"It was weak."
She smiled. "You were jealous."
"No."
"You were."
"I was concerned."
"About what?"
"That he would bore you."
She laughed. "You are jealous."
He sighed. "Yes."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For admitting it."
He looked at her. "You enjoyed that very much."
The orchestra began another dance. Julian held out his hand. "May I?"
She took it. "You are improving."
"I have had a good teacher."
"Who, you?"
She smiled. They danced. This time he did not step on her.
Halfway through, he leaned close. "You are beautiful tonight."
She looked at him. "You mean that?"
"Yes."
"That is dangerous."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because I am beginning to mean everything I say to you."
Her heart stumbled. She looked away. He did not force her to answer. That was what made it worse: he simply kept dancing.
The following morning, Eliza received a letter. It was from her late mother's solicitor. The necklace. The letter explained that the pendant had belonged to a woman named Eleanor Ashford, Julian's great-grandmother.
Eliza stared at the page. She took the letter to Julian. "This necklace belonged to your family."
He looked at it. "That is impossible."
"My mother gave it to me."
"When?"
"Before she died."
Julian turned the pendant over. There was a tiny engraving inside: E.A. His face changed.
"My grandmother used to mention that necklace."
"What did she say?"
"That it disappeared."
Eliza looked down. "How did my mother get it?"
"We need to find out."
They returned to Bellamy House. The old family records were kept in a locked cabinet. Julian opened it. They searched for hours.