What Darkness Brings Read online

  “Discreetly, of course.”

  “She must have been very discreet, if Prinny never caught wind of it.”

  Von Riedesel gave a slight bow. “Just so.”

  It suddenly struck Sebastian as deliciously ironic that the rare blue diamond now reportedly coveted by the Crown Prince had been previously sold behind his back by his own wife. “And the French Blue?”

  “I never said Duke Carl Wilhelm possessed the French Blue. He did, however, have in his collection a large diamond of the darkest sapphire.”

  Sebastian ducked his head to hide his smile. “Who bought this large blue diamond from Caroline?”

  “You don’t seriously expect me to tell you that, do you?”

  “No. But you can tell me if I’m wrong. It was Hope, wasn’t it? Not Henry Philip Hope, but Thomas.”

  Wordlessly, the Black Brunswicker kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, his body rising and falling in tireless synchronicity with his horse’s motion.

  Hero was standing in the entry hall, her head bowed as she worked at buttoning her gloves, when Sebastian walked in the house.

  “Another crossing sweep interview?” he asked, handing his rid-

  ing crop, hat, and gloves to Morey.

  She wore a white cambric walking dress with a high-collared spencer of blue silk ruched down the front. “Yes,” she said, her attention all for her buttons, which were extensive. “I’m particularly looking forward to this one. It’s a little girl.” She looked up, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face. And he found himself wondering again, unpleasantly, just how much—and what—she knew that she wasn’t telling him. She said, “Discovered something interesting, have you?”

  He cast a significant glance toward the library, and she walked ahead of him into the room, going to stand beside the empty hearth while he quietly closed the door.

  He said, “How did you know that the late Duke of Brunswick sent his jewel collection to his daughter the Princess of Wales for safekeeping?”

  “You know I can’t tell you that.”

  He studied her flawlessly composed face. The problem was that the most obvious explanation—that she had heard it from her father—made no sense. Jarvis had always served the King and the Crown Prince; yet von Riedesel and Caroline had maneuvered behind the Prince on this. So why had Jarvis kept their secret?

  She said, “Was von Riedesel able to tell you who bought the French Blue?”

  “He claims the big blue diamond from the Duke’s collection did not come from the French Crown Jewels. But the gem in question was indeed purchased by Thomas Hope.”

  “So Collot told you the truth?”

  “He did. The problem is, I don’t understand how Collot could have come to have that interesting piece of information. I’m also puzzled as to why Hope would be selling the stone now. He told me himself that this is not a good time to be selling gems. So why is he putting one of the most famous diamonds in the world on the market?”

  “There are rumors. . . .”

  “Yes?” he prompted when she hesitated.

  “The wars are putting an increasing strain on both international merchants and the old-style banking companies. The disruption of trade has simply been too extensive and gone on far too long.”

  “Are you saying Hope and Company is in financial trouble?”

  She nodded. “I understand things have reached such a pass that they may soon be forced to sell to the Barings. They’re trying to hold off, but I suspect it’s only a matter of time.”

  “The sale of a large, rare diamond might conceivably raise enough to keep the company afloat.”

  “It might . . . if the value of gems weren’t so sadly depressed at the moment.”

  Sebastian went to lean one hip against the edge of his desk, his arms crossed at his chest.

  “What?” asked Hero, watching him.

  “Now, there’s a motive for murder I hadn’t considered.”

  Hero shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “Eisler was more than just a diamond merchant; he was a wealthy man in his own right. What if he was unable to sell the diamond for the price Hope wanted? Hope might have decided to kill Eisler and steal his own gem so that he could claim the estimated value of the stone from Eisler’s estate and still keep the diamond.”

  She huffed a disbelieving laugh. “Thomas Hope? You can’t be serious.”

  “You’d be surprised at the things men will do when they get desperate.”

  She shook her head. “No. I don’t believe it. He’s not that kind of man.”

  “I must admit it seems an unlikely explanation to me, although for a different reason.”

  “What’s that?”

  Sebastian pushed away from the desk. In his mind’s eye, he again saw a desperate figure running down a muddy alley, heard the crack of a rifle, felt the spill of warm blood over his hands as he raised a dying boy into his arms.

  “The shooter in the carriage.”

  Chapter 34

  T

  homas Hope was supervising a couple of workmen repairing the skylight in his fifty-foot-long picture gallery when Sebastian paid a call on the banker’s Duchess Street mansion.

  “I ask you,” exclaimed the little man in disgust, his mouth puckering furiously, “how difficult can it be to construct a skylight that doesn’t leak?”

  Sebastian squinted up at the ornately plastered ceiling, its lavish, pale-blue-and-white-swagged medallions marred by an ugly brown stain. “I suppose that depends on how much it rains.”

  Hope grunted. “Fortunately, the gallery is wide enough that none of the paintings were damaged. But look at what it’s done to the upholstery of the banquettes! And I only just had them recovered in this lovely pale blue fabric.”

  “Tragic,” agreed Sebastian. “Could I speak with you a moment in private?”

