Page 108 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

‘You are not listening,’ Pip said with uncharacteristic sharpness. ‘Why would I say anything?’

He gave Ashford a speaking look. Lydia’s heart near beat out of her chest as she watched Ashford’s eyes widen with realization, felt her muscles clench and harden as if she were about to physically battle him. She would, if it came to that – whatever fragile conversation had been about to unfold between them, she would hang it all in a moment if he was going to be a danger to Pip. For Pip was not Dacre – he did not have the rank or the title or the connections to insure against any accusation that might be made.

‘Oh,’ Ashford said. ‘Then you … appreciate the need for discretion?’

Lydia felt the fight leave her in a rush. She placed a hand on a bookshelf, to steady herself.

‘I do,’ Pip said. ‘More importantly, I have come to a Big Conclusion.’

‘What is it?’ she asked rather weakly. She did not think she had the energy for any more revelations.

‘It all makes sense, at last,’ Pip said.

‘What are you talking about?’ Ashford said, looking from one to the other.

‘We should tell him,’ Lydia said. ‘He might be able to help.’

‘You trust him?’ Pip asked.

‘Yes,’ she said.

Ashford turned sharply to regard Lydia, as though this were a far grander confession than it was.

‘Very well,’ Pip said. ‘Fact is, it is Waldo. Waldo took the diamonds.’

24

‘This is nonsense,’ Ashford said. ‘Another farce.’

‘It is not a farce,’ Lydia said. ‘I promise.’

Ashford scrubbed a hand across his face. They were seated in front of the fire again and had just finished relaying the whole tale to him.

‘If the diamonds are gone, why have you not informed Lady Phoebe?’

‘Because suspicion would fall upon Elspeth in the first instance,’ Pip said. ‘She has the only key.’

‘It was not her,’ Lydia said. ‘That you must believe.’

‘Of course it wasn’t,’ Ashford said. ‘She’d have been better making off with the silver teaspoons – and you know, Phoebe would have believed her.’

‘But would she believe it’s Sir Waldo who’s taken the necklace?’ Pip demanded.

‘No, because that’s ridiculous,’ Ashford said. ‘Waldo gave it to her in the first place – why would he then take it?’

‘Would it even count as stealing?’ Lydia wondered. ‘If he bought it in the first place.’

‘Well, yes,’ Ashford said reluctantly. ‘All Waldo’s engagement gifts were named as Phoebe’s in the marriage settlement – in the case of his death or their divorce, they belong to her, not the estate.’

‘You see!’ Pip slapped a hand upon the table.

‘It proves nothing,’ Ashford said. ‘I am still not certain it constitutes a crime.’

‘Even if it does not,’ Pip said, ‘it’s still a mystery. You heard Reeves – Waldo is receiving letters from a Mr Villars, the same name as on the letter I found. I don’t know who this Mr Villars is, but he’s blackmailing him for something.’

‘You and I also heard Waldo asking Dacre for money,’ Lydia said to Ashford, ‘threatening him.’

Pip looked up, sharply.