An Unexpected Countess

Chapter Four

The moment Lyonsdale and the Earl left the drawing room, Sarah could breathe normally. She didn’t appreciate the way being near Hartwick left her all fluttery inside. Now that she was alone with Katrina it was easier to concentrate.

‘Again, you have my apologies, Sarah, I know how much you loved those slippers. You’re a true friend to sacrifice them the way you did. I promise to buy you another pair.’

‘I had to do something. You would have run inside and I would have been left to face your perplexed footman.’ She really needed to stop thinking about those slippers. It wasn’t improving her disposition.

‘Have you given any more thought to how you will get Lady Everill’s bracelet?’

‘I have, usually at three in the morning when I’m wide awake and fretting about my parents finding out what my brother did. Searching the Everills’ house was terrifying. I’d prefer not to do that again. And if Lady Everill has been showing it off everywhere, then the only time I could retrieve it is when they’re home asleep. That idea terrifies me even more. It’s maddening to know that bracelet is only the first step in finding the diamond and yet I can’t get my hands on it long enough to study it so I can discover where the stone is hidden.’

‘I think you should practise removing my bracelet again.’ Katrina held her arm out to Sarah. The diamond-and-sapphire bracelet sparkled in the light. ‘If you become proficient, you can slip the bracelet from her wrist the next time you see her.’

‘We’ve already tried. I’m horrid at it.’ She leaned back in her seat and stared at the cherubs looking down at her from the gilt moulding around the ceiling. Why couldn’t they help her figure out what to do? ‘I can’t allow my parents to endure additional suffering because of this vile man and his blackmail. I have a fortnight before he sends word of where the exchange will be made. If I don’t find the diamond by then...’

Katrina held her hand. The warm pressure steadied Sarah’s tremors. ‘Are you certain this is worth keeping from your father? Perhaps you should just tell him.’

‘Katrina, I can’t take that chance. His heart will never survive this. It will destroy him. It will destroy them both. I’m sure of it. I don’t have a choice.’

Their conversation was interrupted when the Dowager opened the door and stepped into the room. She eyed them before scanning the surroundings.

‘Are you looking for someone?’ Katrina asked, removing her hand from Sarah’s.

‘No. No. I was...about to do some reading, but I could not find my spectacles. I might have left them somewhere in here earlier today.’ Her studied gaze swept over Sarah from her half-boots to her hair. ‘I say, Miss Forrester, are you still here?’

‘It would appear so. Would you like us to help you find them?’ Sarah asked, hoping it would distract her enough to give a brief reprieve from her troubles.

‘Find what, my dear?’

‘Your spectacles.’

The Dowager’s brows wrinkled briefly before she seemed to recall why she had entered the room in the first place. ‘Oh, yes...that’s very kind of you, but not necessary. Go about your conversation. Pay no attention to me.’ She walked away and scanned the surfaces of the small decorative tables.

Sarah glanced at Katrina, knowing their conversation was finished. She would go home, crawl into bed and stay under the blankets until she had devised a plan to retrieve that bracelet. It should only take a year—a year she did not have.

She stood and brushed out her skirt. ‘Well, I should go.’

‘I shall walk you to the door,’ Katrina replied.

‘Miss Forrester,’ the Dowager called before they reached the door, ‘I was wondering if you and your parents enjoyed science.’

‘Pardon?’

‘I was planning on having a small gathering in a few nights’ time to show off some of the wondrous things I’ve been hearing about during the lectures I’ve been attending at the Royal Institution.’

‘You were?’ Katrina eyed Julian’s grandmother with suspicion.

Sitting through an evening of dull lectures was not how Sarah wanted to spend her time, even if she did adore the Dowager. ‘I would have to enquire with my mother. It’s possible we have accepted an invitation already for that evening.’

The Dowager’s eyes narrowed. ‘I haven’t told you which evening it will be.’

Sarah looked away, trying to find something to say.

‘I have invited just a few friends,’ the Dowager continued with a graceful wave of her hand. ‘The Tates, the Everills and a few others.’

It was impossible to miss Katrina’s pointed stare.

‘It will be on Wednesday. Shall I send an invitation?’

If it took two days, Sarah was going to master removing Katrina’s bracelet without her noticing. ‘Yes, please. A Wednesday evening that I do not have to spend at Almack’s would be lovely.’

