She lifted the bundle and carried it to the dining table on the far side of the sitting area. Evie and Gavina followed, the three of them taking seats around the table while Iris peeled the cloths from the alabastron.
Iris let out a long breath as the red and black painted curves of the jar came into view. “Thank God,” Iris said in a rush.
“My word.” Gavina brushed her finger over the swell of the vessel, outlining the lady with the necklaces. “This is beautiful. I’m guessing it’s priceless?”
“Yes.” Iris gave a decided nod. “Which is why it must go back to Greece.”
Gavina’s eyes sparkled, as though she was catching on to the nature of their crime. “Can you get it there? Don’t people search luggage, and so forth? Both in this country and Greece?”
Iris folded the cloths tightly over the jar as though she feared to look at it any longer. The beauty faded, the black covering fabric drab.
The cloths reminded her of Jamie, Evie thought suddenly. His kilt was ragged at the hem, his coat a casual one that anyone might wear, never mind Jamie was the nephew of a duke and son of a very wealthy lord. Inside the understated clothing was a man who shone brightly—largehearted, intelligent, and giving.
“I have made arrangements,” Iris said, sending them a mysterious glance.
Iris had always enjoyed intrigue and subterfuge, Evie remembered. The young ladies of Girton, who weren’t supposed to drink brandy or smoke cigars, enjoyed them in secret thanks to Iris.
“Perhaps we should go to Greece with you,” Gavina offered. “Make sure the jar gets into the right hands.”
Her eagerness made Evie believe she’d pack her things and set off tonight. Iris’s eyes glinted with the same eagerness, and Evie flinched. The two of them were much alike.
“Or you can calmly carry out your plan,” Evie said sternly. “Your father would wonder at the additions to your party and why you were so anxious to go home.”
Iris sighed. “You are right, but this has been quite nerve-wracking. Father is terribly morose, and I can’t explain to him what we’re doing. He’d try to stop me.” Iris brushed her hand over the wrapped jar. “I knew I was right to contact you, Evie. I can’t ever express my gratitude. Anything you need, you tell me, and it’s yours.”
Evie had the feeling Iris would hand over a live cheetah if Evie requested it. “I’m perfectly happy as I am. But thank you.”
“The offer stands,” Iris said generously. “Now, tell me how you managed to retrieve it. Was Hayden any help at all? Or did he blunder about, as I feared?”
“He wasn’t there,” Evie said before she could stop herself.
Iris’s brows went up again. “It was you and Mr. Mackenzie? And Miss Mackenzie?” She glanced at Gavina for confirmation.
Gavina shrugged. “No, I had no knowledge of any of this. Unhappily so.”
“Oh?” Iris’s focus moved to Evie and stayed there. “Do tell, Evie.”
“You make it sound rather sordid.” Evie tried to assume a disapproving tone.
“You and my cousin, alone, carrying out a nefarious theft.” Gavina shook her head in mock sorrow. “Not sordid at all.”
“We spent almost the entire time searching the blasted basement,” Evie said defensively. “It was dark and cold and dank. Then I had to hide in the back seat of a motorcar while it poured rain. Adventures are mostly uncomfortable and distressing.”
“No, no.” Gavina wagged her finger. “Entire story. From the beginning.”
Two pairs of eyes, one midnight dark, the other sea-gray, pinned her. Evie heaved a sigh, knowing she’d never leave here until she told them, and began.
As she spoke, she relived the darkness of the shadowy cellar, and then Jamie and his torch turning the spooky place into an ordinary, almost cheerful one. Jamie’s warm presence behind her on the ladder, the gladness Evie had felt when she’d seen him making his way toward the motorcar where she’d hidden.
The elation when they’d realized they’d successfully rescued the alabastron, and then the searing kiss that had changed Evie forever.
Evie said nothing of the kiss, of course, giving her listeners a truncated version of what happened at the lock-up. She ended the tale with Jamie leaving her at Gavina’s.
“Gavina and the other ladies of the house kindly took me in,” Evie concluded. “Which is where I wrote the note to you, Iris.” She spread her hands. “And here I am.”
Gavina knew quite well Evie had left out bits, but thankfully she said nothing.
Evie should depart now, as the mission had been accomplished, Iris in possession of the alabastron. She should ask the carriage driver Jamie had hired to take her to Upper Brook Street, or she might walk there—it wasn’t far—and leave the carriage for Gavina.
Time to put aside the adventure, laughter, and her friends, and resume her role as the devoted fiancée of Hayden Atherton, heir to Sir Hector and his fortune.
A few days ago, she’d have been content to do so. Would have thought nothing of it. But Jamie had dived back into Evie’s life and ruined everything.
The contentment Evie had sought, had thought she’d found on the return from New York, had splintered. Jamie’s presence had shoved a wrench into her plans, twisting this way and that.
She knew she could not stay away from the Athertons’ much longer. A night spent with friends was one thing. Avoiding the house entirely was something else. Hayden would start to wonder why she didn’t want to come home.
Which she did not.
“Let’s have a splendid tea,” Evie exclaimed abruptly. “With lots of cake.”
The other two, who had launched into a discussion of their time at Cambridge, broke off and stared at her.
“It’s early for tea,” Iris said dubiously.
“But not for luncheon,” Gavina said, catching Evie’s enthusiasm. “Evie needs to be rewarded for a job well done.”
Iris nodded agreement. “Shall I ring for a tray? They have splendid food here.”
“No, indeed.” Gavina sprang to her feet, her energy compelling. “We shall go to a restaurant, a perfectly decadent one. We’re old enough to gad about by ourselves, young ladies together. And anyway, everyone expects me to be shocking.”
“Yes, let’s,” Evie said in relief. “Unless you don’t want to leave this, Iris.” She touched the wrapped alabastron.
Iris lifted the bundle as she rose, tucking it under her arm. “Won’t be a tick.” She dashed into an adjoining room, slamming the door. Before Gavina or Evie could exchange speculations about what she would do with the thing, Iris emerged.
Evie hoped she’d put the alabastron someplace safe, where a maid wouldn’t find it. But Iris seemed serene, so Evie said nothing. Evie’s part in obtaining the alabastron was over. It was up to Iris now to return it to Greece.
She somehow knew that wouldn’t be the end of it, but Evie followed the excited Gavina and Iris out, tamping down on her misgivings.
Jamie entered the Portland Club in St. James’s and left his greatcoat with the doorman. Though it was only just after noon, the card rooms Jamie bypassed on the way to the library were full.