by Rebecca King
“Yes. Although Delilah receives a sum of money far beyond what most people would earn in their entire lifetime, she still claims it is not enough.”
“So, you think that because she has been made aware of her dire circumstance she has taken to stealing what she cannot afford?” Jeb thought about that. It made sense.
Making a mental note to write to Hooky the first chance he got, he kissed the top of Sophia’s head and settled her against him even closer.
“I think she has,” Sophia murmured as she practically lay against his side and revelled in his embrace. “I have tried to warn her that she will wind up in jail if she gets caught, but she just doesn’t listen to reason. The amount she has stolen is ridiculous. They are all items she can tuck into her reticule, or pocket, so nobody will be any the wiser that she is the traitor in their midst. It is why she has stolen snuff boxes and the like. I think the Harvell’s hairbrushes are the largest items she has taken, apart from a couple of small picture frames.”
Jeb was positively bursting with questions. “What does she do with them? Are they still in the house?”
He was hooked on the mystery, and wanted nothing more than to help Sophia with her wayward relative, if only to get the cloud of worry out of her eyes. However, notifying the magistrate was definitely not possible because he knew that Sophia was likely to be tarred with the same brush once news got out about Delilah’s crimes.
He wasn’t a member of the Star Elite for nothing though, and knew there was a way to cover up the crime while making sure that the right thing was done.
“Some of them are still here. Several nights ago, I was awake in the early hours of the morning and heard a noise downstairs. I got up to see what it was, and saw Delilah hurrying across the garden with a package. Earlier that day, I had found a drawer stuffed full of things she had stolen. When I saw her in the garden, I went to check the drawer, and found it empty.”
“Do you think she hid the goods somewhere, or handed them over to someone?” He thought about the man who had accosted him the other night.
Sophia thought about that. “I really don’t believe she has buried them anywhere. It was two o’clock in the morning. I know it is odd to meet anyone at that time of the night, but I cannot help but feel that she gave them to someone. I don’t believe she was gone long enough to have the time to dig a hole to bury them. The bundle was large enough for a sizeable hole to be needed. Besides, I saw her boots beside the back door the following morning. They weren’t muddy like they would have been if she had been digging.”
“Maybe she hid them in the woods?”
“I don’t know.”
Jeb looked at her. “Have you been to check?”
Sophia shook her head. “I haven’t dared, to be honest with you.”
“It’s alright,” Jeb soothed, fully understanding her reluctance.
She had no idea what, or who, she would find in the woods and, given Tabitha’s recent disappearance, had done the right thing in staying away.
“I will go and take a look in the morning,” he promised.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Unfortunately, you are not likely to get the truth from Delilah if you ask her what she did with them. My aunt can see nothing wrong with her behaviour because Delilah believes that the victims can afford the loss. I told her that the Harvells couldn’t, but she ignores me. She knows how impoverished they are. They try, bless them, but it is evident to anyone with eyes in their head that they are poorly equipped already. You or I could replace them. The ladies will find it another expense that would probably stop them purchasing enough food to eat.”
“I know.” Jeb placed a comforting hand over hers. The anger in her voice at the unfairness of the situation made him inordinately proud of her for her compassion.
“What do you plan to do with the rest of the belongings? How much is left?”
Sophia led him to the cupboard under the stairs and showed him the box.
“She has tried to move it but I found it and put it back again. As far as she is concerned, it has been disappeared from where she left it. She won’t ask me for the items back because they aren’t hers either, and she knows I would take her to task over it. So, at the moment we are at a stalemate. Although she has promised me she will return the items, at the last minute she just refuses. Given that I am here, and we were going to homes of people who had items stolen, I thought I could return a few. I don’t see why Delilah should keep them.”
“You took an incredible risk,” he warned her. “Being caught at the ball with your hands on several stolen items would make even the most sceptical person question your integrity. You cannot be associated with this, Sophia. Don’t take such a risk again.”
“I know I should go to the magistrate, Jeb,” she whispered. “But she is my aunt. I cannot help but feel that I am betraying her. She has stopped stealing for now, but I just don’t know what to do. She claims she doesn’t know which items came from which houses.”
“But you know she does.”
“I think so.” She looked at him a little ruefully. “It doesn’t take a genius to work out who owns the Harvell’s hairbrushes.”
Jeb nodded his understanding. He swept a tender finger down her cheek and traced the tell-tale tear stains gently.
“Let me help you with this,” he pleaded huskily.
“I don’t want to go to the magistrate.”
He shook his head slowly, but his mind raced, looking at the possibilities and discarding the ones he knew wouldn’t work.
“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted. “I am not going to leave them in the house.”
When Jeb merely looked thoughtful for several moments, she looked up at him.
“Are you not angry with me?”
