Last Dance in London (Rakes on the Run #1) - Sydney Jane Baily Page 0,85

in her sister’s own home.

At the polite hour of three o’clock, Jasper went uninvited to the Stridewells’ house, determined to help Julia in some way.

The baron was at home, although he was not seeing visitors after discovering the name of his guest. Jasper folded his arms and glared at the butler until the man returned to his master’s study with the message that the Earl of Marshfield would speak to him there privately, or would call him out on the floor of Parliament if need be, or even worse, at their club.

In short order, he was shown into the study.

“What do you want, Marshfield?” the baron asked, not bothering to stand when Jasper entered, nor did he offer him a seat. Jasper took one anyway and gave the man a once-over.

It had occurred to Jasper during the night that a woman must be involved. A woman was nearly always at the heart of any trouble. There was no other reason a man would be so reticent over a silly ring.

“Is she a powerful man’s wife?” he asked boldly. “Or some three-penny upright whose got under your skin?”

Stridewell’s nostrils flared. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Clearly, Jasper was on the right path.

“The ring was either meant for your mistress and given to your wife by mistake or you obtained it as a guilty penance to appease the baroness, somehow procured in an illicit fashion. Those are the only options that make any sense as to why you would have Miss Sudbury’s ring.”

“If it is hers,” Stridewell said, shuffling the papers in front of him on his desk while keeping his gaze upon Jasper.

“The Countess of Worthington will testify it is. I suggest your wife be prepared to part with it.”

“She already has,” the baron said in clipped tones. “Once she found out it hadn’t been purchased new from William Neate’s in Sweetings Alley, as I’d led her to believe, she was quite done with it.”

Jasper sat forward. “Where is the ring?”

Unexpectedly, the man opened the top drawer of his desk, reached in and pulled it out from where it had been sitting amongst pen nibs and stationery. Placing it in front of him on the desk, he laced his fingers and peered over them.

“Why is this important to you, Marshfield?”

Jasper hadn’t expected the question. “Miss Sudbury is a friend.” It sounded implausible to his own ears. Sure enough, the baron grinned.

“I doubt a man such as you has a female for a friend.” He paused. When Jasper said nothing more to enlighten him, the baron shrugged.

“How much can you afford?”

“I beg your pardon?” Was Stridewell really going for extortion?

“The ring is in my possession. It seems your latest lover wants it. How much will you pay me?”

Jasper sighed. “Why don’t you tell me what you paid for it? Unless you cannot. Did you steal it?”

The baron laughed. “That’s rich, when half of London is starting to think you’re an accomplice to a jewel thief. Do you know some people are cutting you from their party list, Marshfield? You may find yourself alone at Christmas if these nasty rumors continue.”

“I could tell the baroness I’ve discovered who your lover is,” Jasper threatened in return.

“You wouldn’t,” the man said, foolishly confirming there was one.

“Or I could tell my mother,” Jasper continued. “The Dowager Countess of Marshfield pours just about the largest cup of gossip-water in all of Britain. She would be interested to learn how you stole a ruby ring from a poor untitled nobody because you were too cheap to go to a jewelry store.”

The baron began to look a tad unsettled.

Tossing barbs was growing tedious. “I suppose we can take the ring to a jeweler and have it appraised in order to settle on a fair amount.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Stridewell said. “I can tell you what it’s worth to me, and I won’t take a penny less.”

“I’ll double it if you tell me from whom you acquired it.”

“That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me,” Stridewell began, but he didn’t look closed to the idea of making a profit. “I take it you aren’t on the books at some gaming hell, unable to afford a horse.”

Jasper shook his head but refused to divert from his purpose. “Tell me how you got the ring. Perhaps this person is London’s latest jewel thief.”

Stridewell barked out a short laugh. “Doubtful.” He seemed to consider. “I know it’s early, but would you care for brandy?”

“It is never too early for brandy,” Jasper said and