Thick as Thieves

by Catherine Gayle

“Please don’t blame Percy for this, or Mama or Edie.” Even though her words were hardly more than a whisper, he couldn’t miss the fact that she was crying. “They didn’t…they didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  He bent to the floor next to her. “Lies do not suit you, my lady. You do yourself no favors by trying to protect your wastrel of a brother.” Even still, he lifted her into his arms and began a careful exit from the room. “Where are you injured?”

  “Truly, Percy didn’t know I was up here. He doesn’t know anything about—”

  Preston hissed in lieu of cursing out loud when he stubbed his toe on something. “Really, my lady—”

  She squirmed in his arms until he was forced to let her down. As soon as she was on her own two feet, however, she nearly fell over in pain. Her hands gripped his coat, and she pulled her weight fully off of one foot. Had she turned an ankle, then? She’d never answered his question in her quest to argue her brother’s innocence. He put his hands upon her waist to support her, and she leaned into him.

  “Please,” she begged in such a heartfelt and desperate manner as to give him pause. “I wasn’t really going to go through with it because the very thought of it makes me feel ill, utterly and completely ill. I just don’t know what else to do. I swear, I only thought to take some small trinket, something Lord Upton Grey would never miss but might allow me to help Mama and Edie once—”

  She cut herself off as quickly as she’d begun.

  Not a single word in all of that had been about Stalbridge.

  He’d been certain she intended to take something to help him pay off whatever debts he’d accumulated. It seemed he’d been wrong about as many things as he’d had right, of late.

  But then again, could he truly trust that she was telling him the truth of it now?

  “It might aid you in helping your mother and sister once what?” Lord Preston’s voice was still filled with suspicion, and Freddie couldn’t blame him for it.

  How could she have been so stupid as to think she could go through with it and actually steal something? Even though she’d come all the way up to the library after she’d been ill, once she stepped foot inside the room, she had known without even the tiniest bit of doubt she could never actually do it.

  She would do anything she had to in order to make certain Mama and Edie were well taken care of, within reason, even if that meant giving up her chance at a future.

  But she was not a thief. She could never be a thief. It made her feel ill all over again to think what she’d almost done, how she’d almost turned her back on everything she’d ever believed in out of fear.

  That her fear was nearly crippling in its intensity didn’t matter.

  If Papa could see her now, he would be so disappointed in her that she’d even thought of stealing in the first place. This was not the lady he’d raised her to be.

  Her ankle throbbed something fierce, but that wasn’t important. The only thing that mattered was that there absolutely must be someone who could care for her mother and sister. That clearly wasn’t going to be Percy, so it could only be Freddie.

  She had to convince Lord Preston, somehow, not to alert the magistrate about what she’d almost done. Could one be sent to gaol for thinking about committing the act of thievery? She wasn’t certain, but she couldn’t allow it to happen whether it was a possibility or not.

  “I was already on my way back out, my lord. I wasn’t going to actually take anything. I couldn’t.” Freddie pushed herself away from him and attempted to take a few steps, but nearly fell over again from the pain.

  Somehow, he caught her even in the dark and pulled her against his chest to support her weight. He was so warm, so soothing as he held her. Why was he trying to help her like this? It didn’t make any sense to her in the least—not with what he had walked in upon her attempting to do.

  “You didn’t answer me.” His voice was surprisingly gentle. “What is going to happen that you feel it’s your responsibility to help your mother and sister? What has Stalbridge done this time?”

  “I—” I don’t know how to tell you. The words wouldn’t come to her tongue. No matter how far Percy had fallen, it felt so disloyal to tell anyone what she knew. She didn’t even want Mama or her sisters to know, yet she didn’t think she could possibly hide it from any of them.

  But Percy was beyond her help now.

  They were not.

  Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. “Percy’s debts have grown to the point that he’s lost Bexley Court. We have no home to go to once we leave here.”

  Freddie never could have prepared herself for what happened next. Lord Preston lifted her gingerly into his arms even as a growl emanated from his lips. Then he carried her down the stairs to her doom.