* * *

Three days later, Sarah sat in the Crimson Drawing Room of Lyonsdale House sipping tea and trying not to stare at Lady Everill’s bracelet, which was on prominent display on the woman’s wrist. It had to be the bracelet described in the letter. It was comprised of square gold links and had paintings on porcelain. Sarah was waiting for the perfect opportunity to try to slip it from Lady Everill’s wrist without getting caught and sending the woman into hysterics. It sounded so easy in theory.

‘I must admit,’ Lady Everill said, lowering her teacup to its saucer, ‘I am surprised you’re attending scientific lectures.’

‘There is no sense in wasting away at our age, Harriet,’ the Dowager said, shaking her head from beside Sarah on the crimson silk brocade sofa. ‘And after tonight, you may decide to accompany me to the next one.’

Sarah’s mother stirred her tea. ‘And what do you have planned for us tonight? Your invitation was not very specific.’

‘I would prefer to keep it a surprise.’

‘You always were one for secrets,’ Lady Everill said, adjusting her glove so the gold links of her bracelet sparkled in the candlelight, as was the intention of the movement.

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 tied my slipper too tight.’

‘Then we should stop so you can adjust it.’

‘It will loosen as we walk.’

‘Or it will loosen faster if we don’t stop and you retie it.’ He tugged her arm, bringing them to a halt.

She could retie it twenty times and it would not make one bit of difference. ‘It is best not to keep the others waiting. I assure you, it’s no inconvenience on my part. It will loosen on its own.’

Those sharp eyes narrowed on her, making her palms sweat.

A curious smile spread across his lips. ‘You are an unusual creature, Miss Forrester.’

As they finally reached the doorway of the library, Sarah was relieved she hadn’t jingled once during their short walk. However, she could not have the bracelet remain in her slipper the entire night. Eventually her hobble would give her away.

She noted Hartwick’s attention was drawn to the far end of the room where Sarah’s mother was speaking with Lady Everill.

‘Are you acquainted with her ladyship?’ Sarah asked, taking note of his furrowed brow.

‘We’ve met once or twice.’ He looked over at Sarah. ‘We don’t generally move in the same circles.’

‘I imagine conversing with chaperons is not your preference.’

‘I avoid it at all costs, if I’m honest. I don’t want them assuming that I’ve decided to find a bride.’

The Dowager cleared her throat, bringing everyone’s attention towards where she stood on the opposite end of the room near the massive fireplace. ‘I have invited you all here tonight to share with you the wonders of electricity.’

Sarah glanced at Hartwick, who eyed her sideways. All Sarah knew of electricity was the experiment she heard Mr Franklin had conducted with a kite over thirty years ago and Signor Galvani’s experiments on the reactions of muscles to electricity.

‘I’ve purchased an electrifying machine,’ she continued, stepping to the side and revealing a small cylinder on legs that came up to the petite Dowager’s knees. ‘It is ingenious really. If we crank this handle, it will create friction, which will carry an electrical shock from the machine through this string. If someone holds the string and you touch that person, the electricity will flow through them and into you.’ She looked around eagerly at her guests. ‘If one person would like to crank the machine, the rest of us can hold hands and receive a spark. Doesn’t that sound exciting?’

It did actually. How many people could say they knew what it was like to feel electricity move through their body?

‘Is it safe?’ Sarah’s father asked sceptically.

‘They would not sell them if they were not.’

He bobbed his head from side to side. ‘I don’t believe that’s entirely true.’

‘You may be our cranker, if you like, Mr Forrester,’ she said, apparently not wanting to miss the electrical shock herself.

Sarah’s father approached her side. ‘Do not hold that string,’ he quietly warned her.

Since Alexander died, he had become very protective of her. As a child, he had encouraged her adventurous nature. He had found it amusing. But now he feared he would lose her, too, and she was all he had left of his children. Yet how could he expect her to miss all the fun? Who knew if she would ever have the opportunity to try this again? And it was safe. The Dowager had confirmed it.

So when the stately old woman asked who would like to hold the string, Sarah couldn’t stop herself from immediately stepping forward—at the exact moment Hartwick did the same. They looked at each other and surprise flickered in his eyes.

There was a distinct clearing of her father’s throat behind her.

The Dowager clucked her tongue. ‘Only Lord Hartwick and Miss Forrester are brave enough to have a go?’

Katrina eyed the machine near her foot. ‘What does it feel like?’

‘A wonderful zing moves through your body,’ the Dowager replied, looking pointedly at Lord Sissinghurst.

‘Perhaps it’s best if a man holds the string,’ Sarah’s father said, still not convinced she would not spontaneously combust if she held it. ‘His body is more sound,’ he continued. ‘It will hold the greater amount of shock.’

