"No . . . no, I have . . . ah, I must call upon my man of business."

"Pity. Thought we should celebrate," Ben urged.

Chance felt a stab of pity. His brother would be deeply cut by his friend's treachery.

"Tomorrow, perhaps," Goldie hedged.

"Very well."

"Now I fear you must excuse me."

"Devilish hurry, ain't you?" Ben complained.

The voices grew louder as Goldie escorted his friend toward the front foyer. "Shouldn't like to be late. Shall I call on you tomorrow?"

"None too early, mind," Ben warned.

"Certainly not."

Their voices faded out of earshot, and Chance glanced down at the woman beside him. Her countenance was pale but resolute, and he offered her an encouraging smile. What other woman would stand beside him with such courage, he wondered? The temptation to steal a brief kiss was sternly repressed as he forced himself to listen for the returning footsteps. He had to be prepared in case he was forced to follow Goldie to some other part of the town house.

It appeared for the first time in weeks he was in luck. Within moments, Goldie's short, rather plump form appeared within the library and crossed directly to the far wall.

Chance cautiously edged in front of Sarah as the gentleman shoved aside the picture that covered the wall safe. With visibly shaking hands, he at last managed the lock and pulled open the small door. His harsh breath of relief could be heard through the room as he hastily pulled out a sparkling diamond necklace and tiara.

Chance felt a rush of relief at the realization the Chance diamonds had indeed been discovered. Sarah had been right.

Lifting his gun, he moved silently to the center of the room. "Lovely jewels, are they not, Goldie?" he drawled.

With all the drama of Kean, Goldie spun about, a look of horror pasted upon his face. "You ... how . . ."

"It does not matter how." Chance held out a slender hand. "I will take those."

There was a charged moment as Goldie desperately clutched the vast fortune in his hands. Then, noting the unrelenting expression of the much larger gentleman and the pistol pointed directly at his heart, he gave a wretched shudder. Inching forward, he dropped the jewels into Chance's hand.

"I never meant to take them," he blubbered, his round face beaded with sweat. "Ben gave them to me to put in the safe. But then . . . I so desperately needed the money and they were there and I ... I couldn't resist."

Chance felt little sympathy for the terrified young man. He had cravenly stolen precious family heirlooms. Even worse, he had stolen them from his own friend. He was a weak and immoral fool. "Ben trusted you," he charged in low tones.

Goldie ran a hand nervously through his pale curls. "I know. That was why I could not sell them, despite those horrid moneylenders." He licked his dry lips. "What will you do with me?"

Chance's first impulse was to hand him over to the authorities and allow justice to take its due course. It was, after all, what he deserved. But the knowledge his mother was bound to discover the truth of Ben's own betrayal if there were a trial made him hesitate. He had gone to far too much effort to protect his family to toss it away on a selfish desire for vengeance.

"For Ben's sake, I will give you the opportunity to return to your home in York," he said in cold tones, his expression a harsh warning. "Do not return to London, or I will expose you for the thief you are."

Goldie's pudgy hands flew outward. "I did not mean to take them."

Unmoved, Chance narrowed his gaze. "I suggest you begin packing."

Fourteen.

With a pang of sympathy, Sarah watched Mr. Coltran angrily pace the floor of his parlor. It was obvious the poor boy was thoroughly distraught at the realization his closest friend had betrayed him in such an infamous manner. It was never easy to have one's trust so abused. But Sarah's sympathy was not solely induced by the young gentleman's disillusionment. Although Ben might be too busy nursing his feelings of outrage to notice his older brother standing to one side, Sarah was vibrantly aware of his every move and expression.

It was obvious to her that now the relief of discovering the diamonds had passed, Lord Chance was giving thought to the part his brother had played in the theft. It was also obvious that his brooding brought him little pleasure.

Sarah sighed at the impending unpleasantness. Ben was far too spoiled to take his punishment with grace. There was bound to be an angry scene.

Abruptly turning on his heel, Been slammed his fist into his open palm. "A bloody bad day when a man cannot trust his own friends," he burst out.

Lord Chance slowly strolled forward, his expression decidedly lacking sympathy. "I shouldn't take it so hard, Ben. Goldie is like most dandies. Frivolous and self-centered, with little constitution for facing unpleasantness. He saw the means of putting an end to his troubles and was simply too weak to resist temptation. For what it is worth, I do believe he regrets his actions."

Ben gave a loud snort of disgust. "He jolly well should. Do you know how many sleepless nights I have spent?"

Lord Chance glanced down his slender nose. "No more than you deserve, I am certain."

Ben reddened, but refused to display any hint of remorse. "I shouldn't need to have any if Goldie hadn't turned scoundrel."

"He was no more a thief than you, Ben," Lord Chance said in cool tones.

Sarah bit her bottom lip as Ben visibly bristled at the accusation. "I did not steal the diamonds. I merely borrowed them."

Lord Chance was patently unimpressed by the fine distinction. "You stole them as surely as Goldie did, and for the same selfish purpose."

There was a tense silence before Ben's gaze abruptly dropped. "Well, it has all sorted itself out," he muttered.

"Thanks only to Miss Cresswell."

Sternly prompted by his brother, Ben obligingly turned to offer the silent Sarah a hasty bow. "Oh, yes. I am ever in your debt, Miss Cresswell."

Sarah gave a rather embarrassed shrug. "I am only happy that the diamonds were found."

Reluctantly turning back to his brother, Ben shuffled his feet in a nervous fashion. "I suppose I should return the diamonds to Mother."

"Oh, no. I shall return them," Lord Chance announced in firm tones.

A hint of color stained the younger man's countenance. "Will you tell her the truth?"

