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Authors: Darcy Burke

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #Regency, #Historical Romance

To Love a Thief (17 page)

BOOK: To Love a Thief
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More than, but that didn’t make any of this right. “I can’t do that.”

Jagger’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t be a fool. Of course you can. I’m not asking you to ignore a crime. The theft ring you uncovered—Aldridge and Nicky Blue—is over.” As if to punctuate this declaration, screams came from a nearby room, followed by sudden silence. Jocelyn shivered in his arms and gripped his waist even more tightly.

Daniel couldn’t argue with that. But he was shocked that Jagger wasn’t killing them. “Why are you letting us go?”

He arched a brow. “Because I can.”

Daniel was afraid he knew how this sort of arrangement worked. Jagger was saving his life, and would expect reciprocation some day. “You’ll want something from me in the future.”

Jagger shrugged. “Aside from keeping my name out of this entire event? Perhaps.”

Jocelyn looked at Jagger, and then up at Daniel. “Can we go?”

“There’s a hack waiting for you outside,” Jagger said.

Daniel nodded, then turned with Jocelyn to go. He paused halfway to the door and looked back at Jagger. “It’s still not too late for you to choose a different path.”

Jagger gave a small, dark smile. “I’m afraid it is.”

Perhaps. Still, he wouldn’t forget what this criminal had done for them. He led Jocelyn from the flash house and into the waiting hack, calling the address to the driver as he climbed in.

Inside, she curled against him. “Please don’t ever let me go.”

He brushed his lips against the top of her head. “Never.”

She drew back to look up at him as the coach swung into motion. “How is Gertrude?”

“Shaken, but I think she’ll be fine.” He allowed himself to smile as he recalled Mrs. Harwood’s spirit earlier. Her courage was inspiring. “She’s looking forward to dancing at our wedding.”

She splayed her hand over his chest. “Must we really wait for the banns? After tonight, I don’t want to be without you.”

His heart clenched. He didn’t want to be without her either, wasn’t sure he could. “Then I shall procure a special license, and we’ll wed immediately. You’ll need to stay at my town house tonight anyway. Mrs. Harwood and all of the retainers are there. Poor Mrs. Moss is never returning to Hertford Street.”

She laid her head back down against his chest. “I can’t say I blame her. I don’t want to return, either.”

They fell silent. He stroked her back, and her breathing finally reached an even rate.

“What will happen to Aldridge?” she asked. “His body, I mean.”

Daniel was all too familiar with how those sorts of executions played out. They’d find his discarded body somewhere far from here, if it was found it at all. Gin Jimmy’s gang might decide to dump him into the Thames, especially since he was an earl. But Daniel rather thought Jagger would ensure the body was discovered. That way, Daniel and Jocelyn wouldn’t have to keep his death a secret. “It will turn up.”

“That’s bound to shock Society.”

“I'm sure.”

She shook her head against him. “Lady Aldridge will be devastated.”

Her concern for the man’s wife was touching. It reminded him how much he loved her. He tipped her chin up and gently kissed her. “I love you,” he said against her mouth.

She kissed him back. “I love you too. When I think about how close I came to losing—” Her breath caught on a sob.

“Shhh,” he kissed her again, wanting to take away all of her pain, wishing she could forget the last hours. “You didn’t. And I didn’t lose you.”

She shuddered in his arms and pulled back. “I’m very glad you’re no longer a constable. I’d have to insist you resign.”

He’d never imagined a life outside the magistrate’s office, but now he couldn’t ever see going back. Inheriting the viscountcy had changed his path, but falling in love with Jocelyn had altered it permanently. Now he only saw a future with her. With their children. With her love surrounding them.

He caressed her cheek. “I’d do anything for you.”

She nuzzled his hand. “Just love me.”

“I do.”

 

 

Epilogue

 

 

 

September, 1818, London

 

AFTER ALLOWING his valet to put the finishing touches on his cravat, Daniel went back into the bedchamber he shared with his beautiful wife intending to kiss her goodbye before he left for an appointment at the Home Office. But when he went inside, he stopped short at the sight of Jocelyn sitting in bed, her hair still sleep-tousled, her lips parted as she read the newspaper. Perhaps he had a little time…

She tipped her head up and smiled upon seeing him. “There you are. Ready for your appointment, I see.” Her gaze raked him provocatively. “Pity, that.”

