The Royal Scamp by Joan Smith Page B

to have her theories come to nought. It had been worrisome thinking the Scamp was staying at her inn, but it had been exciting, too. “You’re probably right,”she admitted. “Why must you always put a damper on any little excitement that comes along, Josh?”
    “Murder and robbery are hardly the proper excitements for a young lady. You ought to be attending balls and parties.”
    She gave him an ironical glance. “I never miss the local assembly—two thrilling excitements a year. How do I stand the pace?”
    Joshua studied her a moment. He told himself he disliked that strain of unsteadiness in Esther that must always have some rig running, yet it attracted him, too. To see her saucy shoulders slumped in ennui saddened him. To cheer her he said, “I hope you don’t plan to miss my ball. I’ve decided to resume the tradition.”
    Her face lit up like a lamp. “Joshua! How splendid! When? Is it going to be very grand?”
    “It will take a couple of weeks to prepare. We’ll make it as grand as you like. Pick a theme—a masquerade party, perhaps.”
    “A formal ball! Lovely. I haven’t had an excuse to buy a new ball gown in ages.”
    “Or a masquerade. Have you ever attended one?”
    “No, but—”
    "Then we must make it a masquerade, just for you.”
    Esther rather preferred a formal ball, but was pleased at the attention of having any sort of party in her honor, and didn’t demur. “I’ll help. I can write the cards for you.”
    “What will you come as, Esther? Pierrette? Cinderella?”
    “I fancy myself as a more modern, enlightened lady.”
    “Madame de Stael, perhaps?”he joked.
    “Or a working lady—say a publican.”
    He quelled his annoyance and smiled. “Would you like me to accompany you home now?”
    “Oh, I am at home. I’ve moved into the inn,”she teased.
    “Esther!”
    “Only for the nonce, while my house is being painted."
    “You did it on purpose! You just wanted to be at the hub of all the excitement.”
    “Who would not?”She laughed. “Now it is beginning to seem all the excitement is over.”
    “You’d never know it to see the crowds in your lobby."
    “And the Bow Street runners here, annoying my customers.”
    “Bow Street is here? I’ll have a word with them.”
    Joshua left, and Esther went to sit in Buck’s chair to think about the masquerade party. Now, what had made Josh decide to have it? Had he done it for her? She was interrupted by a tap at the door, and before she answered, Lady Gloria came tripping in, dragging an assortment of gossamer shawls after her. Her vague smile didn’t deceive Esther as to the reason for the visit. Lady Gloria always had a complaint. On this occasion she had more interesting words as well.
    “Ah, Esther, I was expecting to see Buck, but you will do equally well. I’m afraid the strawberries were a leet-tle sour this morning. They weren’t quite ripe, I think. I hope your guests aren’t all suffering from the gripe as I shall be.”
    “I’ll speak to Cook.”
    She hoped this would get Lady Gloria out the door, but the dame sat down and tilted her head conspiratorially toward the desk. In the sunlight her scalp showed through her thinning hair. “Quite a ruckus here today.”
    “Yes, we’re rather busy.”
    “I was just wondering, Esther, whether I should mention Mr. Meecham to Bow Street.”
    “If Officer Clifford speaks to you, you might just mention the ladder incident.”
    “I had forgotten all about it. No, what I had in mind was the other ... You haven’t had any complaints about theft in your inn?”
    Esther blanched. “What do you mean? Are you missing something?”
    “Not I. You know I keep all my valuables about me.”She patted the omnipresent pearls. “I referred to Mr. Fletcher. I saw Mr. Meecham slipping into his room last night, when poor Mr. Fletcher was asleep. It must have been two o’clock. I was awake. I have great trouble sleeping, but I don’t say it is only the traffic in your halls that