"No. Only because I do not wish to wound her with your treachery."

Ben's expression became petulant at the chiding words. "You needn't make such heavy weather of the matter."

Lord Chance gave an exasperated click of his tongue. Sarah could readily sympathize with his growing impatience. Ben reminded her strongly of her younger sister Rachel. Both were blessed with beauty and charm that ensured they were readily spoiled by admiration, and both possessed a selfish need to put their own happiness before those of others, just like children who could see the world only through their own eyes. Rachel had more than once tried Sarah's own patience with her rash antics.

"You still will not concede you were wrong?"

Ben hunched his shoulders. "What choice did I have?"

"You put yourself in the situation. No one else."

His brother's petulant expression became more pronounced. "Easy enough for you to say."

Lord Chance gave a slow shake of his head. "No, Ben, it is very difficult for me to say, which is why I have held my tongue for far too long. You are no longer a child. You cannot fribble away your days at the card table and act the buffoon among Society. And you certainly cannot continue your habit of expecting me to rush to your rescue each time you tumble into disaster."

Ben clenched his hands at the reprimand. Sarah had no doubt the young gentleman was unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a blunt fashion.

"You expect me to follow in the footsteps of the Flawless Earl?" he struck back in anger.

Sarah's breath caught as Lord Chance's expression became icy with displeasure. "I expect you to become a man, and to accept the responsibilities that accompany an adult."

"What responsibilities?"

"To begin with, you must learn to live within your income. For another, I wish you to take command of one of the smaller estates."

Ben's eyes widened with shock. "You wish me to leave London?"

Lord Chance shrugged. "For a few months, at least. Once you have proven you can behave in a responsible manner, you will be allowed to return."

The silence was thick with conflict as the two brothers glared at one another.

"Is that a command?" Ben at last gritted.

"If it must be."

Realizing he was no match for his stronger-willed brother, Ben took a deliberate step backward. "Very well. You win, Chance."

"Ben." The lean features abruptly softened with regret. "I do this for you."

"So you say." Turning abruptly on his heel, Ben stormed from the room. Instinctively, Lord Chance moved to follow after his angry sibling before forcing himself to come to a halt.

Barely aware that she was moving, Sarah crossed to stand beside his taut frame. She knew precisely what he was feeling-frustration, guilt, and the fear that he had just destroyed the always fragile relationship between siblings.

Rubbing a hand over the tense muscles of his neck, Lord Chance glanced down at her upturned countenance. "Did I do right?" he demanded.

Sarah offered him a rueful smile. "You did what you thought best. It is all any of us can do."

He heaved a sigh. "I suppose."

"At least you have the diamonds," she attempted to comfort him.

An unnervingly tender expression softened his features. "Yes. How can I possibly thank you?"

Sarah felt embarrassed beneath his warm regard. "I did very little."

His hand raised to softly brush her cheek, sending her heart galloping at an alarming pace. "You saved my family from an ugly scandal, you ensured my mother's peace of mind, and you retrieved an irreplaceable heirloom. Hardly very little."

Sarah discovered herself lost in the darkness of his eyes. Sweet, tantalizing warmth spread through her body at the thought that she had pleased him. She would do anything to please this man, she thought inanely. Scour London for missing jewels, brave the December winter to ride at his side in the park, even hand over her heart if he would but ask . . .

She abruptly stiffened as she realized the direction of her thoughts. She was a fool. He would never ask for her heart. He would no doubt be horrified if he ever discovered she had been so dim-witted as to allow his flirtations to sway her emotions. And now that the diamonds had been recovered, he would be walking out of her life without once glancing back.

A sharp, tearing pain ripped through her heart as Sarah struggled not to reveal her terrible secret. "I am just relieved they were recovered," she breathed.

"Sarah ..." He faltered to a halt as if uncertain what he intended to say. Then, drawing in a deep breath, he abruptly dropped his hand. "You deserve a reward."

Reward? Sarah stepped back as if she had been struck. Did he believe she had offered her services with the expectation of a reward? Did he truly believe she was so shallow? Or was he attempting to soften the blow of their parting like she was some poor mistress being given her conge? Either way, the pain in her body was sharpened by his unwelcome offer.

"I asked for no reward," she said in stiff tones.

A faint frown marred his brow. "I could hardly request your help without offering something in return."

Her chin tilted to a proud angle. "You have already been most generous to the school."

"I am not referring to the school," he said with a hint of impatience. He was obviously accustomed to women who were anxious to accept his generosity. "I wish to give something to you."

"There is nothing I need."

"Absurd." His frown deepened. "Every woman is in need of a few luxuries. I could easily provide you with the means to acquire whatever you desire."

She bit back the hysterical urge to laugh. What she desired was the one thing he could never provide. Squaring her shoulders, she met his gaze bravely. "No."

He blinked at the uncompromising word. "Why are you being so stubborn?"

"I do not accept money from gentlemen."

He flinched at her blunt words, his eyes dark with an emotion that Sarah found impossible to determine. "I am not implying I wish you to become a kept woman," he rasped. "I merely feel you have earned a reward."

"And I have said no."

"Why?"

She could hardly confess that her love for him made the mere idea of a reward for her efforts somehow sordid, so instead she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Whatever I need, Lord Scott will provide."

She realized her mistake the minute his eyes narrowed with suspicion. Blast. The last thing she desired was Lord Chance questioning her relationship with the older gentleman.

"Lord Scott?"

She futilely attempted to appear nonchalant. "Yes."

The male features hardened with distaste. "You will accept the generosity of Lord Scott, but not myself?"

"He is my ... friend."

His hands slowly clenched. "Ridiculously enough, I thought I was your friend."