The Golden Leopard (3 page)

His voice hardened, although Shivaji’s translation rippled like a clear stream.

“As did my forefathers who ruled Alanabad before me, I have the gift to read the hearts of men. You are a creature of lies and false promises, Englishman. I do not trust you. But should you survive the Trial of a Thousand Screams, I shall grant you one year to find the Golden Leopard.”

As voices floated up the staircase to the first floor, she resumed her pacing. It was the infernal waiting that gnawed at her. She could never bear being closed in.

A soft knock sounded at the door and Mr. Herbert, Christie’s chief appraiser, stepped inside, a look of concern in his hazel eyes. “Nervous, my dear?”

“Not in the least,” she said, and it was quite true. “But I should very much like to get on with it.”

“Certainly.” He went to the chair where she had draped her silver-shot gauze shawl. “The Duke of Devonshire has claimed the honor of escorting you downstairs. By your own arrangement, I shouldn’t wonder.”

She smiled at her mentor as he threaded the shawl around her bare arms. “I mustn’t appear to be engaging in trade, you know, and there is nothing like a duke for lending one a bit of cachet.”

Devonshire, waiting at the head of the stairs, greeted her with a bow and their traditional joke. “Tsk-tsk, Lady Jessica. An ape leader still! I swear, there is no accounting for it.”

She put her gloved hand on his sleeve. “Such a notorious pair we are—the Bachelor Duke and the Dedicated Spinster. But I am sworn to wed the day after you do, Hart, if only to confound those who have wagered in the clubs that we shall never relent. You
will
let me know if you take a sudden whim to marry?”

“To be sure. But when afflicted with a whim of that sort, I invariably scurry to my bed and have myself a nap until it passes.” He led her slowly down the stairs. “You are in exceptionally fine looks tonight, Jessica. The crimson is perhaps a trifle startling at first glance, but it suits you.”

“I mean to be noticed,” she said, pleased at the compliment. Years ago the duke had advised her to dress herself in purest jewel tones—sapphire blues and ruby reds and emerald greens. The vibrant colors went well with her dark hair, and the simple lines of the gowns he had helped her choose flattered her tall, slender figure. She was more self-assured now, thanks to his kindness.

For the next half hour she needed every bit of confidence that a few yards of scarlet silk could provide. The duke stayed by her side while she moved around the exhibition hall, answering questions about the items to be auctioned the following day. But the moment His Grace’s attention was diverted, a formidable woman accosted her and practically towed her to a glass case on the other side of the room.

“Two hundred pounds for a supper plate?” Lady Fitzmorris queried in a shrill voice, one intended to be overheard. “Highway robbery, if you ask me!”

A number of people gathered around, scenting an
incident.

Jessica gave them a smile of welcome before turning to the dish, and voices stilled as everyone waited for her to speak. She let the silence draw out to the last possible moment.

“Do you think so, Lady Fitzmorris?” she asked gently. “That is the minimum bid we shall accept, but I expect it to fetch a great deal more. It is difficult, though, to place a value on a silver platter, even one that graced the table of Queen Elizabeth. Some would care nothing for that, as you do not, but others will consider it a fragment of history worth preserving in a collection.”

“They might,” Lady Fitzmorris fired back, “were there proof of what you say. But how can you possibly know who owned it centuries ago? Have you an acquaintance who actually saw it on the queen’s table?”

A few people laughed, but most waited for Lady Jessica’s response to the uncivil attack.

“I’m afraid not,” she said, smiling as if Lady Fitzmorris had made a joke. “Before I recommend an item for purchase, I naturally consult with experts. A dinner service in this pattern is recorded in Her Majesty’s household inventory, and Sir Thomas Revenon assures me that the provenance for this particular dish is indisputable.”

She tilted her head, considering the plate. “I can say only that I stake my reputation on every piece in the exhibit. Should anyone buy an item and later discover it to have been misrepresented, I shall immediately refund the price in full.”

“But how are we to be sure of that?” Lady Fitzmorris objected. “Have you ever made such restitution?”

“It has never been necessary. But as you have so wisely reminded us, evaluating art and historical objects is a prodigiously difficult business. I claim only a love for beautiful things and an instinct for matching people with what they will most cherish. Do you see the porcelain lady just there, on the pedestal nearest the door? Her eyes are an unusual and magnificent shade of blue.” She lifted her gaze. “Precisely the color of your eyes, Lady Fitzmorris.”

