The Dowager leaned in. ‘Why, Harriet, what a lovely bracelet. I don’t believe I’ve seen it yet.’
‘Yes, you have.’
‘No. No, I don’t believe so.’
There was a distinct preen to Lady Everill as she held her wrist out. It was only a few feet away and Sarah had to clench her fist to resist the urge to grab it.
‘It shows exceptional craftsmanship,’ Lady Everill pointed out. ‘Are not the paintings exquisite? I’m partial to the ancient Greek engravings myself. They have been the rage for quite some time and I do not see the design going out of fashion any time soon.’ She turned to Katrina and addressed her directly. ‘Wouldn’t you agree?’
Katrina’s gaze shifted momentarily to Sarah. ‘Oh, I agree. It’s very lovely.’
‘And the images bring to mind such happy memories.’
‘My eyesight is not what it once was,’ the Dowager said. ‘Harriet, do be a dear and take the bracelet off, so I can get a better look.’
Lady Everill visibly bristled at the request, which made her jonquil turban decorated with peacock feathers shift against her grey hair. ‘But...surely you can see it from here.’ She shoved her wrist closer to the Dowager.
‘There is no need to have your hand up my nose. Simply hand me the bracelet so I can have a better look at these exquisite paintings you’ve been going on about.’
‘You can see them from there.’
‘I’m afraid, my dear, I cannot. Honestly, what do you think I will do to it? Is it so poorly made you fear it will break?’
‘Lord Everill would never purchase a shoddy piece.’ Lady Everill’s chin shook as she spoke. ‘Rundell & Bridge sold him this bracelet. They have a royal warrant.’ She raised her nose a bit higher.
‘Then there is nothing to fear in giving me a closer look.’
Sarah’s heart beat wildly in her chest as Lady Everill released the gold pin from the hinge and handed the bracelet to the Dowager. The answer to her problems was inches away. It was excruciating. She just wanted time alone with that bracelet! Was that too much to ask?
The Dowager held the bracelet up to her eye and studied each engraved gold square linked together by individual hinges, as well as the two small paintings done on porcelain. She turned it over a number of times, looked at the back of the links and weighed it in her hand. ‘What say you, Miss Forrester?’
‘It’s a lovely bracelet,’ Sarah replied, wishing the Dowager had not brought attention her way.
The Dowager placed the bracelet on Lady Everill’s wrist and refastened the pin. As she did so, she resettled herself on the sofa and stepped on Sarah’s left foot—hard! Who knew such a small woman possessed such a strong foot?
‘You’re fortunate, Harriet. Lord Everill has fine taste in jewellery.’ The Dowager took a sip of tea from the cup that had been resting on the table at her elbow. She looked at the mantel clock across the room. ‘How I wish Lord Hartwick knew how to tell time.’ She sighed. ‘If he does not arrive in the next ten minutes, we will be forced to proceed without him.’
The Dowager hadn’t mentioned she was inviting Lord Hartwick when she told her about this evening. At least with Lord Hartwick present, the evening would not be that dull of an affair. Trying to best him in their verbal sparring matches was always entertaining. She simply had to make sure he did not distract her away from lifting Lady Everill’s bracelet.
* * *
Ten minutes later, the Dowager had given up on Hartwick and asked everyone to join her in the library to begin the evening’s festivities. Perhaps Lady Everill would fall asleep during the lecture and Sarah would have an easier time slipping the bracelet from her wrist. She needed to find a way to sit next to the woman.
When Lady Everill stood, the bracelet slipped from her wrist and fell to the floor. It took a moment for Sarah to believe it had really happened, but glancing at Katrina’s wide-eyed stare gave her the reassurance she wasn’t dreaming. In an instant Sarah stepped forward and covered it delicately with her foot. Bending down, she placed Lady Everill’s bracelet into her slipper while pretending to adjust the ribbon around her ankle. She prayed the bracelet wouldn’t jingle as she walked.
‘Forgive me for the hour,’ Hartwick called as he entered the drawing room. His finely cut black tailcoat accentuated his lean muscular frame. The crisp white cravat he wore was tied neatly and that lazy lock of shiny black hair was close to falling into his sharp blue eyes.
The Dowager surveyed him as if she, too, was assuming she’d find evidence of time spent in a woman’s bed. ‘We were about to begin without you. What you need, my lord, is a wife to manage you.’
‘What I need is a watch. There will be no wife for me.’
‘Do go to the back of the line, Hartwick,’ she instructed, ‘I’ll chastise you later for your tardiness.’
‘I look forward to it, Your Grace,’ he replied, passing Julian and Katrina with a smile.
His friend gave him a slight, disapproving shake of his head.
Hartwick responded with a carefree shrug before his watchful gaze landed on Sarah as she walked carefully towards the guests.
‘Do come along, Miss Forrester,’ the Dowager said. ‘I assure you Lord Hartwick does not bite.’
A devilish twinkle sparkled in his eyes as he tipped his head to her in greeting. ‘At least, not in polite company,’ he said low enough that only Sarah could hear.
‘Then I count myself lucky we are among the Dowager’s guests. But be advised, should you bite me, I will bite back.’
He placed his head closer to her ear. The warmth of his breath danced along her neck, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. ‘If that is meant as a deterrent, you’ve missed your mark. I now have the unnatural desire to pull you away and find the most delicious places on your body to sink my teeth into.’
No man had ever been that forward in their speech with her. The bold suggestion brought an odd quiver below her stomach. Thank heavens the cad would never know.
‘Shall we wait a moment for you to steady yourself, or did that hesitation stem from your desire to steal away with me?’
Did he have to be so observant? ‘Not every woman falls for your charms, Hartwick. There is a rare breed of us that finds it quite easy to see through your false flattery.’
‘I never lie. Not to you. I’ll prove it.’ He looked deep into her eyes. The intense effect made her entire body still. ‘Miss Forrester, I find your beauty incomparable, your intelligence stimulating. Your body tempts the very core of me—’
‘Oh, do hush, Hartwick. If I could push you over right now, I would.’
The teasing grin on his face made it difficult to hold back her smile.
As they resumed walking, his attention dropped to the hem of her skirt and his brow wrinkled. ‘Have you injured your foot? Has Boreham finally done permanent damage to one of his dancing partners?’
If only she could use the clumsy lord as her excuse for the way she was walking. She attempted to adjust her gait, trying not to step directly onto the bracelet lodged in her shoe. Deflection was her best option. ‘What do you know of Lord Boreham’s knack for harming his dance partners?’
‘Since we were at Cambridge, I’ve witnessed many a woman leave the dance floors of England with a limp. So what is causing yours?’
‘I do not have a limp.’
‘Forgive me, your hobble.’
‘I