Hannah raised the hem of her gown, and when she glimpsed her petticoats, she thought of the man who would one day become her husband. Would he treat her with tenderness, bringing friendship and possibly love into their marriage?

Or was there...something more? Her mother had not breathed a word about the intimacy between a man and a woman. Only that she would learn of it the night before her wedding. Any mention of the marriage bed made her mother blush and stammer.

The unexpected memory of Lieutenant’s Thorpe’s kiss made Hannah shiver. He never should have caressed her, especially with an ungloved hand, but then, that was the sort of man he was. A man who made his own rules and broke them when he liked. The lieutenant hadn’t offered tired compliments or begged her father for permission to call upon her. Instead, he’d touched her in the shadows, and she’d come alive.

Nothing you can give.

What had he meant by those words? Her hands moved to her shoulders, over the sensitized skin. Her mother would have a fit of the vapors if she knew the lieutenant had stolen a kiss. His mouth had touched her here, on the nape. Almost like a lover’s kiss. A cold realization dawned upon her when her fingers touched bare skin.

Her diamond necklace was gone. No. Oh, no. Panic shot through her, for the diamonds were worth nearly a thousand pounds.

Hannah threw open the door to her room and fled down the stairs. Keeping toward the wall, she tried to avoid notice.

She hid behind the doorway, searching the floor of the ballroom, but saw nothing. Nothing by the refreshment table, either.

Thoughts of the lieutenant’s hands around her throat made her wonder. Had he unfastened the clasp? She didn’t want to believe that he’d taken the diamonds, but the last time she remembered wearing the necklace was in his presence.

With fear in her throat, she sought him out. The lieutenant wasn’t among the ballroom guests, but instead, he stood alone on the edge of the terrace. Before him, the boxwood hedges rose tall, like silent sentries.

His arms were crossed in the ill-fitting formal wear, causing the seams of the coat to stretch against his shoulders.

“I beg your pardon,” she murmured, stepping towards him, “but may I speak with you a moment, lieutenant?”

His gaze flicked across hers, but he shrugged. “Aren’t you afraid of your father? I believe it isn’t proper for a lady to be in the company of a soldier.”

She ignored his mocking tone. She knew well enough that what she was doing was highly improper. “I must ask you if you’ve seen my necklace. I’ve lost it, you see, and—”

“You think I took it.”