Rogues, Rakes & Jewels

“It doesn’t seem to bother this Omsbury cad.”

“He is a toad,” was what she answered.

“And it wouldn’t bother my cousin, but if you mean to throw your cap his way—you will find him sorely lacking,” he confided with a grin. “He isn’t in the petticoat line.”

“My cap!” she blustered back at him. “Let me tell you, sir, that I don’t fling my cap at anyone, anywhere! I don’t fling caps, but if I did decide to do such an unseemly thing, it wouldn’t be because of position or wealth …”

He laughed out loud. “Touché, my dear—but then where do you mean to fling it, for fling it sooner or later you must? Not onto Omsbury soil …?”

“Oh … after I just told you he was a toad?” She eyed him ang

rily and said, “Find your own way to the Silver Heart, sir,” and moved off into a canter.

He followed her and cantered up beside her to shout, “Jewelene—Jewels … Miss Henshaw …”

She eyed him angrily. “Go away.”

“I do apologize … I don’t know what got into me, and I most heartily beg your pardon …”

“Bad manners is what got into you.”

“Yes … and I am truly sorry …”

She slowed her horse and eyed him. “How dare you speak to me in such a manner after I confided in you!” She wagged a finger at him. “If I were a man, I would cut out your liver and feed it to Caesar.”

He hung his head. “How very bloodthirsty of you, to be sure … I shall be careful in the future.”

She eyed him suspiciously as she sensed a chuckle behind his words. “You hardly know me, yet you said a most unflattering thing to me when you suggested I might be aiming my cap at Omsbury. Oh—ugh.”

“Retracted—do not frown any longer … you will frighten off the sun …”

She giggled. “Very well then …”

He reached over and squeezed her gloved hand, and she felt a thrill rush up her arm and had the oddest notion come to her mind. She wished he would kiss her. She wanted him to lean into her and steal a kiss …

However, he behaved like a perfect gentleman and did no such thing, and she admitted to herself that she was disappointed.

They arrived in town a few moments later. She pointed out the Silver Heart and the White Stag. Telling him she would meet him at the Stag in a few moments, she sauntered off, leaving him at her back.

Six

JEWELS MET BEN as he stepped out of his house onto his front porch. She dusted off her buckskins breeches and ran up the steps, whereupon she threw her arms around him and sank against his very fine gray superfine.

He pushed her away gently, took her chin in his hands, and said, “Something is wrong … isn’t it? What?” He looked around, thought better of it, and said, “Come inside and tell me.”

As Jewels followed him inside she glanced over her shoulder and noticed Ryker across the street looking her way and frowning. She had a moment’s feeling of irritation. She imagined what it must look like to him to see her rush into Ben’s arms, and she didn’t want him to think that she and Ben were anything but friends. Why was a question she couldn’t answer and didn’t want to contemplate. So she set the problem aside, followed Ben into the parlor, and asked him, “Where are Lyla and your mother?”

“Still upstairs asleep …”

“Good. Ben, that awful beast, Omsbury, came to see me last night … while we were playing … but never mind that. He was most audacious and threatening. He has purchased the notes out from under us!”

“I know,” Ben said on a defeated note.

“I mean to settle this once and for all and put the devil in his place.”

“Jewels—you are worrying me …”

“Not Jewels—she can do no more but hand the matter over to Babette—”