Free When You Give a Duke a Diamond by Shana Galen Page B

Pelham said, pointing to one in the middle.
    She nodded and started forward again. She took two steps and lost her footing. Pelham grabbed her arm, righting her before she could take a spill.
    “Are you all right?”
    “Yes. This dress is not made to traipse about in gardens.”
    He did not comment, but he kept his hand on her elbow as they made their way along the gravel path. No Chinese lanterns had been strewn about tonight, and the gardens were deserted. It was a cool night, and the prince had obviously not expected anyone to consider taking a stroll.
    As they drew nearer, Mrs.—Juliette glanced about nervously, and he could feel her tremble. He drew her closer, shielding her with his body from the open park. He did not believe anyone was going to fire at them, so it was no heroic gesture. He wanted her to continue walking, not be overcome by fear.
    When they stood directly below the balcony, she stopped. “I don’t understand. I saw him toss her over the balustrade.”
    Pelham made no comment. It did not surprise him that the ground beneath the balcony was empty, the grass undisturbed. But if she were merely trifling with him, why would she lead him all the way back here? Why not admit her ploy in the carriage? “Perhaps you had too much champagne,” he suggested as much to her as himself.
    “No!” She turned to him. “I had three sips at most. I did not imagine what I saw.”
    “Madam, you are obviously overwrought.”
    She stomped away from him, closer to the balcony, skirting around it and bending in the darkness to get a closer look. “She fell here,” she said, looking up at the short drop. “I was hiding on the other side, and they stood there.” She stood on tiptoes. “Look! There! I see blood.”
    Dutifully, Pelham stood beside her and glanced up. There was indeed a dark smear of something on the balustrade, but he could not determine what it was.
    She continued to stare up at the balcony, and Pelham looked down. Perhaps she had seen a lady’s wrap or shawl fall and mistaken that for a body. He studied the manicured grass below the balcony for any sign of such a garment. The clouds moved away from the moon, and a weak shaft of light filtered through. In that moment, he saw a glint of… something.
    He bent, but the clouds obscured the moon again, thrusting them back into darkness.
    “What is it?” she asked. “You started.”
    He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he lowered himself to his knees and ran his hand along the dark foliage. He could practically feel grass stains forming on his breeches, and it bothered him a whole lot bloody more than it ought to have done.
    And then his fingers closed on something cool, and he forgot about stains. He lifted the delicate diamond necklace out of the grass and let out a slow breath.
    “What is it? A necklace?”
    Pelham stood, the necklace clenched between his fingers. “My mother’s necklace. I fastened it around Lady Elizabeth’s neck tonight.” He rounded on the courtesan, and she took a step back. “Where is she?” he demanded. “What have you done with her?”
    Her eyes blazed. “Do not raise your voice to me, sir.”
    “Then tell me where she is.”
    “I told you what happened,” she said quietly.
    “You told me some rubbish about Lucifer. Now I want the truth.”
    “That was the truth! Lucifer killed her and threw her body over the balustrade.”
    Pelham gestured to the grass. “Then where is the body? Where is she?”
    “I… I don’t know. But I don’t think we should stand about here searching. Lucifer might come back. He’s already shot at me once.”
    “Do whatever the devil you want. I’m looking for more evidence.” He bent again to search the grass, but even after the moon reappeared, he didn’t find any other clues. Had Lady Elizabeth fallen, as the courtesan claimed, or had something else happened to his fiancée?
    Or perhaps he was imagining this entire charade, and Lady Elizabeth had simply left the ball