“For what? Trying to do the right thing?” He smiled gently and looked at her a little ruefully at her. “I must confess that when I first saw you in the study tonight I was furious, and wanted to put you over my knee. However, when I saw that some of the missing items were from my father’s house, I realised you had returned them. I warned myself not judge until I had all of the facts.”
“What do you think I should do? Besides go to the magistrate?” Her stomach was clenched in knots as she waited for his decision.
Jeb thought about that for several moments. He picked up the box and led the way back into the sitting room. He shoved it under the chaise and settled down next to her.
“I think we have to leave the box somewhere it can be found by someone trustworthy. They will ensure the contents are returned to the rightful owners. They won’t have any idea where it came from but will make sure the owners are found.”
“Who, though? How can we do that without incriminating them?”
Jeb thought carefully as he also considered the most estimable people in the village. Besides his father, there was only one person in the community whom Jeb knew wouldn’t get the finger of blame pointed at them. However, didn’t mention them to Sophia. He needed to think the matter over some more.
Sophia waited and waited.
“Let me take the goods and secure them at my father’s house. They will at least be out of Delilah’s reach. She cannot pass them on to someone if she cannot get her hands on them.” He looked questioningly at her. “What has she taken lately?”
“Nothing.” Sophia looked a little rueful for a moment. “I have to confess that I have refused to allow her out of the house with a reticule. I have also informed her that if I hear she has stolen anything from a social gathering I attend she leaves me no choice. I have to report her to the magistrate. I can describe some of the items I know she has stolen, including your father’s trinket boxes.”
Jeb smiled and kissed the back of her hand.
“You know she will start again once you go home, don’t you?” he murmured softly and gave her a warning look. “So you will have to stay here for a while longer.”
She was delighted at the possessive look he levelled on her. “I thin
k I have to,” she admitted somewhat shyly.
“Good. That’s settled then.” He couldn’t help it. He leaned forward and captured her lips with his when passion immediately surfaced he had to lean back again. His heart thundered in his ears as he leaned back to study her.
She was stunning in candlelight; the shadows from which gave her a slightly mysterious look that made him want to unearth all of her secrets. Unfortunately, in spite of the lush temptation of her mouth being so very close, he daren’t chance another kiss. He was already painfully aware that he had already broken several of society’s dictates by being alone with her in the house. To be caught in a passionate clinch with him, should Delilah return home and catch them, might just get Sophia thrown out of the house, and that was something he couldn’t risk.
“I hope I haven’t gotten you in trouble by being here,” he murmured softly.
“No, you haven’t,” she assured him confidently. “I don’t think Delilah is in any position to protest. Do you?”
“Not really,” he admitted ruefully.
“So, what now?”
Jeb almost groaned. Was she talking about another kiss, or the stolen items?
“I will help you get rid of the stolen items. Let’s get them out of the house then the blame is less likely to fall on you. I want you to promise me that if you think Delilah has stolen anything else you will come to me first. Don’t go to the magistrate, and don’t worry about this on your own.”
“If you are sure?” she whispered, touching her tingling lips with tentative fingers.
Jeb watched that fleeting touch and mentally groaned. It was a struggle to keep his attention on their conversation as it was. The rapt, almost beseeching look on her face was making resisting her downright impossible.
“I have written to father to tell him,” she replied honestly. “I just haven’t had a reply yet.”
“How long should that take?”
“I am not sure. I should have hoped to have had a response by now. It is most unlike him.” She just hoped he was alright.
“Write to him again if you should have received a letter but haven’t. You don’t know if Delilah has withheld his reply.” He mentally winced when she gasped and turned to stare at him in shock.
“Do you think she has?”
“I am not sure.” He didn’t want to drive a deeper wedge between the relatives than was already there, but Sophia had an air of innocence about her that made him want to protect her.
Her aunt sounded utterly calculating, merciless, and selfish, and didn’t care one jot about her niece potentially being blamed for a crime she did not commit. In all honesty, he couldn’t say whether Delilah would try to stop the letters reaching Sophia, but he had to raise the possibility.
“Just write to him again, post the letter yourself, and warn him to disguise his writing or something, or send the message to me. As soon as it arrives, I will bring it to you. I am not saying she is interfering with your mail, but just in case she is, let’s remain one step ahead of her.”
He didn’t say so to her, but he was a little uncomfortable with her staying in the house with her aunt. He knew it was foolish really, because Delilah was more of a petty thief than a hardened criminal the likes of which the Star Elite were currently investigating. Still, a criminal was a criminal who flouted the law and had to be treated with caution. It was usually found that once a person broke the law in any way and crossed that invisible line of propriety, they were apt to do so again if the opportunity arose. He couldn’t risk that Sophia might just get dragged deeper into Delilah’s conduct through no fault of her own.
Although he was fairly confident he could use his Star Elite connections to stop any and all charges against Sophia from reaching a judge, he couldn’t do anything about preserving her reputation.
