Read Online The Conquest of Lady Cassandra by Madeline Hunter - Free Book Online
Authors: Madeline Hunter
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took her a few moments to realize she had heard correctly. “
Stolen?
Who told you something so outrageous?”
“I cannot say. I am sure you see my problem, however. I would not want to give them to someone, only to have a claim made by someone else.”
“I think I see a man putting me off again and finding a new game to do so.”
He was right in front of her with four long strides. To her shock, he took her chin in his hand and tilted her head so he could look right into her eyes. “Do not insult me again. You may not be a man, and I cannot call you out, but there are other duels besides those of arms, and you are within a hairsbreadth of requiring one.”
“Do your worst, Ambury. See what short work I make of whatever weapons you think you have. I have battled better than you.”
It was a big risk to double back his own dare at him. Sophie would probably scold, and say bedazzlement would have been the better choice. Only she did not want to dazzle Ambury. She just wanted her damned money.
They stood locked in a mutual challenge. Slowly, she turned her head, demanding that he release his hold on her chin. Belatedly, he did so. It felt as if she had to yank herself out of his fingers. Free, she stepped away, then turned to face him squarely.
Ambury hardly appeared friendly, but he retreated enough to speak with firm calm. “You need only have your aunt tell you what she knows of the earrings’ history to end any game.”
She tried to see into his mind. Would it really be that simple?
More to the point, did he think
her aunt
had stolen the earrings? Aunt Sophie had purloined the letter right out of his library, after all. He had to be wondering if she had experience in such things.
First Gerald and now Ambury. Poor Aunt Sophie. The only person protecting her was Cassandra herself, and every plan for doing so required more money than she had, until Ambury paid for those jewels.
Rather suddenly the air of danger left him. He became the amiable Ambury that the world knew. He gave her a charming smile.
“I know you have waited too long, and are suspicious about ever seeing a conclusion to this. To reassure you, I suggest giving the price of the earrings to a solicitor to hold, along with the earrings, until this is resolved. It should not take long. You have only to put a few questions to your aunt, and all will be settled. That is fair, don’t you agree?”
It was fair. Suspiciously so. There was more to this. She sensed that, mostly due to the intensity with which Ambury looked at her.
“Why do I feel as though you have backed me into the corner of a chamber?”
“I only do that with women in very private chambers, and for very different purposes.”
“Yet I am feeling importuned all the same, Ambury.”
“It is in both of our interests for this to be settled well, don’t you think?”
She debated it. “I will do what I can, but I will not press the question if she chooses not to answer.”
“I only ask that you try. I will arrange for us to meet with a solicitor when I return to town Monday, and write to you with the time. You bring the earrings, and I will bring the payment, and he will hold both until you learn what I need to know, or until I learn it another way if you cannot.”
“That could take forever. I cannot wait too long.”
“Shall we say a month from today? If I know no more than I do now, you will receive the earrings back.”
It seemed a big delay, but it would probably take at least that long to make travel arrangements to get Sophie away from Gerald.
She reluctantly agreed to his proposal.
“I cannot promise that my aunt can satisfy your curiosity, Ambury,” she said as he began to take his leave of her. “You may have to give up on the earrings if you require so many details before you make a gift of them to your future bride. The person who filled your ear with gossip about their being stolen is probably waiting to buy them from me on the cheap.”
He cocked his
Stolen?
Who told you something so outrageous?”
“I cannot say. I am sure you see my problem, however. I would not want to give them to someone, only to have a claim made by someone else.”
“I think I see a man putting me off again and finding a new game to do so.”
He was right in front of her with four long strides. To her shock, he took her chin in his hand and tilted her head so he could look right into her eyes. “Do not insult me again. You may not be a man, and I cannot call you out, but there are other duels besides those of arms, and you are within a hairsbreadth of requiring one.”
“Do your worst, Ambury. See what short work I make of whatever weapons you think you have. I have battled better than you.”
It was a big risk to double back his own dare at him. Sophie would probably scold, and say bedazzlement would have been the better choice. Only she did not want to dazzle Ambury. She just wanted her damned money.
They stood locked in a mutual challenge. Slowly, she turned her head, demanding that he release his hold on her chin. Belatedly, he did so. It felt as if she had to yank herself out of his fingers. Free, she stepped away, then turned to face him squarely.
Ambury hardly appeared friendly, but he retreated enough to speak with firm calm. “You need only have your aunt tell you what she knows of the earrings’ history to end any game.”
She tried to see into his mind. Would it really be that simple?
More to the point, did he think
her aunt
had stolen the earrings? Aunt Sophie had purloined the letter right out of his library, after all. He had to be wondering if she had experience in such things.
First Gerald and now Ambury. Poor Aunt Sophie. The only person protecting her was Cassandra herself, and every plan for doing so required more money than she had, until Ambury paid for those jewels.
Rather suddenly the air of danger left him. He became the amiable Ambury that the world knew. He gave her a charming smile.
“I know you have waited too long, and are suspicious about ever seeing a conclusion to this. To reassure you, I suggest giving the price of the earrings to a solicitor to hold, along with the earrings, until this is resolved. It should not take long. You have only to put a few questions to your aunt, and all will be settled. That is fair, don’t you agree?”
It was fair. Suspiciously so. There was more to this. She sensed that, mostly due to the intensity with which Ambury looked at her.
“Why do I feel as though you have backed me into the corner of a chamber?”
“I only do that with women in very private chambers, and for very different purposes.”
“Yet I am feeling importuned all the same, Ambury.”
“It is in both of our interests for this to be settled well, don’t you think?”
She debated it. “I will do what I can, but I will not press the question if she chooses not to answer.”
“I only ask that you try. I will arrange for us to meet with a solicitor when I return to town Monday, and write to you with the time. You bring the earrings, and I will bring the payment, and he will hold both until you learn what I need to know, or until I learn it another way if you cannot.”
“That could take forever. I cannot wait too long.”
“Shall we say a month from today? If I know no more than I do now, you will receive the earrings back.”
It seemed a big delay, but it would probably take at least that long to make travel arrangements to get Sophie away from Gerald.
She reluctantly agreed to his proposal.
“I cannot promise that my aunt can satisfy your curiosity, Ambury,” she said as he began to take his leave of her. “You may have to give up on the earrings if you require so many details before you make a gift of them to your future bride. The person who filled your ear with gossip about their being stolen is probably waiting to buy them from me on the cheap.”
He cocked his
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