  “Of course,” said Hope, padding flat-footedly beside Sebastian toward the far end of the gallery. “I take it you’re still looking into the death of Daniel Eisler?”

  “I am.” Sebastian hesitated. The man was so earnest and eager that it seemed the height of incivility to accuse him even of dissembling, let alone of something as sordid as murder. “I had an interesting conversation this morning with an individual who contradicted some of the things you told me the other day.”

  “Oh?”

  “In fact, he confirmed the information I was originally given.” Sebastian paused to rub the back of one knuckle against the side of his nose. “When one person tells me something, I generally try to keep an open mind about its veracity. But when two completely disparate individuals provide the same information, I’m inclined to believe them.”

  Hope stared back at him, his eyes narrowing, his face hardening. The man might come across as affable and effete, but it would never do to forget that he owned a company that lent money to kings and emperors. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Then let me be more blunt. I think the blue diamond Daniel Eisler had in his possession when he was killed was recut from the French Blue, and he was selling it for you. I can promise to try to keep the transaction private, but not at the expense of an innocent man’s life.”

  Hope walked over to stand before a massive Rubens, his head tipping back as he stared up at the towering canvas. “I don’t think you quite understand what’s at stake here,” he said quietly. “This isn’t about the possibility of a legal challenge from the Bourbons. If the diamond is indeed the French Blue—and I’m not saying that it is—then it has been recut. So while there might be speculation, the association could never be proven.”

  “True. But I don’t think it’s the Bourbons you’re worried about, is it?”

  Hope cast a quick glance over his shoulder at the workmen on the scaffold and shook his head. His v
oice dropped even lower. “Napoléon Bonaparte has spent the last eight years in a determined effort to reassemble the French Crown Jewels. He sees the treasure’s loss as a blow to France’s honor, to the point that its recovery has become an obsession with him. And the most precious of all the French Crown Jewels was the diamant bleu de la Couronne. It’s why he was so determined to overrun the Duchy of Brunswick and ransack the palace—because he was convinced he’d find the French Blue there. And he was furious when he didn’t.”

  “So Napoléon knows the revolutionary government bribed the Duke?”

  “I doubt the world will ever know the truth of what happened at Valmy in 1792. But there have always been rumors. And one must remember that Napoléon is himself a general. I’ve heard it said that in his opinion, a bribe is the only explanation that makes sense out of what happened at Valmy. All I know is that, somehow, he found out Eisler had a large blue diamond for sale.”

  “You know this for certain?”

  Hope nodded. “One of his agents approached Eisler last Saturday morning.”

  “Who?” asked Sebastian sharply. “Who was this agent?”

  “Eisler wouldn’t say. He was very nervous, for obvious reasons. When it comes to the search for the French Crown Jewels, Napoléon has proven himself utterly . . .” Hope hesitated, as if searching for the right word, then settled for: “Ruthless.”

  “Not to mention lethal,” said Sebastian. “So why not agree to sell him the stone?”

  Hope gave a low laugh that rumbled in his chest. “The Emperor has a bad reputation when it comes to paying for his purchases. You’ve heard that Eisler provided the diamond necklace Napoléon presented to Empress Marie Louise as a wedding gift?”

  “Yes.”

  “The final payment was never made. Eisler lost a small fortune on the transaction. Napoléon’s attitude is that the honor of supplying his exalted personage should be reward enough.”

  “It’s a tendency he unfortunately shares with the Prince Regent,” said Sebastian dryly.

  “True. But anyone selling jewels to Prinny learned long ago to require payment up front and in cash.”

  “So why not do the same with the Emperor?”

  “Because Prinny’s agents don’t generally kill recalcitrant sellers and steal their merchandise. Napoléon’s do.”

  “Are you suggesting that is what happened to Eisler?”

  Hope gave another quick glance around. “It makes sense. Don’t you think?”

  “So you’re saying the diamond is missing?”

  Hope’s features contorted with a spasm of anxiety. “It is, yes.”

  Sebastian studied the small man’s mobile, expressive face. “Who besides you knew Eisler had the blue diamond?”

  “It’s difficult to say with any certainty. People talk. Someone obviously did, or else how did Napoléon’s agent know to approach Eisler?”

  “And did this French agent know the identity of the stone’s true owner?”

  “No. How could he? Unless Eisler told him.”

  “Are you so certain that he did not?”

  Hope looked momentarily confused. “Why would Eisler tell him?”

  “In an attempt to save his own life, perhaps?”

  Sebastian watched the banker suck his lower lip between his teeth as the color drained from his homely face. Taking pity on the man, Sebastian said, “If Napoléon’s agent did kill Eisler and recover the diamond, then the French would have no reason now to come after you.”

  “Yes. But what if the French don’t have the diamond? What if someone else murdered Eisler and stole the gem? Or what if Eisler was murdered for some other reason entirely and Samuel Perlman now has the diamond?”

  “Does Perlman know his uncle was handling the diamond for you?”

