To Love a Thief (14 page)

“After you met with Aldridge.” He immediately wished he hadn’t mentioned him. A dark pall fell over their post-lovemaking bliss.

“Yes.” She trailed her finger along his chest, which did a measurable job of distracting him from the damned earl. But then she said, “What are you going to do about him?”

He wasn’t sure. Aldridge was now aware that Daniel was investigating him. He could only hope Jagger might still be able to deliver evidence against him, but he accepted the chances were slim. He might be better off going to see him and simply laying things out. And then what?

“Are you going to let him continue his activities?” she asked, verbalizing his inner dialogue.

“If I do, I’m no better than I was. But I don’t have evidence against him yet and it may be difficult to obtain.”

“Not if he continues. Can’t you set some sort of trap?”

He stared down at her in wonder. “You’ve a deviously sharp mind, do you know that?” She smiled and he kissed the tip of her nose. “I suppose I could do that, but he may be expecting something like that, now that he knows I’m investigating him.”

She cringed. “Sorry. I never should have told him.”

“It’s all right,” he said, kissing her and letting his lips linger against hers. His cock was stirring again, which meant they needed to leave right now or her absence would
really
be noted. He kissed her once more, deeply, thoroughly, to last him until he saw her next. Although they did have a ten- or fifteen-minute carriage ride to her town house …

She sucked on his tongue and wound her fingers into his nape. With a groan, he pulled himself away from her. “We should go.”

With a sigh, she stretched, which drew his attention directly to her breasts. “I suppose.”

He turned and practically jumped from the bed before he made love to her again.

She sat up and gave him an alluring smile. “How do I look?”

He took in her tousled hair—still pinned up, but with strands jutting every which way—her drowsy eyes, and her kiss-reddened lips. “Ravished.”

“Then I thank you, sir.”

Incomparable.

Chapter Eleven

SO THIS was what love felt like.

Daniel marveled the entire coach ride home, including the stop he’d made to buy Jocelyn flowers, none of which he could name, and have them delivered to her house. He marveled as he asked Goring to instruct his valet to draw a bath. He marveled as he climbed the stairs and contemplated what sort of engagement ring to purchase and then chastised himself for not getting it first. But then they were apparently going to do everything out of order, given what they’d just done.

Not that he regretted it. Quite the opposite. He’d make love to her again right now if it wouldn’t be beastly of him. Maybe tomorrow … And then he’d tell her he loved her, which he was ashamed he hadn’t done today. But then, neither had she.

He stepped into his bedchamber and froze. Jagger lounged in the chair situated in front of the fireplace. “Afternoon,” he drawled. “Or is it evening?” He scrutinized Daniel’s hastily—and inexpertly—tied cravat. “Just get dressed?”

The lingering bliss of his interlude with Jocelyn faded and was replaced with an edgy excitement. Had Jagger brought the details of Aldridge’s latest coded note? “I assume you’re here to make a delivery, though I rather wish you hadn’t snuck into my bedchamber.”

“I’m afraid I’m not here for that.” Jagger braced his hands on the arms of the chair. “Nor will I be supplying you with the evidence you sought.”

The miserable son of a bitch
! Daniel strode toward the intruder and hauled him out of his chair by the front of his coat. “Then what the hell are you doing in my house?”

Jagger found his footing beneath him and stepped back from Daniel, out of his grip. “I beg your pardon, this is a very expensive coat.”

“That I’m sure you stole and could replace a hundred times over.” How the hell had this bastard gotten into his bedchamber? Daniel had a horrid suspicion this visit had something to do with Jocelyn.

“The latter is quite true, but I must tell you I had this made on Bond Street.” Was the prick still jabbering on about his bloody coat?

Daniel advanced on him and raised his hand to grab his lapel again. “I don’t give a shit where you shop. Talk before I rip the garment—and you—to shreds.”

“Christ, man, there’s no need to be offensive. I came here to tell you to stop your investigation of Aldridge.”

“No.”

