Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Chapter Twenty-Four

W ith the swiftness of experience, Edward slid both of her little cap sleeves up her arms before hastening away. Radiance, too, put distance between them, although being alone in the room was enough to ruin her.

Tugging her bodice into place, she knew most assuredly this was what Purity would decree an “improper situation.” Should they be discovered, it was the kind of circumstance that destroyed a lady’s reputation or forced a man — if he were truly a gentleman — into asking for her hand.

However, instead of coming into the drawing room, whoever it was continued past while Radiance held her hand to her own mouth. Edward remained utterly silent and motionless, head cocked toward the door.

As soon as it was quiet again, she released a sigh.

“You must slip into the conservatory,” he said, sounding tense. “Find a secluded place by the windowsill, so when you are discovered, it will be as if you were there all along.”

He ran his hands through his hair where her fingers had been. “This was reckless and stupid of me. Unforgiveable, actually.”

Entirely worth it, Radiance thought but held her tongue. This was how two people managed to get to know one another. Otherwise, a couple would have to be practically strangers when they arranged to marry.

Would he ask her?

“I shall go first and make certain there is no one lingering about,” he said. “Count to thirty and then follow. I shall be hiding while watching the conservatory door, but I won’t come in. I shall pretend I felt ill and had to leave. It’s the only way. For one look at both of us together, and your sister will know. Probably anyone would know.”

Radiance didn’t want him to leave her. She didn’t want their moment of privacy to come to an end. Yet the magical web of intimacy had been torn asunder, so she nodded.

Perhaps recognizing her forlorn expression, he took a step closer once more and pressed an agonizingly delicious kiss upon her upturned mouth.

Before she could even grab on to him or breathe in his warm scent, he was gone.

What was she supposed to do? Oh yes, count to thirty.

Seated behind her worktable at Mr. Bonwit’s, Radiance was trying to focus on minute springs to create an intricate en tremblant brooch with flower stems of diamonds that would appear to be in motion when the wearer moved. But all she could think of was baring her soul to Edward and how he hadn’t said anything in return except words of regret.

True, they’d been interrupted, yet it seemed to her that he hadn’t been about to declare himself, anyway. He would rather kiss than speak, prefer to stroke her bare arm or her ... wrist than tell her she held his heart.

It was worrisome. She was a lady, and a virtuous one at that. Or she always had been, having never let a man bare her breasts or touch her thusly before. Moreover, she wanted to keep her reputation as well as his good regard. At the same time, she wished for them to engage in a deeper association.

In short, Radiance hoped he would soon say she was all he had ever wanted in a wife, or she feared her heart would be sorely wounded.

Wondering whether it would further her goal, as she now saw it, she would accompany him to speak with Lord Exeter, whose office was housed at St. James’s Palace. The Lord Chamberlain would know which footman collected the brooch from Garrard’s shop, directly from Mr. Minton, as well as from Mr. Neble. Naturally, Edward had promised to collect her.

Thus, on the appointed day, when the clock struck the hour and there was no sign of her geologist, Radiance had the dreadful notion he had forgotten, exactly as he had with the note to Mr. Neble. Except this time, he’d forgotten the woman who had let him take liberties.

It was unforgiveable!

Just when she started storming around her home in high dudgeon, about to summon one of the Diamond carriages from the mews, she heard a cab pull up out front.

“Hurry, Sarah, let us away.”

In two shakes, Radiance was standing outside admiring the man climbing out of the cab. Edward Lockwood was a square cove — resolute, intelligent, appealing as Michelangelo’s David — basically, a dashing dog in a doublet. And she most definitely wanted him for her own.

Edward would never be dull and thus, nor would her life. Of that, she was certain.

Even the cab ride still seemed an exotic treat, almost risqué for its shabbiness compared to her father’s private carriage. And with Edward’s tiger-gold eyes looking merry that day, she hoped it was because they were together again.

After a moment’s shyness upon once more being in his presence, Radiance swallowed her embarrassment, lifted her head, and decided to pretend as though nothing earth-shattering had happened until such time as he made mention of it.