  Goddard shot to his feet when Preston arrived in the gentlemen’s corridor carrying Lady Frederica.

  “Get Upton Grey. I want both of you in Stalbridge’s chamber with us.” He spoke the words softly so as not to wake the worthless lout and alert him to their presence. “On second thought, bring Lady Upton Grey as well.” It wouldn’t do for Lady Frederica to be alone with so many men in the middle of the night without another lady to chaperone. She deserved to have someone looking after her.

  Without delay, the butler rushed down the hall and out of sight.

  The lady in his arms sniffed quietly, her tears wetting the shoulder of his coat where they fell. Only after Goddard left did Preston look down at her. At least she’d thought to put on a wrapper before leaving her chamber, but that was all she wore.

  She’d been trembling since he’d come across her. Despite her lack of clothing, he doubted it was from cold—more from fear, and possibly her ankle injury.

  He ought to set her down in a chair, but he couldn’t bring himself to relinquish his hold on her. Damnation, he liked the feel of having her soft curves pressed against him. He liked it as much as he’d liked kissing her, or maybe even more.

  Granted, with what he intended to do, perhaps it was a good thing that he enjoyed kissing her and holding her.

  Not five minutes had passed before Goddard, Upton Grey, and Rachel joined him. Upton Grey opened the door to Stalbridge’s chamber without asking any questions. They’d known one another for so long, Preston supposed no questions were necessary. Rachel met Preston’s eyes with a look so filled with understanding it would have unnerved him, were he not so focused upon the task at hand.

  As soon as the light filtered into the chamber from the hallway, Stalbridge leapt out of his bed, tossing the counterpane and other bedding to the floor. He squinted at the three men coming into the room, along with his sister still in Preston’s arms. “What…what is going on?”

  “You’re leaving,” Preston responded. “You’re leaving this house and never coming back to darken the door again. And you’re leaving your mother and sisters in my care.”

  Lady Frederica gasped, but wisely held her tongue.

  “I don’t—Freddie?” The marquess blinked as Goddard used his candle to light a few others, illuminating the room more fully. The expression on his face changed within the span of a half-second. “She’s not even dressed! Get your hands off my sister, you dishonorable scoundrel!” He lunged towards Preston, but his feet got caught in the bedding on the floor.

  Before he could untangle himself, Goddard had reached him and was effectively restraining him.

  “The only scoundrel I see here is you, Stalbridge. Because of your worthlessness, your sister was just upstairs in Upton Grey’s abandoned library hoping to steal something she could use to help your mother and youngest sister, since they no longer have a home.”

  With each word that he said, Lady Frederica hid herself further in his arms, as though she couldn’t bear for anyone to see her. It irked Preston to no end that she still felt such loyalty to someone so undeserving. At the same time, he admired her all the more for it.

  “I already had a sense of disgust when I saw you just from the little I knew of you throu
gh society. Now I never want to see you again, or we’ll be using something other than words to discuss honor.”

  Upton Grey, cool and collected as ever, inclined his head towards his butler. “Goddard, see to it that Lord Stalbridge is shown to the door and has his horse returned to him.”

  The butler shoved Stalbridge into motion, but the marquess stopped, his mouth agape. “Goddard?” He inspected the butler closer. “But you’re—”

  “My brother married your sister, Lady Matilda, to save her from yet another of your many mistakes,” Goddard bit off. “As soon as you arrived, I told Lord Upton Grey everything I knew of your character and took it upon myself to watch you. I don’t trust you, my lord. Not a bit. Now kindly move your feet. Your horse is waiting.”

  The pair of them left the room.

  After several moments with no sounds in the room other than Lady Frederica’s soft sniffles and the beating of Preston’s heart, Rachel sighed.

  “Well, that quite put a damper on the holiday spirit, didn’t it?” she said. “Preston, I’m sure you can put Lady Frederica down now.”

  He couldn’t put her down, though, because he couldn’t bear the thought of no longer holding her. Instead, he sat in an armchair and pulled her onto his lap. “She hurt her ankle in the dark,” he said by way of thoroughly inadequate explanation.

