The Honorable Heir Read Online Free PDF Page A

the broken bow as though not certain what it was or what to do with it.
    Tristram took a step toward her, his intention to ask her if they could talk.
    She thrust the bow at Ambrose. “Estelle and I will go before you two, lest our reputations suffer.” She strode to the door, beckoning to her sister.
    Slowly, Miss VanDorn followed.
    Her ladyship was right. He couldn’t talk to her there. Eagerness to solve this problem with the jewels and get away from Tuxedo Park before Georgette got her hopes raised in his direction were clouding his good sense.
    He reached the door before Lady Catherine did and touched her arm. “May I call upon you tomorrow, my lady?”
    “Call?” She patted at her hair where one of the combs had helped pearl-headed pins hold up her masses of glossy waves. “If you intend to explain your ridiculous charges, then yes, you may. Eleven-thirty. We shall be able to speak privately.”
    “Thank you.” Tristram bowed and opened the door. “Good evening, ladies. If we do not see you in the ballroom, we shall see you tomorrow.” He closed the door after them, then leaned against it, his arms crossed over his chest. He glared at Ambrose and Florian. “What were the two of you thinking? You know better than to be alone with a young lady.”
    “We found a way to get into the good graces of a pretty heiress,” Florian said.
    “We aren’t heirs to a fortune and title, like you are,” Ambrose added.
    Tristram reminded him, “I am not an heir to a title if my brother’s widow bears a male.”
    And if he did not restore the Bisterne jewels to the family, as well as recover the money the marquess was spending to recover those jewels, Tristram wouldn’t continue to receive so much as the quarterly allowance owed him as the second son. Taking away his only means of support was his father’s way of punishing him for failing as a military officer.
    Not that Tristram considered what he had done a failure. His actions had succeeded quite well and saved dozens of lives. Unfortunately, saving lives was not the outcome the superior officers wanted.
    Tristram focused a narrow-eyed glare at his cousin. “Why did you break that bow and how do you expect to replace it?”
    “I’ll take the train down to the city and buy a new one.” Ambrose stroked the splintered edge of the bow. “It looks rather worn anyway. Miss VanDorn might appreciate something new.”
    “Purchased with what?” Tristram asked.
    Ambrose grinned. “Your largesse, cousin.”
    “Reward money for retrieving the jewels.” Florian made the suggestion without a hint of humor.
    “If she hasn’t had them all copied and sold the originals.” Tristram retrieved the undamaged comb from his coat pocket and held the jewels up to one of the gas sconces set on the wall.
    Light glinted in the diamonds, but then, they were faceted enough that even this poor form of illumination would shimmer off them. He needed sunlight and a magnifying glass to be certain these jewels were artificial.
    “The ones you found on the continent were real. Or at least the jewelers and pawnbrokers thought so.” Florian picked up the cello. “We know she must have sold those.”
    “But they could have been copied first,” Ambrose suggested. “We’d best hurry if we wish to dance with Miss VanDorn again. She may leave at any moment, and we don’t have permission to call.”
    Florian rose, but Tristram blocked the doorway. “Our hostess can leave cards for us.”
    “If the elder Mrs. Selkirk is willing to do so,” Florian said, but Tristram didn’t move from the door. “I have the impression that the Selkirks and the VanDorns are not in the habit of making social calls.”
    “Then we should have made better arrangements.” Ambrose joined Florian. “Are you going to get out of our way, cousin?”
    “In a moment.” Tristram dropped his gaze to the bow. “You still haven’t told me why you broke that.”
    Ambrose’s mouth tightened at the corners, forming