bertrand, you cannot leave tomorrow.”
    “Of course I can. I feel much better already and I don’t want to impose on Lady Lilian any longer than I must.”
    “I assure you...” At the sound of footsteps he looked round and rose in relief, dislodging Ragamuffin’s head from his feet, as his sister came in.
    “Malcolm, what can you be about, wearing Miss Bertrand out with your talk?”
    “I’m trying to convince your patient of the impossibility of her going home tomorrow. I shall let you persuade her. Good night, Miss Bertrand. Sleep well.”
    Bidding Lord Malcolm good night, Mariette watched him bestow a farewell pat on Ragamuffin and depart. He still puzzled her, but she had no chance just now to pore over what he had said.
    “There is no question of your leaving tomorrow,” Lady Lilian told her firmly. “Mr. Barwith has received my note saying you will remain at Corycombe for several days. Here, his groom has brought a letter for you.”
    Uncle George’s brief note hoped she was comfortable and would not be away from home too long. He needed her advice as he was having trouble with the pig’s tail. Tails, he was willing to admit, were not his strong suit.
    There was a second note, from her cousin. He knew she’d make a mull of it, he wrote. Now Lord Malcolm was on his guard, the signet was gone for good.
    Ralph must be frantic with worry. Whatever Lord Malcolm and Lady Lilian said, she had to take his ring to him.
     

Chapter 4
     
    The small dose of laudanum Lady Lilian insisted on Mariette taking sent her quickly to sleep, but she woke after a few hours. A glimmer of light came from the oil lamp, turned low, and the pale luminescence of a full moon shone between the window curtains.
    Somewhere in the house a clock chimed three.
    Her conversation with Lord Malcolm ran through her head. He had asked a great many questions. She had answered, both because she felt guilty about holding him up at gunpoint and because it was a pleasure to talk to someone who was interested in her.
    Who seemed interested in her, she corrected herself sadly. Come to think of it, in actual fact he had only wanted to know exactly why she held him up. That was reasonable. She had intended to explain anyway. The one thing she had kept from him was her humiliating experience with Lord Wareham.
    She, on the other hand, had had no chance to satisfy her curiosity about the poacher story. Was kindness really enough to explain why he had lied to