Hartwick bounced on his toes as if he was restraining himself from going after the string. ‘Fear not, Mr Forrester. I shall be the sacrificial lamb and spare your daughter.’

But Sarah wanted to feel the shock first! Why should men have all the excitement in life? As the daughter of a diplomat she was forced to suppress her daring nature and appear subdued—or as close to subdued as was possible for Sarah. Back home, her brother had taught her how to ride a horse sitting astride without a saddle. She had climbed trees, swam in the ocean and had allowed two different men to kiss her. She lived for new experiences—experiences like having electricity run through her body.

‘The shock will be the same regardless of the size of the person holding the string, Mr Forrester,’ the Dowager replied to his question.

‘How long will it last?’ Lord Everill enquired from where he was inspecting the device over the rim of his spectacles.

‘As long as we continue to turn the crank and generate the friction.’

Lady Everill’s eyes grew wide. ‘How long do you intend for that to be?’

The Dowager shrugged. ‘However long we want. The residual effects can be quite fun. Electricity can make the strands of your hair raise. You can pick small pieces of paper up by merely waving your hand over them. And if you kiss someone who has been electrified, you will feel a sharp spark of fire from their lips.’

‘Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,’ Katrina said, stepping away from the device and approaching her husband’s side.

‘Their lips catch fire?’ Lady Everill all but shrieked.

‘No, Harriet, but it feels that way.’ The Dowager glanced once again at Lord Sissinghurst and they shared a smile. ‘Or so I’ve been told.’

‘Oh, dear Lord,’ Lyonsdale groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Sarah looked at Hartwick, who was rubbing his lips as if to wipe a grin off them. It wasn’t working very well.

If Sarah didn’t know any better, she would think the Dowager and Lord Sissinghurst had tried the kissing experiment themselves, but the woman had to be in her seventies. Surely people had no interest in kissing at that age. Did they?

The Dowager walked back to the machine. ‘I promise you. We will start with a short spark of electricity. It will not harm you. I know you are all curious. I am not the first person in London to hold an electrical soirée. Certainly you have heard of the others. Wouldn’t you love to say you have tried it, too?’

That was all it took for Lady Everill to agree. ‘I’ll do it,’ she said much too quickly.

Then everyone seemed to be in agreement.

‘Capital,’ the Dowager said with excitement shining in her eyes. We will try a few experiments for fun. Be warned, you should remove any substantial metal from your person. That would include jewellery, snuff boxes and the like.’

Wonderful! Now what was Sarah to do? She should have volunteered to crank the contraption. How was she to remove the bracelet without anyone noticing? Where would she put it? How horrible would it be if she kept it in her shoe?

‘My bracelet!’

All heads turned to Lady Everill and Sarah’s body grew cold. She was certain everyone would know the woman’s latest prized possession was in her slipper.

The Dowager’s clear voice gave her a small bit of comfort. ‘What is wrong, Harriet?’

‘My bracelet is missing! Oh, Eleanor, someone has stolen my bracelet!’

‘Nonsense! I can assure you no one here stole it. It must have fallen off. We will all help you search for it. Katrina, why don’t you and Miss Forrester look in the drawing room? You remember where we were sitting. Harriet, you, Everill, Mr and Mrs Forrester and I will search the hallway, and, Julian, you remain here with Hartwick to look for it.’

‘What does the bracelet look like?’ Hartwick enquired, looking at the lady in question.

‘It is engraved gold links and two of those links have small paintings on porcelain.’

Hartwick nodded in understanding while Sarah’s heart felt like it would jump out of her chest. Once she made it to the Crimson Drawing Room, her heartbeat slowed.

‘I cannot believe her bracelet just fell off her wrist like that,’ Katrina said, closing the door behind her and locking it.

Neither could Sarah and now she was fairly certain the Dowager had been eavesdropping on their conversation yesterday. ‘I have the woman’s bracelet in my slipper,’ she whispered back harshly. ‘I’m amazed I did not jingle down the entire hallway.’

‘As am I. I don’t know how you did it.’ Katrina opened the drawer of the game table and withdrew a piece of paper and a pencil. As Sarah sat to remove the bracelet, Katrina handed the drawing implements to her. ‘Use these, but be quick.’

The bracelet was of substantial weight, leaving Sarah to believe the links were solid. She studied each link and hinge, and found no way to open it. She placed it on the table and began to sketch it out to size. Although the back of the bracelet was free of any etchings, she took a rubbing of each link just to be certain she was not missing anything. Then she made indications of the colours of each of the images.