In truth, Radiance would abandon the investigation, and her maid, if Edward crooked his finger and told her to go with him ... anywhere. But he only commented upon the fine weather and occasionally looked out of the carriage window to determine their progress down St. James’s Street.

Since St. James’s Palace was only a stone’s throw from her home, even with the usual traffic, they were there in mere minutes. Radiance rarely had cause to go to the mostly brick building built in the time of Henry VIII. Although a dreadful fire damaged much of the east and south wings at the beginning of the century, it had all been restored by 1813. The Palace’s chapel was, of course, the impressive setting of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s wedding twelve years earlier.

But she and Edward wouldn’t be entering any of the regal state rooms. They were simply going through the stone archway, to the Colour Court, which now held royal offices.

Radiance couldn’t help halting at the arch to look at the outline of a foot etched on the mottled black and tan granite. Purported to be Henry VIII’s, he ordered the engraving so he knew where to set his foot when dismounting from his horse.

She thought it an unlikely story for the particularly bloodthirsty king. Nonetheless, she reached out to touch it. As she did, something grazed her arm.

Hissing with the sudden sharp pain, half thinking a bee had stung her, she turned to glance at Edward, wondering if there was a swarm. The stonework beside him inexplicably crumbled, causing a cloud of granite dust.

“Run!” Edward yelled.

While she tried to determine what was happening, he rushed her forcefully under the archway and through the first open doorway. His momentum carried them both onto the old plank floor where she landed with him on top of her.

“Oof!” she exhaled.

He had knocked all the air from her lungs. Had he gone mad? Moreover, Sarah was yelling something, and as Radiance looked over Edward’s shoulder, her maid rushed in, stopping to stare at the tangled heap of legs and arms.

Why was Sarah yelling? Was she hurt?

“What in blue blazes is going on?” Radiance demanded, staring up into Edward’s beloved face.

In other circumstances, she might have enjoyed the unfamiliar feeling of his muscular body atop her own, but not while her arm still stung nor while Sarah was sobbing and making a commotion.

Edward raised himself up on his hands and stared down at her. She sucked in a breath at the look on his face. Disbelief, fear, relief.

“A bullet went right by me,” Sarah cried. “And by you, m’lady.”

“A bullet?” Radiance echoed.

Edward still gazed into her eyes. “Someone was shooting at us.”

With those terrifying, unfathomable words, he rolled off her, leaving Radiance bereft of his warmth and his protection.

After scrambling to his feet, he reached down his hand, which she took. Yet when he tugged her to stand, she couldn’t help crying out in pain.

“Dear God!” Edward exclaimed. “You are hurt.”

“More shocked than anything,” she said. Yet when she drew her fingers back, her pale purple glove was stained with blood. Again!

“You are wounded!” he exclaimed.

“Hardly that,” Radiance protested, although her knees felt weak. There was more blood than what had come from her temple during the previous incident. Either she was becoming terribly prone to accidents and in dire need of a toadstone, or someone had actually tried to hurt her. Twice!

“Is there an infirmary on the premises?” Edward asked a liveried footman, who had materialized as if by magic from somewhere farther inside the building. Probably the rumpus had called his attention to visitors.

“Yes, sir. We have a doctor and two nurses on staff.”

“We are here to see the Lord Chamberlain,” Edward explained, but he was still staring at her, concern in his golden-brown eyes. “Is he nearby?”

“Yes, sir,” the footman repeated. “I mean, no, sir. Normally, yes, but he was called to Buckingham Palace. The Master of the Royal Household is here, though, sir.”

Radiance simply wanted to sit, and her expression must have shown it.

“Sarah, take your mistress to the infirmary and get her wound dressed.” He hurried for the still-open door.

“Where are you going?” Radiance asked, fear making her stomach clench at the thought of him going outside into danger.

“To take a look around. I shall come find you.”

“Edward ... ,” she began, but he disappeared from view.