It was quite a group of us that gathered in the drawing room right before the appointed time. Mama was even there, sitting in front of the fire with a shawl around her shoulders. She had only glares for Rosamund and George who sat on the edge of the room. Jane and Talbot sat side by side on the sofa, incongruously in the middle of everything though they had the least to do with it than anyone.

"Where is Papa?" Philippa asked with an obvious pout. "I am promised to walk with Mr. Talbot in an hour."

"I'm sure your Mr. Talbot will wait," Jane said, her tone sharp with irritation. "There are more important things at hand, Philly."

"No, she is right," George said, sending a glare at Jane who was two years older than him. "We have all of us better things to do than sit around."

"Children, kindly remember your manners," Mama said patiently. "You are all of an age where I shouldn't have to remind you."

"If this meeting results in my receiving my ring back, I will gladly submit to it," Rosamund said, pointedly glaring at me.

I chose not to respond to her statement as I had defended myself already, and had little energy to do so yet again. Not when she clearly had no inclination to listen. George only had ears for her, and everyone else in the room was on my side.

"So which of you two is to blame for locking me in my bedchamber?" I asked instead, glancing between George and Rosamund. "Father has already denied knowing anything about it. Philly also had no hand in confining me. So you are the only two left who have not been acquitted."

George fidgeted as everyone focused on him and Rosamund. "I—may have overstepped," he said. "I have nothing more to say on the matter."

"Ah, good. You're all here," Father said as he came through the doorway, preventing any of us from pursuing the matter. He stepped aside and waited for Mr. Lamotte to enter the way. "I believe most of you are acquainted with Mr. Lamotte."

Father glanced around the room and gave a decisive nod. "Well, we can now resolve all points of this matter, and nothing more will be said about it. Granted, all our servants must be aware of it, and so many of our neighbors have a good idea what occurred last week."

Mama smoothed her gown. "My dear, leave our neighbors to me."

With a fond smile appearing on his face, Father moved to stand behind Mama's chair, and he rested his hand on her shoulder. When he focused again on Lamotte, who had not been invited to sit down, his face was severe. "If you would be so kind, tell everyone in this room what you told me yesterday evening, Mr. Lamotte."

Lamotte's eyes narrowed for an instant, and then he focused his gaze on the wall. "I frequently support myself through card winnings," he said, his tone expressionless. "Mr. Miles Russell had the misfortune of losing to me earlier this year, and he handed over a family ring as security that he would repay the debt."

"And has the debt been repaid?" George asked.

Fidgeting, Lamotte cleared his throat. "It has not."

The answer made George shake his head reprovingly. Even though he had not been much a friend of late as one would have wished, I couldn't stand for Miles to be thought of disapprovingly. "As I recall, Mr. Russell attempted on several occasions to repay you, but you refused even to see him," I said. "Which, of course, begs the question: do you still have the ring, Mr. Lamotte?"

He glared at me before he said with reluctance, "I do not. It...went missing soon after I moved here. I suspected one of the servants, but could not prove a thing. Therefore, I dismissed them all and hoped I would find the item somewhere in the house."

Rosamund's cheeks flushed. "Can we get to the point? I do have affairs to manage here in the house."

"Do you?" Mama asked, raising an eyebrow. "I had not realized that this was your house to manage, Rosamund."

The blush deepened on my sister-in-law's cheeks as George jumped to his wife's defense. "Mama, you know you have been unwell, and Rosamund has been of help to you." He took Rosamund's hand, only to have her to pull away from him.

Father huffed and shook his head. "The management of this household is not why we have gathered here," he said. He focused on Lamotte. "Would you be able to identify the ring were you to see it again, sir?"

"I would," Lamotte said, giving a brief nod. "I suspect it to be long gone, though. Sold to anyone who would offer a good price for it."

The drawing room door opened. "Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Russell," Butler announced before stepping aside.

"Oh," Mr. Ramsey said, taking in the group. "I had not realized we would be interrupting. We can return another time."

"No, you are exactly on time," Father said, gesturing for them both to come in. "We were just discussing a certain ring that Mr. Russell gave Mr. Lamotte as security for a debt. I don't suppose either of you has it? I would appreciate it if Mr. Lamotte would identify it so that we may bring this whole affair to an end."

Miles cleared his throat and reached for his pocket. "This ring, sir?" he asked, holding it out.

Raising an enquiring eyebrow, Father stared at Lamotte. The man stepped forward and picked up the ring from Miles' palm. "It is the ring," he said after studying it for a moment. He sent an accusing glare at Miles. "How did you get this?"

"Interesting," Father said, holding out his hand. He held the ring up to the light as if to examine it. The rest of us had become mere spectators to what was happening. "Rosamund, do you by any chance recognize the ring?"

How refreshing it was to sit and watch the deceptions unravel right before my eyes. Rosamund pursed her lips as she stared at the ring. For a moment, her face betrayed her struggle. If she identified it, how she acquired the ring would be called into question. "I do not recognize it," she finally said.

"And do you George?"

My brother was silent for several moments before he said, "I do not."

"Would you be able to identify the ring stolen from your wife?" Father next asked.

My brother shook his head. "I never pay much attention to Rosamund's baubles. One is much like the other in my opinion."

Rosamund scowled at him.

"Well, as far as I see it, we shall simply have to consign the unfortunate matter of the highwayman off as a thoughtless prank by a young person who was having a lark," Father said, taking charge of the situation. "Rosamund, would you say your ring was truly worth a great deal?"

She raised her chin. "I would not. A worthless piece of jewelry. I cannot think why I even kept it."

