Sybille's Lord by Raven McAllan

strange look. She sighed and nodded. “As you wish.”
    “I
have them,” he said. “And maybe now you will accept my offer to lend you them so you can wear the damned things.”
    “You?”
Sybille recoiled and leaned on the window frame. “You?” She slammed her palm
onto the side table so hard the trinkets on it rattled together. “You let me
tell you my problems and said nothing? How could you?”
    “It‘s
not my story to tell,” Thom said evenly. “I only spoke of it now, so you wouldn’t
think you have to try and trace them as well.”
    “Therefore
it is now your story to tell.”
Sybille’s voice rose. Thom could almost see steam rising from her. Her anger
was a living, breathing thing. It fascinated him, even though he knew it was up
to him to defuse it. “Tell me or you can forget about a favorable answer to
your offer.”
    “Sybille,
do not castigate poor Thomas. It is up to me to tell you,” Mijo said. “Your
papa knew nothing until after the events, and Thom was my savior. Without him,
we wouldn’t be here. Perhaps not even at Birch Hall. Now sit down and listen.”
    Thom
had never heard that strict, but at the same time almost indifferent tone come
from Mijo, and judging by Sybille’s gasp, neither had she. She moved back to
the chaise and sat down abruptly next to him. He squeezed her hand and her
tremors ran from her to him. The shocks and surprises weren’t over yet. She
shot him a grateful glance and relaxed next to him, her leg warm by his thigh.
    “As
you know, money has always been tight,” Sybille said. “By the time Dare was due
to go to Oxford it was very tight. Your papa had and still does work wonders,
but we needed a little more. My pearls were of the finest quality, and I knew
that any monies raised would pay for Dare’s studies. So I took them to be
valued, as I said just so I knew, and then decided to pawn them. Thom came
across me outside the pawnshop, and dragged the story from me. The upshot was
he bought the pearls and helped me arrange the fake string.”
    “You
did?” Sybille stared at him with tears in her eyes. Thom gave into temptation
and wiped them away with his thumb.
    “I
did.”
    “But
why?”
    “I
hoped your maman would continue to wear them, until such time as she could have
them back. She wouldn’t, so I helped her arrange the fake string. It will pass
muster unless it goes to someone like Rundle and Bridge.”
    “Or
someone like Bankfoot finds out about them?”
    “Or
that.”
    “How
did he find out?” Sybille said.
    “I
know,” Mijo said. “Or I think I do. When I broke them, at Daisy Arthur‘s
picnic, I took them to Sandeman. After all, he’d sorted them in the first
place. However, as I now remember, as I came out of Sandeman’s a man very similar
to Bankfoot was walking toward me. I only got a glimpse but I swear it was he and
he went into the shop after I left.”
    “I’ll
check it out,” Thom said.
    “We’ll
check it out,” Sybille retorted. “Together.”
    “Sybille
it’s not Hatton Garden,” Thom tried for a level, reasonable tone. “It’s a shop
that sells cheap jewelry and copies things.”
      “Then all I can say is it’s no wonder Bankfoot
was there. It’s about his level. Sorry Maman, you know what I mean.”
    Mijo
laughed. “Oh yes, he is a man I would not trust as far as I can throw him, and
me, I have a very bad throwing arm. So what will you do Thomas?”
    “See
if I can find out why he was there. I’ll go tomorrow.”
    “We
will go,” Sybille said firmly. “Together. You can pretend you‘re buying me a
bracelet or something.”
    “Or
a copy of your betrothal ring?”
    He
waited.

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
    It
was now or never. Sybille accepted her hand was being forced but hadn’t she
decided not to cut off her nose to spite her face?”
    “Or
a copy of my betrothal ring,” She said. “With a few provisos, which we will
discuss later.”
    Mijo
had half risen and she slumped back into her chair.