Free The Ruby Pendant by Mary Nichols

knew what it was!
    At the far end
of the park, she turned to go back, striking out across the grass to cut off
the corner and thus return to her starting place. Ahead of her she could see a
group of trees and a white building surrounded by an overgrown garden that she
needed to pass. She approached carefully, wondering if it were inhabited and if
there might be ferocious guard dogs.
    There were no
dogs, but there were two men standing beside a large pond on which a family of
ducks swam. The men had their backs to her and were deep in conversation, but
she recognised James Martindale as one of them; the other she did not know. He
was most assuredly not one of their party, being unshaven and dressed in an
ill-fitting greatcoat with torn flap pockets and layers of   shoulder capes. Beneath it she glimpsed
grubby blue trousers.
    Half-afraid to
be seen, she darted behind the shelter of an oak and peered out to watch them.
She saw James hand the man a bundle of papers and receive in exchange something
that looked remarkably like banknotes which he stuffed into his coat pocket.
They spoke for a few more minutes, then James strode off and the man scuttled
away in the opposite direction.
    Juliette waited
several minutes before coming out from her hiding place and following James,
who was undoubtedly returning to the picnic. That money had changed hands she
was certain, but for what reason she could only guess - a gamble won, a debt
repaid, though it seemed inconceivable that James should gamble with such a
one, or lend him money; he had looked decidedly shifty.
    She thought of
bribery and blackmail and spying, and though she told herself such ideas were
absurd, they stuck in her mind. The idea of the picnic had only been mooted
three days before, so how had the man known James would be at that particular
spot at that time? And then she remembered it had been James's idea in the
first place. `Let's all go to Richmond on Sunday,' he had said, when she and
Lucinda, escorted by Philip, had met him in Hookham's Library. 'I am advised it
will be a fine day and we could take a picnic.'
    It had taken
little persuasion and the party had soon grown to include several of their
friends. 'The more the merrier,' James had said jovially. He had even refrained
from grumbling when Mr Devonshire had asked to be included.
    According to
Lady Carstairs, James had been trying to borrow from her husband a week ago and
since then had acquired a top-of-the-trees equipage. Had he taken money from
the man before? Was that how he had paid for it? It was all very curious and
worrying. Ought she to tell someone? But who? Philip Devonshire came
immediately to mind, but that would seem as though she were playing one man
against the other and she did not want anyone to think that. Besides, family
loyalty forbade it. Or was she making something out of nothing? Just because
she was not enamoured of her cousin, did not mean lie was the kind to consort
with criminals, did it? But deep inside her, she felt a quiver of apprehension
and fear which she could not shake off.
    Immersed in
thought, she did not hear the footsteps behind her and the voice made her
almost jump from her skin. 'There you are, Miss Martindale, I had thought you
might have lost your way. I came to find you.'
    She twisted
round, her heart pumping at twice its usual rate. `Oh, Mr Devonshire, you
startled me.'
    He fell into
step beside her. 'I beg your pardon, but you know you should not wander off
alone. There are some very unsavoury characters about these days.'
    `Did Mama send
you to look for me?' she asked, wondering if he had also seen the man with
James and that had prompted his reference to unsavoury characters. She was
tempted to ask him, but his next words drove all thought of her cousin from her
head.
    `No, I missed
you.'
    He had missed
her! If there was ever a time to declare himself it was now. Her heart missed a
beat and she stumbled. He put out a hand to steady her, but did not speak.
    `I