His posture had changed, and she wished she hadn’t spoken. Just like her father, he was a man of pride. Soldiers valued their honor above all else, and she’d just insulted his.

Hannah chose her words carefully. “The clasp may have slipped when you—when you touched my neck. I thought it dropped where I was standing.”

That sounded reasonable enough, didn’t it? Surely he wouldn’t take offense—

“I stole nothing from you.” A hard edge accompanied his remark. “And there’s nothing of yours that I want.”

His harsh words stabbed her pride. He wasn’t merely speaking of the necklace any more. Hannah forced herself to nod, though her cheeks were burning. “I didn’t mean to imply anything.”

“Yes, you did. I’m the only man here who would need diamonds. A man without a fortune.”

“You aren’t the only one,” she argued. “But that’s neither here nor there. You don’t have the necklace, and that’s that.”

She gathered her skirts and strode toward the rose garden without bidding him goodbye. Rude, yes, but she had no desire to speak to him any longer. It was possible that his wayward fingers had loosened the clasp, and the necklace had fallen on to the ground when she’d walked outside.

The idea of the lieutenant being a thief didn’t sit well with her. He was her brother’s friend, and she wanted to believe that there was honor in him.

Her headache had intensified to an unbearable level, as though someone were bashing rocks against her temples. The sooner she found the necklace, the sooner she could rest.

Hurrying toward the rose canes, Hannah dashed back to where she’d spoken with her father last. She retraced her footsteps, searching everywhere. But there was nothing. She turned the corner, only to stumble into Baron Belgrave.

“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to see you here,” she apologized. The moonlight spilled a faint light over his face, and his gloved fingers withdrew something glittering from his pocket.

“Were you looking for these?”

Belgrave held out the diamonds in his palm, and Hannah breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, thank you.”

She reached for them, but he pulled his hand back. “I saw them lying on the ground after your father escorted you back to the house.” He returned the necklace to his pocket and held out his arm for her to accompany him. “I thought you might come back for them.”

Hannah didn’t take his elbow, for she had no desire to walk alone with the baron. Her instincts prickled, for she had once again crossed the line of what was proper. If anyone saw them unchaperoned, the gossip tales would spread faster than a house fire.

But he had her necklace, and she needed it back. Reluctantly, she placed her hand upon his arm. Perhaps if she gave him a moment, he would return the jewels.