  “Of course he does. I immediately laid claim against the estate for its value.”

  “He’s refusing to pay, is he?”

  Hope worked his mouth furiously back and forth. “He is trying.” He frowned down the length of the gallery, to where the workmen were resetting a pane of glass. Then he leaned in closer to ask quietly, “Do you think the French have recovered the diamond?”

  “Actually, I’d be very surprised if they have.”

  Hope looked surprised. “What makes you so certain?”

  “Because I think they’re still looking for it.”

  Chapter 35

  S

  amuel Perlman was watching a cricket match at an oval near Sloane Square when Sebastian walked up to him.

  He glanced sideways at Sebastian and exhaled in exaggerated exasperation. “You do realize this is getting tiresome, don’t you?”

  “For both of us,” agreed Sebastian, pausing beside him, his gaze on the batsman. “Let me give you a hint: It’s never a good idea to lie when there’s a murder involved. It tends to give people the impression you’ve something to hide. Something like guilt.”

  Perlman laughed out loud. “Surely you aren’t still suggesting I had something to do with my uncle’s death?”

  “You might. I don’t know yet. But as it happens, I was referring to a certain large, rare gem that’s gone missing. You remember the one—the big blue diamond you told me you’d never heard of, despite the fact you were already vociferously denying Thomas Hope’s claim against the estate for its value. Now, it’s always possible that whoever murdered your uncle also took the diamond. Or, you could simply be pretending that he did.”

  Perlman’s dark curly hair quivered against his fashionably pale cheeks. “Don’t be insulting. If I had any desire to acquire that diamond, I would simply have purchased it.”

  “Ah. So you admit you did know about it.”

  “All right. I did, yes. But I certainly did not steal it. To even suggest such a thing is ridiculous. I’m a wealthy man.”

  Sebastian kept his gaze on the pitch. “The problem with wealth is that appearances can be deceptive. Trade is always so fickle, is it not? Particularly in time of war. I suspect that between the depredations of Napoléon and the Americans, your interests have not been performing well lately.”

  “My holdings and investments are performing just fine, thank you. So if you’re looking for some poor sod to pin this murder on, you’re going to need to look elsewhere.”

  Sebastian gave a slow, nasty smile. “If that’s the way you want to play it. I hope you have your affairs in order.” He bowed and started to move away.

  Perlman raised his voice. “Wait! What does that mean? What are you going to do?”

  Sebastian pivoted to face him again. “I don’t need to do anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if the French already suspect that the stone they’re looking for might now be in your possession. You see, Napoléon is under the impression Hope’s diamond once formed part of the French Crown Jewels. And as you know, the Emperor is not averse to killing in order to get the jewels back.”

  “But I don’t have it!”

  “Somehow, I suspect Napoléon’s agents won’t be content to simply take your word for it.”

  Perlman threw a quick glance around and lowered his voice. “Someone’s been watching me.”

  “Really?”

  Perlman nodded solemnly. “I’ve seen them once or twice. But usually it’s just a feeling I get. It’s unpleasant. Not to mention . . . unsettling.”

  “Have you told the authorities?”

  “So they can laugh at me? Hardly.” Perlman licked his lips. “Listen; I’ll tell you what I know. But if you try repeating anything I say in a court of law, I’ll deny it to your face.”

  “Go on.”

  “You’re right; Uncle was selling the diamond for Hope. He even showed it to me several days before he was killed.”

  “Why?”

  “What do you mean, why?”

&
nbsp; “I was under the impression your uncle didn’t like you much. So why did he show it to you?”

  “You didn’t know my uncle, did you?”

  “Fortunately, no.”

  “He was obsessed with beauty and inordinately proud of the items that came into his possession—even if they belonged to someone else. He liked to show them off.”

  “So where is the diamond now?”

  “I don’t know. He had it in a red Moroccan leather presentation case when he showed it to me. I found the empty case on the floor of the parlor the morning after the murder. Presumably, Yates took it when he killed my uncle.”

  “Except that Yates didn’t kill Eisler.”

  A condescending smirk spread across the other man’s face. “The authorities seem to disagree with you.”

  Sebastian ignored the jibe. “Have you searched the house for it?”

  “Of course I’ve searched for the damned thing! You think I want to pay what Hope is demanding for it?”

  “Did you ever find your uncle’s account books?”

  “No, I haven’t found those either.” A tart edge had crept into Perlman’s voice.

  “Did it ever occur to you that both the diamond and your uncle’s books could very well be hidden in the same place?”

  “Yes, it has occurred to me. Do you take me for a fool? I tell you, I’ve looked everywhere. I’ve even started sorting through stuff that obviously hasn’t been shifted in decades.”

  “Do you mind if I have a look around the house myself?”

  Perlman laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Why not?”

  The other man stared thoughtfully into the distance for a moment, then shrugged. “Have a go at it, if you like. I’ll send a message to Campbell, telling him to expect you. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Warn me about what?”

  “Uncle had some peculiar interests.”