The clock on the mantle struck midnight. He was shocked to realise that how much time had passed. It felt as though he had been there for barely half an hour, yet three hours had passed since he had practically beaten the door down to get answers from her. He carefully ignored the fact that most of the time had been spent gazing at Sophia, and kissing her. At some point during the last hour, he had draped his arms comfortably around her in the manner of a couple who were entirely familiar with each other, but she was nestled against him as though she was revelling in every moment.
“I have to go. Do you want me to stay until Delilah gets back?”
“No, it is alright,” Sophia replied reluctantly.
In reality, she wanted him to stay for as long as he could, but she didn’t want to appear to be too clingy. Inwardly, she was battling the sensual daze that had wrapped around her more and more tightly each time he kissed her, and struggled to focus her thoughts on anything apart from just how wonderful he was, and how right it felt to be in his arms. Her behaviour was nothing short of scandalous, but her defiant nature refused to allow her to feel guilty about it. After all, they had not gone any further than a few kisses and a loving embrace or two. What could be wrong with that?
“How long should she be?” he whispered, eyeing her lips. He wondered if there was time for one last, very thorough kiss.
“She is usually the last one to leave the party,” Sophia admitted wryly. “She should be back within the next hour or so. The balls around here don’t go on until dawn like most do.”
“Good. Just make sure you keep the door to your room locked. May I call upon you tomorrow?” He lifted his brows and waited for her to nod.
“Of course, I should like that.” She beamed with delight.
“We can go for a walk, if you like? Then I can escort you to the posting office to post your letter to Hooky.”
It was a strange name for a man, but Jeb was used to working with a team of men who nearly all had nick-names, but he had no intention of telling her what his was.
Before he left, he retrieved the box of stolen items and carried them to the front door. Once there, he placed them at his feet and tugged her into his arms.
She melted into his embrace with an ease that was completely natural, and returned his kisses with an equal ferocity that left them both yearning for more.
“I will see you tomorrow, Sophia,” he promised huskily when he knew he had pushed his self-control as far as it would go.
“Tomorrow,” she sighed dreamily.
“Lock up behind me and don’t answer the door again,” he ordered, tucking the box under his arm as he stepped outside.
Sophia whispered goodnight and closed the door gently, a tender smile on her wondrously bruised lips.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The following morning, Jeb arrived in the breakfast room at Briggleberry, to find his father looking stern.
“Have you heard?” his father demanded without preamble.
“What?” Jeb collected a plate and heaped piles of bacon, eggs, and toast onto it.
“That Tabitha girl has been found.” He nodded when Jeb turned to look at him.
Jeb knew from the dark look on Algernon’s face that the news wasn’t good. “What happened to her? Where did they find her?”
“The Dobbs boy found her on his way back from the market last night. He took a short cut through the fields. She was discovered in a field to the woods on the far side of the village. According to Tranvers, the gardener, who was in the tavern at the time, the boy rushed in as white as a sheet and was barely coherent. He had fallen over and came almost face-to-face with her.”
“God in heaven,” Jeb muttered.
“Yes. When they eventually calmed him down, they were able to get him to tell them where she was because he refused to show them.”
“How did she die, do they know?” Jeb asked as he spread jam on his toast.
“God, how can you eat at a time like this?” his father demanded with a scowl.
Jeb stared down at the toast in his hand and shrugged. “My time in the Army prepared me to take on fuel while the opportunity was there because you never knew when you would get a bre
ak in fighting to eat again. Besides, my work for the Star Elite brings me into contact with dead bodies. I am not squeamish about death and dying. You see too much of it at war.”
His father was subdued for several moments while he considered that.
“I am not going to succeed in getting you to return to live here, am I?” He said morosely after several moments of thoughtful silence.
Jeb considered the wall opposite for a moment while he thought over what he had shared with Sophia last night.
“I wouldn’t say that,” he replied obliquely before tucking into the eggs on his plate.
When his father’s brows lifted in shock, Jeb knew he had to explain or else he would get pestered remorselessly.
“I am not saying no. It is just that at the moment the Star Elite are involved in quite an in-depth investigation for the War Office that I just cannot walk away from. I have to see it through to its conclusion before I can take up a future anywhere.”
He picked up the broadsheet and, sure enough, an article was there reporting yet another burglary, this time from the home of an eminent Professor. From the sound of the article, the theft was very similar to the recent spate that had hit several members of the aristocracy in London. Many items had been taken right under their noses while the household was asleep, and people were now demanding answers.
Aware that his father was waiting, Jeb slid the broadsheet across the table. He motioned to the article at the bottom of the page and waited while Algernon read.
“Good Lord. Do you know who it is yet?”
“We do, but pinning anything on him is difficult. We suspect the culprit is a notorious criminal who is surrounded by people prepared to lie for him. We will catch him, but it takes time because we have to gather evidence to prove his guilt.”
