"Certainly, Daregate said calmly.
Miles nodded, turning serious. "Understood."
Julian looked first at one and then the other. He trusted them both. "Have you ever seen or heard of a ring of black metal embossed with a triangle and some sort of animal head?"
Daregate and Thurgood glanced at each other and then at Julian. They shook their heads.
"Don't believe so," Miles said.
"Is it important?" Daregate asked.
"Perhaps," Julian said quietly. "Then again, perhaps not. But it seems to me that I once heard rumors of such rings being used by members of a certain club."
Daregate frowned thoughtfully. "I believe I remember those rumors too, now that you mention them. A club formed at one of the colleges, wasn't it? The young men supposedly used black rings to signal each other. It was all very secretive and I don't recall anyone ever saying what the purpose of the club was. What makes you mention it now?"
"Sophy has come into possession of such a ring. It was given to her by—" Julian broke off. He had no right to relate the full story of Sophy's sister Amelia. "By a woman friend in Hampshire. I saw it and was curious about it because the sight of it tugged at my memory."
"Probably just an old keepsake now," Miles said easily.
"It's an unpleasant looking thing," Julian said.
"If you bothered to give your wife some decent jewelry, she would not be obliged to wear old, cast-off school rings," Daregate said bluntly.
Julian scowled at him. "This from a man who may someday seriously have to contemplate marrying for money? Do not worry about Sophy's jewelry collection, Daregate. I assure you, I am quite capable of seeing my wife properly outfitted in that department."
"About time. Pity about the emeralds, though. When are you going to announce that they have disappeared forever?" Daregate asked unrepentantly.
Miles stared. "They've disappeared?"
Julian scowled. "Stolen. One of these days they will show up at a jeweler's when somebody can wait no longer to pawn them."
"If you don't make some explanation soon, people are going to begin to believe Waycott's claim that you cannot bear to see them on another woman after having first given them to Elizabeth."
Miles nodded quickly. "Have you explained to Sophy about the emeralds having disappeared? Be most unfortunate otherwise if she were to hear Waycott's remarks about you not wanting her to have them."
"If it becomes necessary, I will explain the situation to Sophy," Julian said stonily. In the meantime she could damn well learn to wear the jewelry he did choose to give her. "About the black ring," he went on softly.
"What about it?" Daregate eyed him. "Are you worried about Sophy wearing it?"
"Can't see that there's anything to worry about other than that people will think Ravenwood's being damned stingy about giving his wife jewelry," Miles said.
Julian drummed his fingers lightly on the arm of the chair. "I would like to know a bit more about this old college club. But I do not want anyone to know I am seeking answers."
Daregate leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankles. "I've got nothing better to do. I could make a few discreet inquiries for you."
Julian nodded. "I would appreciate that, Daregate. Let me know if you get wind of anything."
"I'll do that, Ravenwood. At least it will give me something interesting to do for a change. One can get very bored with gaming."
"Don't see how," Thurgood muttered. "Not as long as one wins as frequently as you do."
Much later that night Julian sent Knapton out of his bedchamber and finished his own preparations for bed. Sophy had been home for some time, according to Guppy. She would be sound asleep by now.
Shrugging into his dressing gown, Julian picked up the diamond bracelet and the other gift he had purchased late that afternoon after the bracelet had been rejected. He collected the note he had painstakingly written to accompany the presents and started toward the connecting door.
At the last moment he remembered the gypsy scarf. Smiling, he went back to the wardrobe and found the scarf in the pocket of the black cloak.
He walked into Sophy's darkened bedchamber and put the bracelet, the other package and the note and scarf down on the bedside table. Then he took off his dressing gown and climbed into bed beside his sleeping wife.
When he put his hand on her breast she turned to him, sighing softly in her sleep and snuggled close. Julian woke her slowly with long, deep kisses that drew forth the full response of her body. Everything he had learned about her on the two previous occasions when he had made love to her, he employed now. She responded as he had hoped she would. By the time her lashes fluttered open, Sophy was already clinging to his shoulders and parting her legs for him.
"Julian?"
"Who else?" he muttered huskily as he slowly sank deeply into her damp warmth. "Do you have room in your arms tonight for a man who seeks to change his luck?"
"Oh, Julian."
"Tell me of your love, sweetheart," he coaxed as she lifted her hips to meet his slow, careful thrust. She felt so good, he thought. So perfect, as if she had been fashioned just for him. "Tell me how much you love me, Sophy. Say the words again."
But Sophy was already convulsing gently under him and there were no coherent words to be had from her, only the soft, vibrant cries of her release.
Julian shuddered heavily, pouring himself into her, filling her, losing himself in her.
When he finally raised his head a long time later he saw that Sophy had slipped back into a deep sleep.
Another time, he promised himself as he drifted off, another time he would have the words of love from her.
THIRTEEN
When Sophy opened her eyes the next morning the first thing she saw was the scarf of her gypsy costume draped across the pillow next to her. The diamond bracelet Julian had given her yesterday was lying on top of the scarf, its rows of silver-white stones sparkling in the early light. Under both was a large package wrapped in paper. A note had been tucked between the bracelet and the scarf.
Sophy sat up slowly, her eyes never leaving the small offering on the pillow. So Julian had known who she was last night at the masquerade ball. Had he been teasing her with all that talk about wanting to become lucky at love or had he been trying to tell her something, she wondered.
She reached over and plucked the note off the pillow. Unfolding it, she quickly read the short message inside.
My Dearest Wife:
I was told last night by a reliable source that my fortune was in my own hands. But that is not altogether true.
Whether or not he desires it, a man's fortune as well as his honor, frequently rest in the hands of his wife. I am convinced that in my case both of these valuable possessions are safe with you. I have no talent for scribbling sonnets or poems but I would have you wear this bracelet occasionally as a token of my esteem. And, perhaps, when you have occasion to examine the other small gift, you will think of me.
Julian's initials were scrawled boldly across the bottom of the crisp page. Sophy slowly refolded the note and stared at the glittering diamond bracelet. Esteem was not exactly love but she supposed it did imply some degree of affection.
Memories of Julian's heat and strength enveloping her in the darkness last night swept through her. She told herself not to be misled by the passion he aroused in her. Passion was not love, as Amelia had discovered to her cost.
But she had more than passion from Julian, if this note was to be believed, Sophy told herself. She was unable to quell the burst of hope that welled up within her. Esteem implied respect, she decided. Julian might be angry about the incident at dawn yesterday, but perhaps he was trying to tell her he respected her in some ways.