by Regina Scott
Emily eyed Daphne. “Surely Lord Snedley would protest.”
Daphne paled at the mention of the famous master of etiquette. “Well, Lord Snedley has occasionally been wrong.”
“Don’t say that in public!” Ariadne demanded, turning to her sister so quickly that her reticule thumped Daphne on the hip. Daphne grimaced.
And in that moment Emily knew exactly what had happened. She knew where the brooch had gone and why. And she knew what she must do now.
She turned to Jamie. “I believe we have a great deal to discuss, Mr. Cropper. Will you meet me tomorrow at three in Hyde Park, on the bridge over the Serpentine?”
He gazed down at her, smile as soft as the touch of a feather. “Your servant, Lady Emily. Until later.”
Emily felt so warm she could have melted right into the Oriental carpet. “Until later.”
He bowed over her hand, holding it in his strong grip for longer than was proper, then turned to go. Emily knew everyone in the room could hear her sigh.
But as soon as he was out the door, she turned to her wide-eyed friends.
“That,” she said, “was entirely too easy.”
Priscilla tossed her golden curls. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Emily strode to their sides. “I think you do. Why is your reticule so heavy, Ariadne?”
Ariadne clutched the embroidered cloth bag to her chest. “My reticule? Why, because of my journal, of course.”
“Really,” Emily said. She pointed to the round bulge near the bottom. “And has your journal taken to wearing jewelry?”
Ariadne slumped, dropping the bag to the length of its cord.
“I told you we should have hidden it,” Daphne said.
“Yes, well, I wasn’t taking any chances,” Priscilla said. “It is my best piece.” She held out her hand, palm up, and Ariadne fished out the brooch and handed it to her.
“Are you furious with us?” Ariadne asked Emily sheepishly.
Emily glared at the three of them. Priscilla was once more biting her lip, Daphne was shifting her weight from side to side so that her saffron skirts swung like a bell, and Ariadne was loosening and tightening the cord on her reticule as if even her fingers heated in embarrassment.
Emily broke into a grin. “How could I be angry? I know why you did it and what was at stake. Priscilla risked her brooch, Ariadne her reputation for knowing what’s what, and Daphne her right to be the adventurous one just so I might have an excuse to spend a few moments with Mr. Cropper. Could anyone ever have such dear friends?”
Ariadne and Daphne blushed at her praise. Priscilla simply shook her head. “Yet you spoiled it. Now you have no reason to meet Mr. Cropper.”
Emily’s grin widened. “Why not? Mr. Cropper doesn’t know the brooch is found.”
Priscilla smiled. “I’ve taught you well.”
Emily laughed. “Well enough. I’ll tell him tomorrow, after we’ve had a nice walk in the park.”
Ariadne nodded. “Excellent strategy. Now, on to more important matters.” She leaned in and beckoned them all closer. “It will take a master thief to steal Mr. Cropper’s heart. Whatever will you wear?”
******
Want more of the Lady Emily Capers? The story continues with Priscilla’s adventures with the Duke of Rottenford and his intriguing secretary, Nathan Kent, in Ballrooms and Blackmail. Find out how you can read it here.
About the Author
Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she learned a bit more about writing. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages including Dutch, German, Italian, and Portuguese. She now has nearly fifty published works of warm, witty romance.
She and her husband of more than thirty years reside in the Puget Sound area of Washington State on the way to Mount Rainier. Regina Scott has dressed as a Regency dandy, driven four-in-hand, learned to fence, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research, of course. Learn more about her at her website.