He continued to stroke the puppy’s head, but his gaze held Dinah’s. “No. I would have delayed the journey for several days to give my injuries time to heal, but I would have gone to Cliff’s Edge sooner or later.”
Dinah let out a deep sigh. A part of her had hoped he’d lie about it so she could scold him. It was safer when she scolded. “You lied to me, then.”
“Yes.” Something flickered in his eyes. Not regret, but something else.
“Why?” Dinah tried to be outraged, but the familiar anger she’d grown to depend on refused to respond to her prodding.
He was quiet for so long she gave up on getting an answer, but then he muttered, “You wouldn’t have come with me otherwise.”
Yes, I would.
If Oliver had asked it of her, she would have come. A part of her wanted to say so, to blurt out the truth and feel relief overwhelm the tightness in her chest, but once she told it, there would be no taking it back. “We’ll never know now, will we?”
A slight smile drifted across Oliver’s lips, but he didn’t look happy when he murmured, “Is it really so awful to have to spend a few days with me, Dinah?”
His hushed voice, his use of her Christian name, the way his eyes darkened to a deep, midnight blue as he studied her caused a strange, fluttery sensation deep inside Dinah’s chest.
No. It isn’t awful. That’s the trouble.
But again, she wouldn’t say so. Instead she pasted a smile on her face and asked brightly, “This Christmas escapade of yours, Oliver. Where will it take us next?”
Dinah half-expected him to balk at the change in topic, but Oliver’s lips quirked in a grin. “Yes, about that. I prefer we call it a lark from now on, if you don’t mind.”
“A lark?” Dinah laughed. “Very well, if you wish, but I don’t see what the difference is.”
“You told me you don’t care for escapades, but there’s nothing you can object to in a lark. They’re playful, harmless bits of fun.”
“Very well, then. Where will this Christmas lark take us next?”
Oliver glanced down at the pup, who’d curled up in his lap and fallen asleep. “To Southfleet, to fetch Maddy’s gift.”
He’d nearly told her the truth.
Oliver had vowed to wait until she was ready to hear it. He’d opened his mouth a dozen times since they left London to tell her everything, then closed it again without a word. For all his careful plans and promises to himself, it hadn’t taken more than her fleeting look of panic before he’d nearly told Dinah the truth.
He’d nearly said he loved her. That he’d loved her since her pistol ball had come within half an inch of striking his forehead. That it must have struck his heart instead, because he’d lost it to her that day. That when they’d returned to London, he’d followed his heart straight to the Pandemonium Playhouse, and never looked back. That he was full of love he wanted to give her, and he wanted her love in return. That by the time Twelfth Night had passed and the new year was upon them, he wanted her by his side, as his wife.
He might call it a lark, but there was nothing harmless about this courtship. There was every chance his heart would be in tatters by the time they reached Cliff’s Edge, and that was to say nothing of their friendship. If Dinah rejected his suit, she’d refuse to see him once they returned to London. If she felt as much for him as he suspected, they’d both be hurt by that.
This courtship would decide nothing less than their future happiness.
If he made of mess of it, he wouldn’t get another chance. He couldn’t tip his hand. Not yet. Not until Dinah was ready to hear him—
“This is lovely, Oliver. Maddy will be delighted with it.”
Oliver was still shaking at how close he’d come to blurting out the truth, but he jerked his attention back to Mr. Thurman, the jeweler, who’d laid Maddy’s locket out on a square of black velvet for Oliver’s inspection.
Dinah was bent over it, murmuring with appreciation. “Such dainty etching!” She traced a finger over the delicate vines and flowers carved into the face of the oval locket, sighing at the scattering of seed pearls embedded in the gold. “It’s not a new piece, is it?”
“No. It belonged to my grandmother. William and Penelope have been sorting through her jewelry. Penelope has set most of it aside for Maddy. I saw this piece, and thought I’d have it restored as a Christmas gift for her.”
Dinah arched a brow, but a smile hovered on her lips. “Naturally you couldn’t have turned it over to a London jeweler.”
“Certainly not, Miss Bishop. My grandfather commissioned this piece from Mr. Thurman’s father, you see, so naturally I couldn’t turn it over to anyone but him.” Oliver fumbled at the hinge and opened the locket to show Dinah the inside, where the same elegant scrollwork and seed pearls framed the tiny sheets of crystal. “The crystals slide out, so she might put a portrait or a lock of hair inside.”
“It’s perfect for Maddy.” Dinah didn’t touch it again, only gazed at it with a rapt expression before turning her attention to the glass cases lining the walls of the shop. She ambled down the row, pausing now and then to admire the jewels inside.
Oliver watched her, an ache in his chest. Sapphires would suit Dinah. Sapphires set in diamonds, to match her eyes—
“Will the locket do, my lord?”
“What? Oh, yes. As the lady said, it’s perfect for my sister. I’d be grateful if you’d wrap it for me, Mr. Thurman.” Oliver waved a distracted hand at the jeweler, then turned his attention back to Dinah. She’d stopped beside one of the cases. “What have you there?”
“What? Oh, it’s nothing.”
Dinah turned away from the case, but Oliver strode toward her and took her arm before she could scurry away. As soon as he glanced into the case, he knew which piece had caught her eye. “The sapphire necklace?”
“Yes. The blue is pretty.” Dinah gazed down at it for a moment longer before wandering off, but Oliver lingered, staring down at the necklace. It was simple but stunning, two perfect midnight blue stones set into a delicate gold filigree setting, surrounded by tiny diamonds. There were ear bobs, hair pins and a brooch to match it.
It might have been made for Dinah, with her fine, pale skin and dark blue eyes, but she’d never allow him to make a gift of it to her. Then again, if she did agree to become his wife, he might give it to her on the day of their betrothal.
It was better to be hopeful, surely?
If Mr. Thurman hadn’t reappeared just then, Oliver might not have done what he did. If he’d stopped for even a moment to consider the thing rationally, he might have hesitated, but gentlemen in love being what they were—rash, reckless creatures—he didn’t.
He waited until Dinah was on the other side of the shop, then he beckoned Mr. Thurman over, pointed silently to the sapphire parure, and nodded. Mr. Thurman, who knew the value of discretion opened the case, whisked out the jewels and disappeared into the back of the shop before Dinah turned around.
Ten minutes later Oliver escorted Dinah back to the carriage, Maddy’s locket and Dinah’s sapphires tucked safely into his greatcoat pocket. “All right, Grim? Ferris?” He handed Dinah into the carriage, tucked a few rugs around her to ward off the cold, then retrieved the pup from Grim.