Lord Bryant stepped toward Lady Emily with a hand out. But Diana could see the excitement in Lady Emily’s eyes. She wanted to speak to those gathered around her. This was a subject more important to her than her visible shyness.

Lord Bryant reached for her elbow. “Lady Em—”

Lady Emily met the eyes of all the women nearby. “They are hardened fecal matter, of course. It is a wonder no one has ever figured it out before.”

An older woman behind Diana coughed. “Fe-fecal matter?” More coughs were cropping up all over the room. Lord Bryant briefly put a hand to his forehead, then straightened his shoulders and stepped closer to Lady Emily.

“It is fascinating, isn’t it?” he said.

Lady Emily nodded excitedly. Lord Bryant gave Diana a look that was a clear call for help.

He wanted her to help Lady Emily? His latest conquest? Diana took a deep breath. “I must admit to being surprised when I first heard of it.” Moments ago. “But yes, I do believe they are—as you say—fascinating.”

“Coprolites will revolutionize our understanding of diet, vegetation, and the digestive system. Waste passes—”

Lord Bryant stepped in front of Lady Emily and turned to the women listening. “I have heard polished coprolite is going to become the next rage. Much more extravagant and expensive than bezoar stones and more informational than amber.” Lord Bryant blew on his fingernails and buffed them on his vest. “Why, after hearing all about them from Lady Emily, I’ve ordered a ring with a coprolite center myself.”

That couldn’t be true. No one moved, but all the women’s eyes were going back and forth between Lady Emily and Lord Bryant. Whatever excitement Lady Emily had felt at explaining coprolites to the crowd was quickly melting off under the scrutiny of the shop. A cough in the back of the room made Lady Emily jump slightly, and her eyes shifted continuously from the door to the crowd. She was in need of an escape.

Diana shook her head. There was nothing else to be done but to help the poor woman. If Diana had simply left as soon as she saw Lord Bryant, this never would have happened. “I would love to know where you ordered that ring, Lord Bryant. I was thinking of ordering a broach myself. I’d like to do it before they become overly popular. Once that happens, they will be terribly hard to find.”

The tone of the women shifted. A few whispered behind her, then another lady piped up. “Yes, Lord Bryant, please tell us which jeweler is selling them.”

Lord Bryant smiled, but it was too broad of a smile, too smooth of a motion, to be sincere. He was lying about the whole affair to take the attention off Lady Emily.

“If I tell you now, how am I to be sure I get all the pieces I need? No, I’m afraid you shall have to speak to your own jewelers and see if they have any to spare.”