Regency Society. Ann Lethbridge

and cousins throughout the evening. Roxanne gave the same reply to all of them.

      ‘I was staying with a friend and we met by chance when Luke was out riding,’ she told them, embroidering the truth only as necessary. ‘We were mutually attracted and liked each other immediately.’

      Surely that much was true. Roxanne had felt an instant liking for the man she’d helped in the woods, despite his hostility. He’d been angry and in pain at first, but later he’d been grateful for her help. That meeting seemed so far away now, her life revolving round the earl and his grandson these days. Sometimes she almost forgot that she had ever known another life.

      The Roxanne who had lived with a band of travelling players was someone different. She was Miss Peters and her father lived and worked in India… The story she’d invented for herself was now so real that she believed it must be the truth.

      As far as she understood, Luke’s lawyer had heard nothing from the advertisement. Roxanne might never discover whether the ruby was truly hers or the property of another person. Perhaps it was not important. She had become a part of Luke’s family, welcomed and accepted amongst them. It did not matter that she could not remember her own family—at least she must try not to let it matter.

      She had danced three times with Luke during the evening. Each time it had been a waltz and Roxanne felt as if she had been floating on air, his nearness giving her such pleasure that she felt she could melt into his body. The feeling was so perfect that she knew she could become his lover easily. There would be no hesitation on her part, because already she felt as if she belonged to him, in his bed, in his arms. He had called her a clever actress, but he gave such a convincing display of affection towards his fiancée that Roxanne might have been deceived herself had she not caught a hint of mockery in his smile once or twice. It was as if he were showing her that he, too, could play his part.

      What was in his mind? What did that look mean? Sometimes she thought he was like a cat playing with a bird it had caught in its claws.

      ‘Have you enjoyed this evening?’ Luke whispered as the hour grew late. ‘I believe you have charmed all my uncles and my cousins have fallen in love with you. Cousin Horatio is quite eaten up with jealousy, though I am not certain whether he envies me you—or my grandfather’s estate, of which he had hopes before you arrived.’

      ‘Luke…’ Roxanne tapped his arm with her fan ‘…that was not well said of you. Mr Harte was charming to me and told me how pleased he was that you’d decided to marry.’

      ‘Horatio is charming when he wishes to be, Roxanne, but do not be fooled by him. I dare say he is spitting venom in private.’

      Roxanne shook her head at him. She had noticed a certain underlying tension between the cousins, but there was often rivalry between gentlemen and she took little notice. Cousin Horatio was one of those staying overnight and she noticed that he was absent for a while towards the end of the ball, reappearing just as the guests that lived locally were leaving.

      The earl had gone to his apartments soon after supper, and when there were only a handful of gentlemen left, all of them related and preparing for a last nightcap before seeking their rooms, Roxanne said her farewells.

      She went upstairs to her own bedchamber and entered. She’d instructed her maid that she was not to wait up, because she could manage to unhook herself and would not need assistance. However, when she opened the door and walked in a feeling of shock ran through her. It was immediately obvious that the room had been searched.

      The drawers had been pulled out of the chest and the contents scattered on the floor, her underclothes, scarves and gloves scattered in little heaps. The armoire had been opened and dresses pulled from the shelves, as if whoever had been searching had been in a hurry. Yet there was more, a kind of venom, almost as if the mess had been intended to punish and hurt.

      Since the only things she had of personal value were her ring and the pearls Luke had given her, which she was wearing, there was nothing much for a thief to steal. The silver pots on the dressing table, which were the earl’s property, were still there, though lids had been removed and the contents examined.

      Who had been here and caused such upheaval? It did not seem to Roxanne that anything had been taken, but it was obvious that someone had been searching for something in particular. Who would dare to do such a thing when the house was full of guests?

      Roxanne trembled, a slither of ice sliding down her spine. It was a most unpleasant feeling to discover that her room had been ransacked in this way. What had the intruder been looking for—was it the ruby?

      She hesitated for a moment, wondering what to do for the best. It was too unsettling to sleep in her room like this, but she was unwilling to rouse the servants at this late hour.

      Luke ought to be told. Roxanne knew that she must speak to him at once about what had happened here. There might still be an intruder in the house. He would know what to do, because the house ought to be checked. If an outsider had broken in while they were all at the ball, he might be dangerous. Perhaps other guests had had their rooms searched.

      Still fully dressed, Roxanne made her way through the halls and up a short flight of stairs to the wing where Luke had his rooms. Would he have come up yet or was he still downstairs, taking a last drink with his cousins?

      She tapped at his door and after a short pause, during which Roxanne wondered what to do if he were not there, Luke opened his door. He was still dressed in his breeches and shirt, but he’d taken off his coat and neckcloth and his feet were bare.

      ‘Roxanne—what are you doing here at this hour?’

      ‘May I speak to you, please?’

      ‘Of course, come in,’ Luke said, then took her arm and drew her inside his sitting room. It was furnished with two leather elbow chairs, a bookcase and a writing table and chair; there was also a collection of paintings of horses, also two bronze figures holding torches aloft, which held lighted candles.

      ‘I am sorry to disturb you, but I did not know what else to do—my rooms have been ransacked.’

      ‘What?’ Luke looked startled. ‘Your rooms—was anything valuable taken?’

      ‘I was wearing the only items of jewellery I possess, but the silver pots on the dressing table are all there and they have been opened.’

      ‘Someone was searching for something they did not find.’ Luke’s brow creased. ‘Do you suppose it was the ruby?’

      ‘Yes, perhaps it was,’ Roxanne said. ‘Whoever it was must have taken the opportunity to search while we were all dancing. I suppose there were so many people about that he was able to slip in without being noticed.’

      ‘Yes, I imagine it must have seemed a good opportunity.’ His gaze narrowed. ‘You saw no one—you are not harmed?’

      ‘I saw no one and I am not harmed—but I felt uneasy and wondered whether to call my maid to tidy the room or sleep elsewhere this evening.’

      ‘You must stay here for now,’ Luke said. ‘I shall put on my boots and check your rooms and the downstairs rooms also, Roxanne. I want to make sure the windows and doors are locked, though I prefer not to rouse the guests or Grandfather. I do not wish to disturb him.’

      ‘No, of course you must not,’ Roxanne agreed. ‘I was not certain what to do, but I hope no one else need know about this unfortunate incident.’

      ‘Mrs Arlet must be told and the servants will know, but it is best if the guests do not learn of this—unless any of them have suffered something similar.’

      ‘Had they done so, I’m sure someone would have told you,’ Roxanne said. ‘I think it was just my room, Luke—and I believe it must be because of that ruby.’

      Luke had sat down to pull his boots on. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, then inclined his head.

      ‘It seems the most likely explanation. Unless Horatio wanted to see what he could find to discredit