“Are they indeed? But what is that to the point? I have never been partial to gaudy knickknacks.” Lady Fitzmorris swept through the tangle of onlookers with a disdainful sniff.

Jessica, glad to see the back of her, was reasonably certain that she would eventually meander over to that figurine, imagine a resemblance, and decide to bid on it.

“Well done,” said an unwelcome voice at her ear. “The vanquished harpy flees, leaving the redoubtable Amazon in possession of the field.”

The stink of gin and stale cologne made her stomach lurch. Jessica turned and greeted her brother-in-law with a curt nod. “Good evening, Gerald. How astonishing to see you here.”

“Oh, but I adore these summer parties.” His thin lips curled. “And I am positively agog that your little pastime is developing into a profitable enterprise. It is profitable, I trust? What’s the use of family connections, I have always said, if they fail to put money in one’s purse?”

“And what is the use of gaming, if one consistently fails to win?”

He stiffened. “I game no more than any other gentleman. But let us not pluck that crow again. M’wife has more than enough to say on the subject.”

Jessica’s hand itched to slap his handsome, dissipated face. Her sister
never
complained, more the pity. “You must excuse me, Gerald. I have guests to attend to.”

“Then I shall trail along. It happens I’ve been dabbling a bit in the art trade—the odd piece here and there—and being seen in company with the dashing Lady Jessica is certain to enhance my reputation.”

Aware that people were watching them, Jessica responded with a delicate shrug. “Link your name with mine,” she said past a false smile, “and I shall grind you to powder.”

“Not likely, sister-in-law.” He seized a glass of champagne from a passing servant. “For Mariah’s sake you will pretend to be in charity with me, as you have always done. But to preserve goodwill between us, I’ll wander about a few minutes longer and then take a quiet leave. Cooperation, Jessica. That’s the key.”

He sauntered off, sipping at his drink and nodding to acquaintances, most of whom turned away. Sir Gerald Talbot was bad
ton,
a
minor baronet who had married into a good family and spent most of his time gambling and evading his creditors. But he was clever, too, and ruthless. Jessica loathed him.

She closed her eyes for a moment. Could anything more go wrong? The storm had hit full force, resonating through her body like a strike of lightning. Rain pounded against the windows, and a blast of thunder rocked her on her heels.
Mingle,
she instructed herself.
Be charming. This is what you have worked for these last many years.
She forced her eyes open.

And saw him.

Time melted away. Of a sudden she was one-andtwenty again, recklessly besotted with a handsome scoundrel.

He was standing between the open doors of the exhibit hall, regarding her lazily from a pair of copper-colored eyes. She felt the heat blazing behind those eyes and sensed it coiling around her as his lips curved in a familiar, knowing smile. His mocking gaze efficiently stripped the clothes from her body.

Nothing had changed.

He had not, except that a strong sun had darkened his skin and streaked his tawny hair with pale gold. Otherwise he was just as she had tried not to remember him—tall, lean, exotic, and self-assured.

Hugo Duran. Invitation to sin.

No. Not
everything
was the same. Jessica Carville was all grown up now. A patented woman of the world. She would be accepting no more invitations from heartless men.

Soon Duran would approach. They would exchange civilized pleasantries while she made her indifference to him quite clear. Then, with exquisite politesse, she would turn her attention to her guests and deliberately ignore him. She looked forward to the pleasure of ignoring him.

But he only gave her a slight bow before entering the room, not moving in her direction at all. He wandered instead to the exhibits along the opposite wall, pausing occasionally to examine a painting or a snuffbox or a jade dragon, never looking at where she continued to stand like a fence post.

How
dare
he?

Cheeks hot with mortification, she recalled that it was precisely the sort of thing he
would
do. Duran invariably made it clear that he was in control, whatever the circumstances. It was why she feared him.

No. Feared her response to him. The way he made her feel. The man himself was perfectly harmless, if dealt with in the proper way. He had surprised her, that was all, and she would be firmly in control of herself after a few moments to catch her breath. She ordered her feet to carry her to a safe place.