  His sister knelt to the floor and started tending to Lady Frederica’s injury, but it was Upton Grey who spoke next.

  “So what do you propose to do with Lady Stalbridge, Lady Frederica, and Lady Edwina? They can stay here through the holiday, of course. And longer if necessary. But you told Stalbridge they would be in your care.”

  She tensed in his arms.

  Christ, how he hated seeing her so distraught. “They can come to Darlingshire House, if that’s what they wish. You’d be safe there,” he said more specifically to her. “It’s a home I set up to care for ladies—really any women—in need of protection. I’d say you and your mother and sister all qualify.”

  Her eyes shot up to meet his. He tipped her chin up, so she couldn’t look away. Confusion and hope filled her eyes in equal measure.

  “Or, if Lady Frederica will agree to marry me, they can all come back to Preston Hill with me after the wedding. I trust we could all stay on here long enough for that. Can’t we?”

  A fresh wave of tears filled her eyes, making any answer Upton Grey could give him a moot point.

  “But how could you possibly want to marry me after what I’ve done? You couldn’t possibly trust me enough to marry me.”

  “On the contrary,” Preston said, finding it impossible to stop himself from smiling. “It’s because I know the lengths you’ll go to in order to protect those you love that I admire you. And you even love Stalbridge, who is wholly undeserving of your love. It was that, more than anything, which made me realize I would do anything I could to convince you to have me. Even if you refuse, I’m determined to protect you, Lady Frederica. A lady with a heart such as yours deserves no less.”

  “But I…” She shook her head. “I thought you were afraid of marriage.”

  A chuckle came out before he could stop it. “My fear has far more to do with certain ladies who brandish fire irons as weapons than with marriage itself.”

  Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect O. No doubt she realized what she’d swung at him in the library not too very long ago, just as clearly as he did. She started to speak, but he put a finger against her lips to stop her.

  “But that is a story for another time. Not now.” It was late, and he needed an answer. “Lady Frederica Bexley-Smythe, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

  “I…” She eyed him quizzically. “Are you entirely certain?”

  He couldn’t stop his smile at her efforts to allow him to change his mind. “Do you promise never to raise another fire poker against me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’m sure, Lady Frederica.”

  A mischievous gleam lit her brown eyes while golden flecks danced around in them from the candlelight. “If you’re to be my husband, then I suppose you should call me Freddie as all my siblings do.”

  Preston was in the process of dipping his head down for a kiss when Goddard cleared his throat from the hallway.

  Damnation. He’d forgotten they weren’t alone.

  “Yes?” Preston said, trying to keep his frustration from being overly evident.

  “Lord Preston, I wondered if you might have use for me at Preston Hill.” Goddard looked to Upton Grey sheepishly. “If you can spare me, of course, my lord.”

  Preston didn’t want to answer without some reaction from Upton Hill.

  “I’d hate to lose you, Goddard,” Upton Hill said, “but if I must lose you to anyone, at least it will be my brother-in-law.”

  “I’m sure we could find some use for you at Preston Hill,” Preston said slowly, “but if you’re truly inclined to work for me—”

  “I am, my lord. Lady Frederica, Lady Edwina, and Lady Stalbridge—they’re family now, though we don’t really know one another. I’d like to be closer to them, to be sure no more harm comes to them.”

  It only made sense. And Preston had the perfect idea of how to put Goddard’s skills to excellent use.

  “If that’s the case, then I’ve got the perfect position in mind for you at Darlingshire House instead of at Preston Hill.”

  “Is that where you’ll be taking the ladies, my lord?”

  Preston met Freddie’s eyes. “Would you mind?” he asked. “I think we would all be of great use there right now.”

  “As long as Mama and Edie have a home to go to, and I get to see you at the altar soon—” she lifted her brows in a teasing manner, reminding him of their first encounter by the reliquary— “then I am happy to go anywhere with you.”

  Then, finally, he got his kiss.