Jagger straightened his coat and squared his shoulders. He was of equal height to Daniel, if not a hair or two taller. His gray eyes turned to stone. “I’m not asking.”

“And I’m not one of your lackeys.” Not anymore.

Jagger showed no indication he’d heard what Daniel had said. “If you want Miss Renwick to be safe, you’ll leave Aldridge alone and let the problem resolve itself.”

The bastard knew her name? Daniel grabbed him by the lapel again, but Jagger threw him off and withdrew a knife from his boot.

Daniel slid his own knife from its sheath, also tucked into his boot. “Is this really how you want to do this?”

“Not at all, but you don’t seem interested in listening to reason. I’m trying to help you here.”

“By threatening my fiancée?”

Jagger inclined his head as if they were sharing tea instead of brandishing knives. “Congratulations. Then you really should heed my counsel.” He lowered his weapon and raised his other hand in supplication. Then he stowed the knife back in his boot. He blinked at Daniel, clearly waiting for him to do the same.

Daniel complied, but gave him a frigid stare. “Why should I listen to you?”

“To keep yourself and your fiancée safe. The problem with Aldridge will resolve itself shortly. You can trust me.”

Like he’d trust an opium addict. “How is it going to resolve itself?”

Jagger’s mouth ticked up at the corner, but there was no humor in the expression. “I don’t think you really want to know.”

They were going to kill Aldridge? No matter the man’s crimes, he couldn’t allow Jagger or any of his cohorts to execute him. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Why, because he’s an earl?” Jagger shook his head. “He’s been involved with criminal activity for years. Men have hanged for far less than he’s done.”

Daniel clenched his fists. He wanted to see Aldridge pay for his crimes, but not this way. “That doesn’t make it right. He needs to be tried, and then he’ll go to prison.”

Though he likely wouldn’t serve a great sentence, it didn’t matter. His criminal career was quite finished. Poor Lady Aldridge—was she aware of her husband’s crimes, or was she as innocent in all of this as Jocelyn?

Jagger narrowed his eyes. “You’re missing the point. Gin Jimmy isn’t going to risk Aldridge being tried.” Because he’d bring more of Gin Jimmy’s operations to light.

Daniel tried to appeal to Jagger’s own sense of survival. “Why do you care so much about Jimmy? One of these days, he’s going to fall, and surely that would benefit you.”

Jagger’s sharp laugh filled the room. “Not bloody likely. I don’t want his job.” He sobered and stared Daniel square in the eye. “There’s nothing you can do to stop what’s been ordered. And if you try … Well, you’re familiar with Gin Jimmy’s tactics.”

Cross him, and you were marked for life. Fear for Jocelyn burned Daniel from the inside out. “If he harms Miss Renwick, I will hunt him down and gut him.”

Jagger arched an ebony eyebrow. “I believe you’ve made your feelings regarding Miss Renwick quite clear. So do what you must to keep her safe.”

“I don’t trust Gin Jimmy. Or you.”

“At this point, we’re your allies. She’s in far greater danger from Aldridge than us. Let us do what we do, and you can sail off into your happily ever after.”

The bastard was right. Aldridge was a massive threat. Though Daniel had stationed a Bow Street constable on Hertford Street, it wasn’t enough. He needed to get to her posthaste.

AFTER taking a quick, restorative bath and dressing for the Pellinghams’ dinner party, Jocelyn floated down the stairs. Gertrude was awaiting her in the sitting room off the foyer. Her head encased in an orange turban and her still-slender form draped in a matching gown, Gertrude looked every bit the Society matriarch she was. Widowed these past twenty years and childless to boot, she took great pleasure in visiting London for the Season, and Jocelyn was only too glad she’d had the privilege to serve as her companion this year.

“Good evening, dear,” Gertrude said with an assessing perusal. “You look lovely this evening. That color is very becoming on you, even if it’s not wholly appropriate.”

