recall, it was that same evening Madame accused North of being the Gentleman Thief. In that we know she was wrong."
North remembered it somewhat differently. "She said I had certain stolen articles in my possession, which I did, no matter that I had no knowledge of how they came to be there."
Eastlyn tasted his brandy."How I wish I had been witness to that, culminating as it did in Lady Elizabeth's valiant though ill-considered defense of you. Brought you forthwith to the altar, it did."
One of North's brows kicked up. "Such can be arranged for you, East. You have but to name your poison. Lady Sophia or Mrs. Sawyer."
Eastlyn quickly set down his snifter and threw up his hands, surrendering. He looked elsewhere for a timely rescue. "You were saying about Rutherford, West?"
Marchman laughed, a dimple appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Only that he's disappeared. Since he hasn't turned up leg-shackled to an heiress, there is speculation that he embarked for America to make his fortune."
"Or marry one," North said.
South tapped the stem of his glass with a fingernail. A small crease had appeared between his dark brows. "What part of his destination is speculation and what part is fact?"
Mr. Marchman shrugged."I overheard the talk at Simon's two nights past. Why? Is it important?"
"I doubt it," South said easily. It had been South's experience that oft-repeated gossip eventually became fact."I saw him not long ago. He was laying siege on that occasion. It rather flies in the face of his plans to take himself off to America."
"Laying siege?" asked East."A renewed interest in Lady Powell?"
"No." He felt three pairs of eyes boring into him. Lest they mistake the matter and he find himself and Grace Powell once again the subject of speculation, Southerton gave up the truth. "Miss India Parr."
Marchman leaned back in his chair. He was thoughtful. "That explains why it must needs be a siege, but is she possessed of a fortune? I certainly have never heard of such."
"Neither have I," South said. He had given no small amount of thought to the possible sources of Miss Parr's income since the evening he had been invited to her home. It had, in part, prompted his final question to her as he was about to leave. While she did not live lavishly, she certainly lived in a style supported by more than an actress's wage. He considered the gifts that were sent her way by the hopefulsas he called them nowas one wellspring of funds. While he was able to learn that on any evening she was offered at least one truly spectacular piece of jewelry, he had also learned these were never the pieces she accepted. Miss Parr kept the trifles and incidentals: the small stones and settings that had not cost a man his fortune or even his quarterly allowance, the ones that arrived with no expectation of a favor in return but were given merely as tokens of esteem and acknowledgment of her fine performance.
No quid pro quo.
He recalled her saying that no such arrangement existed between her and the colonel. It was apparently a matter of importance to her in her dealings with all men.
It did not help him explain the existence of the house, the number of servants in her employ, the expensive but simple furnishings, or the extent of her wardrobe. He had created an opportunity for himself to visit her home when she was not in residence and once when she was. No one, least of all Miss Parr, had suspected his presence. During the day he had chosen a time when most of the servants were out on errands and the ones remaining could be easily avoided. At night, everyone was soundly sleeping. South still did not count himself as an accomplished sneaksman. Gaining entry to her home had required more in the way of good planning than expert climbing skills or quick reflexes. He was possessed of the latter, but they were not needed. More to the point, he had taken nothing during his visits, nor had he forced his way into those few rooms that were locked. His purpose
North remembered it somewhat differently. "She said I had certain stolen articles in my possession, which I did, no matter that I had no knowledge of how they came to be there."
Eastlyn tasted his brandy."How I wish I had been witness to that, culminating as it did in Lady Elizabeth's valiant though ill-considered defense of you. Brought you forthwith to the altar, it did."
One of North's brows kicked up. "Such can be arranged for you, East. You have but to name your poison. Lady Sophia or Mrs. Sawyer."
Eastlyn quickly set down his snifter and threw up his hands, surrendering. He looked elsewhere for a timely rescue. "You were saying about Rutherford, West?"
Marchman laughed, a dimple appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Only that he's disappeared. Since he hasn't turned up leg-shackled to an heiress, there is speculation that he embarked for America to make his fortune."
"Or marry one," North said.
South tapped the stem of his glass with a fingernail. A small crease had appeared between his dark brows. "What part of his destination is speculation and what part is fact?"
Mr. Marchman shrugged."I overheard the talk at Simon's two nights past. Why? Is it important?"
"I doubt it," South said easily. It had been South's experience that oft-repeated gossip eventually became fact."I saw him not long ago. He was laying siege on that occasion. It rather flies in the face of his plans to take himself off to America."
"Laying siege?" asked East."A renewed interest in Lady Powell?"
"No." He felt three pairs of eyes boring into him. Lest they mistake the matter and he find himself and Grace Powell once again the subject of speculation, Southerton gave up the truth. "Miss India Parr."
Marchman leaned back in his chair. He was thoughtful. "That explains why it must needs be a siege, but is she possessed of a fortune? I certainly have never heard of such."
"Neither have I," South said. He had given no small amount of thought to the possible sources of Miss Parr's income since the evening he had been invited to her home. It had, in part, prompted his final question to her as he was about to leave. While she did not live lavishly, she certainly lived in a style supported by more than an actress's wage. He considered the gifts that were sent her way by the hopefulsas he called them nowas one wellspring of funds. While he was able to learn that on any evening she was offered at least one truly spectacular piece of jewelry, he had also learned these were never the pieces she accepted. Miss Parr kept the trifles and incidentals: the small stones and settings that had not cost a man his fortune or even his quarterly allowance, the ones that arrived with no expectation of a favor in return but were given merely as tokens of esteem and acknowledgment of her fine performance.
No quid pro quo.
He recalled her saying that no such arrangement existed between her and the colonel. It was apparently a matter of importance to her in her dealings with all men.
It did not help him explain the existence of the house, the number of servants in her employ, the expensive but simple furnishings, or the extent of her wardrobe. He had created an opportunity for himself to visit her home when she was not in residence and once when she was. No one, least of all Miss Parr, had suspected his presence. During the day he had chosen a time when most of the servants were out on errands and the ones remaining could be easily avoided. At night, everyone was soundly sleeping. South still did not count himself as an accomplished sneaksman. Gaining entry to her home had required more in the way of good planning than expert climbing skills or quick reflexes. He was possessed of the latter, but they were not needed. More to the point, he had taken nothing during his visits, nor had he forced his way into those few rooms that were locked. His purpose
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