Seduction

A

"Yes," Jane put in before Sophy was obliged to respond, "I think that was what you said, Sophy."

"Yes. That's correct. A very odd sort of aunt. I do not believe I ever met her, myself," Sophy said quickly.

"Hm. Very odd, is right," Fa

"We'll probably never know," A

Harriett turned another page in the volume she was perusing. "Have you shown the ring to Ravenwood, Sophy? Being a man, he might know more about this sort of thing than we do."

"He has seen the ring," Sophy said, happy to be able to speak the truth at last. "He did not recognize it."

"Well, then, we must persevere on our own." Fa

Harriett smiled beatifically. "Dear me, yes. Never happier than when I'm working on a puzzle."

Four days later, Sophy, poring over an ancient treatise on mathematics with Jane, discovered the origin of the peculiar triangle on the face of the ring.

"This is it," she said excitedly as the others converged around the old volume. "Look at it. The triangle is exactly like that one on the ring, including the strange loops at each corner."

"She is right," A

Sophy frowned over the Latin. "Something to do with its being useful in certain dark ceremonies for controlling the female demons who have—" She halted abruptly as she realized what she was translating. "Oh, my goodness."

"What is the matter?" Fa

Harriett smiled blandly. "Fascinating, indeed. Demon prostitutes who can be controlled at the same time that one enjoys their favors. You are quite right, Fa

"Here is more evidence of masculine fancy," A

Fa

Harriett chuckled. "If I were you, Sophy, I would not tell your husband the meaning of the designs on that ring. Put the thing away and ask Ravenwood for the family emeralds, instead."

"I am certain your advice is excellent," Sophy said quietly, thinking she would be damned before she would ask her husband for the Ravenwood emeralds. And I do appreciate your assistance in helping me track down the details of the ring."

"Not at all, Harriett said, beaming. "It was quite a fascinating project, wasn't it, Fa

"Most instructive."

"Well, we had best be on our way, " A

"And I am supposed to put in an appearance at Lady St. John's," Sophy said, dusting off her hands.

Jane eyed her friends without a word but as soon as they were all three seated in Sophy's carriage and safely out of earshot of Lady Fa

Sophy stared out the window of the carriage, lost in thought for a moment. "It seems to me that we now know two things for certain about the ring. The first is that it probably belonged to a man who was part of a secret society he probably joined at Cambridge. And the second is that the society was involved in disreputable sexual practices."

"I think you are right," A

"We already knew that," Jane said. "What do we do now?"

Sophy pulled her gaze away from the street scene and looked at her friends. "It seems to me there is only one person who might know the men who wear such rings."

Jane's eyes widened. "You ca

"Of course," A

"She may not choose to respond," Jane said hopefully.

"Perhaps, but it is the only recourse I have left, other than to wear the ring in public again and see who reacts to it."

"Too dangerous," A

Sophy shuddered, remembering the man in the black hooded cape and mask. A most unusual type of excitement.

No, she must be very careful not to attract further attention with the ring.

Charlotte Featherstone's answer came within hours. A

From one Honorable Woman to Another: You flatter me by requesting what you are pleased to refer to as professional information. You say in your note that you are tracing the particulars of a family heirloom and your researches have led you to believe I may be of some assistance. I am only too happy to give you what little information I have but please allow me to tell you I do not think highly of the family member who left this ring behind. Whoever he was, he must have had a nasty streak in him.

Over the years I can recall five men who wore in my presence a ring such as you describe in your note. Two are now dead and, to be frank, the world is better off without them. The remaining three are Lords Utteridge, Varley, and Ormiston. I do not know what you plan to do next, but I advise caution. I can assure you that none of the three is good company for any woman, regardless of her station in Society. I hesitate to suggest it, but perhaps you should discuss the matter, whatever it may be, with your husband before proceeding further on your own.

The letter was signed with Featherstone's beautifully scrawled C. E

Sophy's pulse beat faster. At last she had names, she told herself. One of these three might very well be the man who was responsible for Amelia's death. "Somehow I must contrive to encounter these three men," she said evenly to A

"Utteridge, Varley, and Ormiston," A

Sophy nodded, refolding Featherstone's note. "I can see my appointment book is going to become more crowded than ever."