Miles made a move to protest the description of the ring. "You're right, Mr. Russell," Father said. Whether he deliberately mistook my friend's action or not, I couldn't tell. "All that needs to be done is for you to repay Mr. Lamotte and count yourself lucky this matter has been resolved. Perhaps in the future, you will refrain from wasting your funds on cards."

With little grace, Miles acceded. "Mr. Lamotte, I will call upon you at your earliest convenience."

Lamotte gave a sharp nod, his expression containing relief at the turn of events.

"And now, with this unsavory topic closed, we can move onto more pleasant matters," Father said, turning his attention to his old friend. "Did Phoebe not come with you? I would have thought she would be anxious to know that all was well with Lucas."

Mr. Ramsey cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Bywood, but I do wish this had been resolved earlier. Given everything that has happened, Phoebe has informed me she wishes to accept young Mr. Russell's proposal."

All trace of easiness vanished from my father's face, although my mother's smile was broad. "An excellent match," she said with enthusiasm. "We wish them much happiness together."

"You are agreeable to this?" Mr. Ramsey asked, turning his gaze to me.

Of course, he would wish for it to be known that Phoebe and I parted ways in agreement. "Sir, I can tell you, nothing would bring me more joy," I said to him.

****

"For one who has been jilted, you seem remarkably at ease.

Glancing over my shoulder, I sent a grin at Ward, who was coming towards me. Phaeton took offense at my attention going elsewhere, and he nudged my shoulder. To appease the animal, I stroked my horse's nose. "I have been cleared of all wrongdoing," I said to the tall man as he came up beside me. "I find myself satisfied with that."

"Strange that Mrs. Bywood should suddenly decide the ring had no value." Ward shook his head as he reached to pat Phaeton's neck. "And here I had heard you were locked in your room to prevent your great escape."

"A true account, and not by my father's decree." The finer details, mainly an apology from George for confining me, had been set aside by my father's outrage. He'd had his heart set on my marriage to Phoebe, and hadn't reacted well to the news of her betrothal to Miles. "Still, I am delighted to be free once again."

"And how long before you are off to purchase your cottage in France?"

"My mother has requested me to reconsider my plans. I shall have to work out some other goal for my future."

Ward leaned against the fence, ignoring Phaeton's attempt to get his attention. "I'm sure you won't mind me saying this, but you ought to have more care in those you call friends."

"Perhaps. But I don't think all of them are shabby fellows," I said, nodding in his direction. "I hear you defended my most vehemently and I thank you for it, Ward. When not many would have believed a word I said, you didn't even question whether I was innocent or not."

"I pride myself on being an excellent judge of character."

"Better than I, at any rate."

He dismissively raised a shoulder. "You are not the only one to have an acquaintance suddenly become someone you do not even recognize."

Shaking my head at the turn of conversation, I pushed away from the fence. My father and I had already discussed Miles' failings, and I had promised not to allow my friends to lead me into trouble again. Though Father had acknowledged I'd been honorable in keeping my friend's confidence. It was a small step, perhaps, into my father and I becoming more amenable to each other.

"Will you be staying for Miss Ramsey and Mr. Russell's wedding?" I asked, pulling my thoughts to the present.

Ward fell into step beside me. "I expect so, though the house party has rather become less enjoyable than one might have hoped. Then, I shall take myself off to Bath."

"Bath? What takes you there?"

"You ask the most impertinent questions at times, Bywood."

With a laugh, I led the way to the gardens. "I do at that. It is no wonder that I am considered to be poor company."

Jane waved at us from where she sat next to Mama on the terrace. "I am told your brother and sister-in-law will be making their home in your father's small estate," Ward said. "That must be a relief to your whole family."

It was, but he had no right to say so. "One might say that is an impertinent observation."

One of Ward's rare grins appeared for the briefest moment. "Perhaps I could persuade you to accompany me to Bath. I've found it more enjoyable to go about with someone on whom I find I can rely."

His offer came as a surprise, but it was something I only considered for half a second. "I believe I've had enough of society."

"A little more time with your family and you will be begging to take me up on my offer," Ward said with a light laugh. He raised his eyebrow at me. "Unless there is some other —or should I say, someone— keeping you here."

I refused to be led into confidences that would only be speculation. "Can I persuade you to join us for dinner, Ward? I know my mother has expressed a desire to be better acquainted with you."

"What tales have you been telling her? I would be delighted. Anything will be better than being forced to observe two love-sick fools falling over each other."

Miles and Phoebe had made little effort at circumspection since Mr. Ramsey had announced their betrothal. Phoebe's parents, out of fear she would break another engagement, were pressing for them to be married sooner rather than later. Thus, the house party, or what remained it, would end with their wedding.

"Instead, you will be in the middle of a large family gathering where no doubt one of us will have some fault against another," I said to warn him. "It will be a loud affair and Rosamund will no doubt glare at us."

A strange expression crossed his face. "As I come from a small family, the experience of a large one will be welcome."

"Well, never say I didn't warn you."

"Did you ever discover the truth behind your mother's fall?" Ward asked, changing the subject.

I shook my head. "I have my suspicions. I cannot think it a coincidence that Lamotte should lose the ring, refuse to meet with Miles, and then a hole mysteriously appears in the shortcut between Bywood Hall and Oakcrest. It is a suspicion that I cannot prove, however, so I shall have to content myself with knowing Lamotte shall not be dwelling in the neighborhood."

Our conversation was interrupted by Jane's two children, Julia, and Tristan, who came running towards us. Laughing, Ward caught Tristan up, causing loud squeals of joy. Unable to do the same to Julia, as my arm was still healing, I made do with chasing her around the bushes.

This was exactly my idea of a perfect spring day.