The Other Side - J. D. Robb [54]
“Harry, my body is not nearly as sturdy as yours, and I never drink that much wine. At least when they bring up this evening, we can blame the idea of smoking a cigar on your intoxication. Where did you find one?”
“I tucked one in my . . . God, I mean, I tucked a cigar in your reticule, meaning to give it to you, as I always prefer my own blend. But I recalled that the baron does not like the smell of cigars, and, well, I decided that I would smoke it myself.” He looked confused. “It reminds me of all that I am missing.”
Bettina leaned across from her seat and patted Harry’s hand. “We can spend some time with the coin this evening, and perhaps we will be able to restore your life before you ruin mine.”
“Bettina, it was the most useless conversation. All the ladies talked about was Patricia Melton’s modiste and if they should shun the woman or patronize her. Then Mrs. Dalton went on about her son’s success at school and her daughter’s preparation for the Season. Though I must admit I was intrigued by the news that Nick Bright’s sister is about to become engaged to Lord Osterman’s son.”
“Oh, Harry! Please let that be no more than gossip. It would be an awful match if the boy is anything like his father. I wish I had been there to suggest she turn him down.” Bettina made a mental note to mention it to Lord Nicholas when she saw him tomorrow before Parliament. “Besides, I thought Osterman’s name was not to be spoken in Dalton’s company.”
“That was another thing I learned. That most wives never listen to a word their husbands say.” He sat back, his expression glum. Bettina was not sure if it was because of his excessive drinking or the bits he had learned tonight.
By the time they reached their suite of rooms, the evening’s misadventures were forgotten. Harry and Bettina were both focused on nothing but the coin.
The servants were hurriedly dismissed, and Bettina pulled the key to the jewel chest out of her pocket. Please, please let the coin be where I left it.
Bettina put the key in the lock and opened the chest. The coin winked amidst the glittering spill of diamonds, as if welcoming them home. Bettina picked it up, closed the lid, and handed the coin to Harry.
They stood there looking at it, Bettina’s mind caught up in ways to have the coin do their bidding.
“Have you noticed how odd a coin it is? There is strange Eastern writing on one side, but the other looks as traditional as the King’s English.” Bettina took the coin from Harry and turned it over and over as she spoke.
“Yes, I noticed that, too. I expect it is from a shipment destined for India to be used in commerce there. But how it came to be endowed with magic, we will most likely never know.”
“Perhaps some mage in India entrusted it to a servant to bring to someone here, and the coin was stolen. It could be that the coin is still trying to find the rightful owner.”
The coin glimmered as Bettina finished her fanciful story, and they both stared at it.
“Please, please,” Bettina begged the coin, “we will help you if you help us.”
The coin did not respond, and Bettina felt a moment of fear as she worried that she was, indeed, beginning to go insane. Is this how dear King George felt? She persisted despite her fear. “Tell us what we have to do.”
Just as Harry drew a breath—Bettina was sure he was going to rebuke her silliness—the coin grew brighter.
“You mean if we do some specific thing, then this will not be permanent?”
The coin twinkled again.
“What a relief!” Harry laughed as he spoke. “I will not be trapped in skirts forever.”
“And I will be able to see Cameron whenever I wish.”
“Now all we have to do is find out what the coin wants from us.”
They sat very close to each other on the small settee near the fireplace with the coin on the table in front of them. Bettina loved the feel of Harry next to her and thought only of his breath on her neck and not the way his breasts pressed into her side.
“Think back, Bettina,