  Catherine Gayle is a bestselling author of Regency-set historical romance and contemporary hockey romance with a New Adult feel. She’s a transplanted Texan living in North Carolina with two extremely spoiled felines. In her spare time, she watches way too much hockey and reality TV, plans fun things to do for the Nephew Monster’s next visit, and performs experiments in the kitchen which are rarely toxic.

  If you enjoyed this book and want to know when more like it will be available, be sure to sign up for Catherine’s mailing list. You can find out more on her website, her blog, at Red Door Reads, at Hockey Romance, at Facebook, on Twitter, and at Goodreads. If you want to see some of her cats’ antics and possibly the occasional video update from Catherine, visit her YouTube account.

  THICK AS THIEVES is the third novella in the Bexley-Smythe Quintet. The first two are FLIGHT OF FANCY and RHYME AND REASON. The release dates for the final two have not yet been set. The Bexley-Smythe Quintet is also linked to the Cavendish Brothers novellas, AN UNINTENDED JOURNEY and TO ENCHANT AN ICY EARL.

  THICK AS THIEVES was originally featured in the anthology A PACT BETWEEN GENTLEMEN. Keep reading for information on the other PACT novellas, and look for them at your favorite ebook retailer beginning in May, 2014.

  In Ava Stone's A BIT OF MISTLETOE, Everett Casemore, the very serious Marquess of Berkswell, returns home for Christmas, slightly shaken by the death of an old friend. Determined not to suffer the same sort of fate at the hands of a woman, Berks resolves himself to eternal bachelorhood. Unfortunately, both his resolve and his peace of mind are threatened by the arrival of a beautiful, thoughtful, but mostly unsuitable lady. * Miss Theresa Birkin knows better than most that an error in judgment can lead one down an unfortunate path. If only she'd been wiser when she was younger. If only she hadn't followed her foolish heart. If only she'd met Lord Berkswell long before now.

  In Jane Charles's LADY DISGUISED, Mr. Sebastian Stanwick never intended to marry. It was bad enough that his father gambled away everything they owned and then drank himself to death, leaving his mother broken until she could not go on. But the death of his good frien
d at the hand of the man’s wife only solidifies Stanwick’s decision to remain a bachelor. Women were simply unpredictable and unstable if not taken care of properly. * Hélène Mirabelle wants few things in life. One, is to perform on the stage, and the other, is to be out from under the roof of her overbearing new family: Lord Bentley and the Trent brothers. Since her mother’s recent passing, Hélène's desire to return to Milan and the stage has only grown. A husband could never fit into the plans because no decent man would take an actress as a wife. * One fateful night leaves Hélène questioning if being an actress is the only thing she wants, while Stanwick begins to wonder whether all women are truly prone to madness and if they are, he may never get Hélène off of his mind.

  In Jerrica Knight-Catania's ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS, Rowan Findley can't imagine a fate worse than what his friend suffered at the hands of his mad wife, so he's made the decision to remain a bachelor for all eternity. That is, until Olivia walks into his cousin's drawing room for a Christmas party. Her fiery red hair and sweet demeanor remind him of a night so many years ago that he would never forget. * Olivia Edwards can't quite believe her eyes when Rowan Findley waltzes back into her life, as handsome and charming as ever. It's been almost seven years since she's seen him, and the secret she's been harboring all that time has her on edge whenever he's about. Yet she can't deny that she's still drawn to him, nor can she deny the desire she's kept hidden in her heart these many years.

  In Aileen Fish’s CHASING LORD MYSTERY, Lord Northcotte is not in the holiday spirit when he joins his sister’s family shortly after the brutal death of a friend. Discovering a matchmaking scheme is afoot, he tells them he will never marry Lady Miriam or any other woman. Now if only his heart would listen. * Lady Miriam’s mother accused her of chasing Lord Mystery after a noble act by a handsome stranger six years ago became the measure of all other men. Now he’s staying at the home where she’d hoped to escape a summons from her grandfather, the Duke of Danby. Terrified Northcotte will recognize her and reveal the contents of the scandalous letter she wrote him years ago, she can’t decide which is the bigger threat: the duke armed with a special license, or Lord Mystery, who carries a secret she’d never live down.