Thick As Thieves (21 page)

"I wager Harelson knew it was Clive with Grindley last night, when he assured me it was Robert."

Richard nodded. "Clive was a school chum of Harelson's. Harelson was the brains of the gang. He mixed with society to ferret out vulnerable houses. He first did the stealing himself, then he got the idea that it would be safer to have a sterling alibi for some of the robberies. That is when he called in Clive. When they were short of blunt, Clive would risk pawning a few pieces in certain shops where no questions would be asked."

"Like Parker's place."

"Exactly. If I had seen Clive at Parker's that day, I might have figured this out sooner. He must have left just before I arrived. As soon as he got the money, he would hop back to Eastbourne. He did not mix in society at all. He and his wife pass for gentry. She was part and parcel of the outfit, but her husband did the gentlemanly thing and pretended she was innocent. She will not go to trial."

"How is Linda taking it?"

"As well as can be expected. I cannot be too hard on her. As he came from a good family, I did not check his bona fides as I should have. I feel sorry for his family. He was left a competence, but ran through it years ago. He has kept up appearances since then by thievery."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Richard. I never suspected him either."

He turned to me and said, "You never did explain how it came you were at Eastbourne, Eve."

"Surely I told you this morning? Hennie told me about the sapphire ring; I took the idea it might be a runaway match."

"Linda had a note from Harelson asking her to meet him by the Steyne. But you did not follow Linda. You came over to my house some time after that." He looked a question at me.

"I have been wondering why you called Ketchen this morning, Richard. Had you seen Linda's ring, and wanted to verify that it was on his list of stolen items?"

"No, she never showed me the ring. If I had been closer to her, she would have confided in me."

"Don't blame yourself. She needed a firm hand."

"I suspected no more than a runaway match. I thought Ketchen might have heard rumors if Harelson was in debt. I asked him to bring the list as an excuse, but impatience—and discretion—got the better of me, and I decided to keep it to myself. Er—how did you say you came to be in Eastbourne?"

There was no getting out of it. "Ketchen told me Lady Grieve had gone home to Hampshire—in perfectly good health."

"So you suspected I was on the trail of a runaway match and followed me," he said, thinking he was pretty clever. "You were correct to think I would not have let you come with me."

"But I came in handy after all, did I not?"

"A lifesaver," he said warmly.

To divert him, I said, "I noticed Lady Dormere's emerald ring was not on the list of stolen items, Richard."

"It was on an earlier one. Bow Street removes items as they are recovered. They update the list on a weekly basis."

I nodded, as though it were only a minor detail.

With business out of the way, Richard lifted my fingers to his lips and said, "How shall I ever repay you?"

"By trusting me the next time," I replied with a moue.

"I feared you would think us a family of yahoos. I wanted to hide Linda's shame from you."

"She was a victim. One can only feel sorry for her."

"Your friendship will mean a good deal to her now, Eve. You are the only lady she can confide this secret in."

My breast swelled with pleasure. In future, I would be Lady Filmore's bosom bow, one of the charmed golden circle. "Please tell her I am always here, if she wants to talk to me.”

"We mean to make very sure of that," he said softly. His eyes glowed as he drew me into his arms for a ruthless kiss. From the edge of the universe, I heard the door knocker sound. It might have been a million miles away. I ignored it and gave myself up to the luxury of loving and being loved. I did what I had wanted to do forever; I ran my fingers through his crisp black hair, tracing the contours of his well-shaped head, claiming it for my own while our lips clung.

Richard took similar freedoms with my anatomy. His hands moved possessively over my back. One inched forward, brushing my cheek, and inflaming me until I feared I would swoon. I had to turn my head aside, for I felt I was suffocating from love.

"We feel the best way of insuring your company is by making you one of the family," he murmured against my cheek. "Darling, will you marry me?"

"I shall give it serious consideration, Richard," I said. A lady must not capitulate too swiftly.

"Your jewelry is resting in my vault. You were too naive to ask for a receipt. If you ever want to see it again ..."

"That is coercion!"

"All's fair in love and war," he said, kissing me again.

More interruptions came from the edge of the universe. There was a discreet noise at the door, followed by the door opening. Hennie peeked in, just as we flew guiltily apart. She was followed by a blushing Lord Brockley.

She came mincing forward, holding out her splayed fingers, on one of which rested a diamond of immense size. "You'll never guess what, Eve!" she gurgled.

"Me, too! Only Richard has not given me a ring yet."

We all congratulated one another and laughed and talked quite nonsensically for an hour. "A willing foe and sea room" was not the evening's toast, but Brockley did not completely leave off his naval talk.

"I hoisted my colors, fully expecting a volley of cannon, but she let me aboard." He smiled. "I mean to take my lady to London to meet the queen."

"What nonsense," she simpered, "doddering into vogue at our age."

It was after eleven when our fiancés left. Hennie and I sat on the sofa, smiling like a pair of imbeciles.

"Imagine, me being Lady Brockley. I should be ashamed of myself," Hennie said, smiling besottedly at her ring. She did not mention what David would think.

"Nonsense! You should be shouting from the housetops."

"That's just what I feel like doing. Odd Richard did not give you a ring, Eve."

"He will. He mentioned a family heirloom." I was feeling generous. "It will not be so large as yours, of course."

"Ah well, he is not a peer. Folks won't expect so much from
Mr.
Dalton as they would from
Lord
Brockley."

"You must learn to curb your gloating, Hennie. It ill becomes a countess."

"Me, a countess! I can hardly believe it."

A countess, married to a short, squat little man with a balding head, who lives in a house that resembles a bordello. You must forgive me if I felt I was making the better match. I would not change Richard for a prince. Mind you, that family heirloom might be exchanged for a new, larger diamond ring, if Hennie continues in this uppity way.

Copyright © 1992 by Joan Smith

Originally published by Fawcett Crest (0449220176)

Electronically published in 2007 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228

     http://www.RegencyReads.com

     Electronic sales: [email protected]

This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.