The River Knows Read Online Free Page B

become obsessive.”
    “What a coincidence. So do I.”
    “What were you looking for in Hastings’s bedroom?” he said very softly.
    Her mouth went dry. Leaving the ball with him had, indeed, been a very bad idea. She could see that quite plainly now.
    “I have no idea what you are talking about, sir,” she said.
    “You will save both of us a great deal of time and energy if you simply answer the question.”
    She raised her chin. “Surely you do not expect me to respond to personal inquiries about my activities. We are barely acquainted, sir.”
    “After tonight, the Polite World will assume otherwise.”
    His words sent a searing chill through her. He was right. Gossip spread swiftly in Society. While it was safe to say that no one cared much about her, Anthony was a different matter entirely. Wealthy, single gentlemen with excellent bloodlines were always of great interest in elevated circles. In addition, there was the notoriety that still swirled around him due to his fiancée’s suicide. Tomorrow there would most certainly be talk, she thought.
    “The gossip will pass quickly,” she said. “Sooner or later you will dance with some other lady, and everyone will forget about me again.”
    “You sound quite eager to be rid of me. I am crushed.”
    “I am not some silly young girl fresh out of the schoolroom. We both know that you have no personal interest in me. You have been using me for some purpose of your own this past week.”
    “Is that what you think?”
    “Yes, of course.” She stomped quite ruthlessly on the little spark of wistful hope that had been flickering somewhere inside her. “Kindly credit me with some intelligence, sir. There is no other reason why you would have directed your attentions toward me. I must admit I have been wondering what you were about, but I believe that my questions have been answered tonight.”
    “Indeed? And what is that answer?”
    “In light of your career as a gentleman-thief, you obviously have your reasons for wanting to attend certain social affairs. It is equally obvious that you find it useful to distract people so that no one notices when you go about your business. For the past week you’ve found Lady Ashton’s poor relation from the country well suited to that purpose, haven’t you?”
    “You think I have been using you as camouflage for my criminal pursuits?” he asked, reluctantly fascinated.
    She spread her gloved hands wide. “I believe magicians refer to it as misdirection. If people think that the jaded Mr. Stalbridge is amusing himself by seducing a country widow, they will not wonder what else he might be doing.”
    “Damnation,” he said, not without admiration. “You really do believe that I am in the habit of helping myself to other people’s valuables.”
    “It is the only explanation that makes sense in light of the facts.” She cleared her throat. “May I assume that your evening career explains how the Stalbridge fortunes came to be revived in recent years? Lady Ashton told me that four years ago, before you returned to England, your family was rumored to be flirting with bankruptcy.”
    “You think I restored the family finances by taking up a career as a jewel thief?”
    “You will admit it is a viable hypothesis.”
    “Based on the fact that I asked you to dance on a handful of occasions this past week? No, Mrs. Bryce, I will not allow that it is a reasonable assumption. Your evidence is far too weak.”
    “Oh, there is a bit more to it than the dances, sir,” she said coolly.
    He did not move. “How much more?”
    “I saw you slip away from Lady Hammond’s ballroom the other night. I assumed you had an assignation in the garden, but you went up the back stairs instead.”
    “Good Lord, you followed me?”
    “Only as far as the foot of the stairs,” she assured him. “I felt that, under the circumstances, I had a right to know what you were about.”
    “Circumstances? Damn it to hell, woman, all I did was