The Chamber had supposedly disintegrated and collapsed following Dove’s death last year. But Tobias had picked up rumors in certain underworld quarters to the effect that many of the Chamber’s enterprises had not been destroyed after all. They were merely under new management.

And the most likely new proprietor in sight, as far as Lavinia and Tobias could determine, was Joan Dove.

Some questions, Lavinia thought, were better left unasked.

“I am happy to tell you that I have been quite busy with my researches on behalf of Lake and March this evening,” Joan said cheerfully.

The enthusiasm in her voice caught Lavinia’s attention and made her look at her friend more closely. This lightness of spirit was new. Perhaps Joan was, at long last, emerging from mourning.

“Lake and March,” Lavinia repeated thoughtfully. “I rather like the sound of that.”

“Personally, 1 do not care for it,” Tobias said. “If you must give our occasional partnership a formal designation, Joan, you may refer to the firm as March and Lake.”

“Rubbish,” Lavinia shot back. “Lake and March is far more appropriate.”

“I disagree,” Tobias said. “The senior partner always comes first.”

“Age is a consideration, of course, although I would not have been so rude as to call attention to yours. Nevertheless-”

“I was referring to being the senior in terms of experience in the profession,” Tobias muttered. “Not my years.”

Lavinia smiled sweetly and turned back to Joan with an inquiring expression. “Now, then, you were saying, madam?”

“Before I was so rudely interrupted by your little squabble about the proper name for your business relationship with Mr. March, do you mean?” Joan’s eyes glinted with a rare amusement. “Yes, well, I was about to tell you of some rumors that are circulating among certain members of the ton who take a keen interest in antiquities.”

Tobias put down his champagne glass and looked at Joan with acute interest. “You have my undivided attention, madam.”

“I knew it,” Lavinia said, excitement bubbling inside her. “Word of the missing Medusa has begun to move through high circles, has it not? That is precisely why I contacted you earlier today and asked for your assistance, Joan. With your social connections you are in an ideal position to learn this sort of information.”

“I am delighted to be able to consult on this matter.” Joan kept her eyes on the crowd and lowered her voice to a confidential tone. “What I discovered is that the news of the Blue Medusa has captured the interest of a certain collector, an extremely wealthy, powerful gentleman who has a reputation for obtaining whatever he sets out to possess.”

“How do you know he wants the Medusa bracelet?” Lavinia asked.

“Because he rarely deigns to appear at social affairs, even though he is on every hostess’s guest list.

The fact that he just walked into this ballroom is proof that he is after the bracelet. I cannot imagine anything else that would have brought him here.”

Lavinia followed Joan’s gaze and saw a man standing with a small group near a cluster of palms. He was well dressed, and he held himself with the cool arrogance and unmistakable assurance that came with rank and wealth. In that, he had a great deal in common with most of the other men in the room tonight. He should have been virtually indistinguishable from those around him. But he stood out in the crowd in some indefinable way, even though he was obviously making no effort to do so. If anything, given his quietly elegant appearance and manner, he was making every effort to be perceived as a part of the landscape.

Yet, Lavinia thought, her eye had gone straight to him. She had known at once which man Joan was watching. In a sea of colorful little fish, he was a poorly disguised shark.

Rather like Tobias, she thought uneasily. The realization made her take a swallow of champagne.

Physically, however, the two had little in common. For one thing, the stranger was older than Tobias-late forties, perhaps. For another, his hairline had receded in a dramatic fashion, drawing attention to a high forehead and a strong profile. He was also taller and more elegantly slender than Tobias.

“Who is he?” Lavinia asked.

“Lord Vale,” Joan said softly.

There was something in her voice that made Lavinia glance quickly at her. She was startled to see an expression of interest in her friend’s face. It occurred to her that she had never seen Joan regard any other man in that manner.

Joan found Vale intriguing.

“Bloody hell,” Tobias muttered. “Is Vale involved in this affair?”

“So it would seem,” Joan said. “What is more, I suspect that he is aware that you and Lavinia are investigating it. There simply is no other reason why he would be here tonight.”

“Damnation.” Tobias set down his unfinished champagne. “I could have done very nicely without this complication.”

Lavinia looked at him. “Why are you concerned about Vale?”

Tobias did not take his attention off the man on the other side of the room. “As Joan just told you, Vale is a collector with very discriminating tastes. He possesses the financial resources to satisfy those tastes. It is rumored that if money alone will not help him obtain what he chooses to acquire, he is willing to employ other means and methods.”

“He is the founder of a very exclusive club,” Joan said. “The members call themselves the Connoisseurs. Only those who collect the most exotic and unusual antiquities are invited to join. Vacancies occur rarely. When they do, a prospective new member must present a suitable relic for the club’s private collection in order to be considered for admission.” She paused. “There is an opening for a new member now, as it happens.”

Tobias glanced thoughtfully at Joan. “How do you know that?”

“Because the vacancy was created by my husband’s death a year ago. He was a member of the Connoisseurs for many years.”

“I wonder why Vale has not filled the opening in the club membership,” Tobias said.

“Perhaps no suitable candidate has applied,” Joan said. “Do not forget, the prospect must present not simply a very fine artifact but one that is considered unusual or extremely rare. It is not easy to find such a relic.”

Lavinia caught her breath. “The Medusa bracelet would almost certainly qualify as an acceptable membership artifact.”

“Indeed. The club’s museum is a very private collection, one that is never open to public viewing. I doubt that Vale or any of the members would be inclined to question the source of a relic provided that it was suitably exotic and rare.” Joan contemplated Vale. “Given his lordship’s appearance here tonight, I think we must assume that he has no intention of sitting back in hopes that some other collector will find the Blue Medusa and present it to the club’s museum. Vale plans to acquire it himself.”

Tobias glanced at her. “Do you know him well?”

Joan hesitated. “He was a guest in our home on occasion when my husband was alive. Fielding liked him. The two respected each other. But I cannot say that I know Vale well. I do not think anyone can make that claim.”

“No,” Tobias agreed. “Probably not.”

“Have you met him?” Joan asked.

“Crackenburne introduced us. But like you, I cannot claim a close acquaintance. We certainly do not move in the same circles.”

“Look, he has left his companions,” Lavinia said. “He’s coming toward us.”

“So he is,” Tobias said quietly. “You were right, Joan. He knows about Lavinia and me.”

They watched Vale glide smoothly around the edge of the dance floor, bestowing an almost imperceptible nod here and there, pausing once or twice to greet someone. But although his path appeared random, it was clear to Lavinia that he was working his way toward where the three of them stood in the alcove.