Jocelyn knew a scarlet gown was risky, but she’d loved this fabric so much when she’d seen it on Bond Street two years ago that she’d used almost all of her pin money at the time to purchase it on the spot. She’d finally had it made into a gown last month when she’d learned she would be accompanying Gertrude to town, but she hadn’t had the courage—or necessity—to wear it until now.

Now that she was no longer attached to the wall. She could scarcely wait for Daniel to see her.

Gertrude tapped her lip. “But it’s not the gown. I daresay there’s something else behind the sparkle in your eyes and the bounce in your step. Moss said Lord Carlyle took you for a drive in the park today.”

She could at least share with Gertrude one part of the day’s events. In fact, she was fairly bursting with it. “Lord Carlyle has asked me to marry him.”

Gertrude’s sherry-colored eyes widened as her mouth broke into an ecstatic grin. “Goodness, so soon? You’ve only just met.”

“I know, it happened rather quickly, I think. But I love him and he loves me.” He hadn’t said so, but neither had she. And since she knew she was in love with him, it had to be that he felt the same.

Didn’t it?

A niggling sense of doubt wandered the recesses of her mind, looking for a place to root and grow, but she shoved it away. She believed in Daniel and their future together.

Gertrude smiled broadly. “Then I am beyond delighted for you, my dear! Whatever will my great-nephew say?”

He’ll be happy to have his ward taken care of
, Jocelyn thought. It wasn’t that he found her a burden, but she knew her guardian would be relieved she was settled. As would any parental figure.

Papa
.

Her heart clenched as she thought of how happy her father would be to see her not only marrying a viscount, but marrying for love, as he had done. She hoped he was looking down on her and seeing every happy moment. Well, perhaps not
every
moment.

“Daniel is going to write to Arthur immediately so that the banns may be posted this Sunday.”

Gertrude’s head bobbed. “Wonderful. Where will you marry?”

They’d discussed the wedding on the ride from Carlyle House. “We decided on Carlyle Hall, since it’s to be our home.”

There was a knock at the door, followed by Moss’s footsteps across the entry hall. Jocelyn wondered if Daniel had returned for some reason. He’d already had flowers delivered. Perhaps he’d sent something else. Expectantly she turned, and the smile blooming on her face died.

A tall, slim man with mangy blond hair filled the doorway of the sitting room. He grinned, revealing a missing tooth in the upper right side of his mouth. “Evenin’, ladies.”

Sounds of a scuffle filled the foyer and spilled into the sitting room. Hearing Moss’s muffled protests, Jocelyn’s heart leapt into her throat. She moved forward. The tall intruder held up his hand. “Stay right here.”

Jocelyn’s heard pounded. The man’s eyes were a bright, piercing blue. Could he be Nicky Blue? Her gaze dropped to his hand and there, in his grip, was the knife she’d found in her bedchamber.

He followed her line of sight and held up the blade. “I must thank you for returnin’ this, love. I was pretty upset when it went missin’.”

Had Daniel given it back to him? When? How? Most importantly, why?

A trio of men dashed past the sitting room doorway. They were trailed by another trio carrying a thrashing Moss. Good for him for not going down without a fight. She meant to do the same. But oh, how her heart ached for Moss and the others going through this again. Though anguish tore at her insides, she elevated her chin and stared frigidly at Nicky Blue.

Beside her, Gertrude began to shake. “Oh, my dear lord! What are you going to do?” Her voice came out as a high-pitched squeak.

It was one thing to terrorize the servants, but an old woman? Jocelyn took her hand in a fierce grip. She spoke in a low tone close to the woman’s ear. “We’re going to be fine. I promise.”

Nicky Blue jabbed a thumb toward Gertrude. “
She’ll
be fine. You? We’ll just have to wait an’ see.” He laughed then, a horrid sound that had little to do with amusement and everything to do with intimidation. Or perhaps he was amused by their intimidation.

Though fear spiked through her, Jocelyn refused to be cowed. She put her arm around Gertrude, drawing her close. The older woman was quivering. Jocelyn wanted to beat Nicky Blue into the floorboards for causing her such distress. She settled for stating the obvious. “You’re a horrible person.”