He suddenly didn’t give a fig if he was late. He moved toward the bed.

She rattled the paper in her hands. “I’ve just been reading about Lord Lockwood—you know, that viscount who hosts those vice parties?”

And now she was talking about vice? Good Lord, he was
never
going to make that appointment. He perched on the edge of the bed and leaned over to press a kiss to her shoulder, exposed by her nightrail, which was hanging askew. “Mmm-hmm,” he said, far more concerned with the heat of her flesh and her tantalizing apple scent than with bloody Lockwood.

“Well,” she said, sounding frustratingly unmoved by his advances, “it seems Lady Margaret has declared his bastard brother has come to London.”

That was enough to make Daniel sit up straight. He tilted the paper so he could read the article.

 

Lady Margaret has declared Mr. Ethan Locke to be the bastard brother of Lord Lockwood. Unlike his infamous, titled brother, Mr. Locke is both charming and elegant. He is already a favorite among the lad
ies.

 

Son of a bitch
.

Before Daniel could pursue further thought on that surprising revelation, Jocelyn’s lips were trailing along his jaw and then her teeth were nibbling at his earlobe. “Mmm, you smell so good,” she said, inhaling deeply. “Must you leave already?”

The Home Office had requested the meeting. It seemed likely they wanted to offer Daniel an appointment, something he wasn’t sure he wanted. He was quite happy at present with his new wife and their life together. “This is an important appointment, unfortunately.”

Even so, he couldn’t resist cupping her cheek and kissing her senseless. She tasted of chocolate, which she drank most mornings, and desire. Sadly, he didn’t have time to take it further. A few moments later, he pulled back.

She sighed against his mouth. “I was planning to call on Lady Aldridge later.”

He stroked his thumb along her jawline. “That’s very kind of you.”

She tossed the newspaper aside. “Not as kind as you telling the authorities that Aldridge let us go.”

The earl’s body had been found the day after he’d been killed, but Daniel had already reported Jocelyn’s abduction, Aldridge’s crimes, and Daniels’s attempt to save her. To keep Jagger out of the story, Daniel had also told Bow Street that Aldridge had let them go. He figured it would give Lady Aldridge comfort to believe her husband had performed an act of compassion before he’d died. What it meant, however, was that Aldridge’s murder was unsolved.

The decision to protect Jagger had been difficult, but Daniel’s gut told him it had been the right thing to do. Without the criminal’s assistance, both he and Jocelyn would be as dead as Aldridge. Daniel hoped he wasn’t wrong, but after reading that newspaper article he would need to be diligent.

Daniel tipped his wife’s chin up and kissed her softly on the mouth. “I should go. Please convey my best to Lady Aldridge.”

“Of course.” She slid her hands beneath his coat and encircled his waist. “Is there any way I can convince you to stay?” She smiled coyly up at him and then licked the top of his throat above his suddenly too-tight cravat.

He stifled a groan. “Only about a thousand. Promise me you’ll save all of them for later.”

She slid her hands down his hips and stroked over his fall. His cock, already stirring, jerked against his small clothes. This was going to be a very long appointment.

Her hazel eyes glittered in the morning light streaming from a small gap in the draperies. “You have my solemn vow to ravish you within an inch of your life.”

He grinned down at her. “I can think of no better torture. Now, give me your mouth so I may sample what you have in store for me.”

She cradled the bulge in his breeches and kissed him with hot, wicked intent. Yes, it was going to be a long appointment indeed.

 

 

The end

 

 

Coming Winter 2013

 

 

NEVER LOVE A SCOUNDREL

 

Lord Lockwood and Lady Lydia Prewitt’s story.

 

and

 

SCOUNDREL EVER AFTER

 

Jagger and Miss Audrey Cheswick’s story.

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Darcy Burke wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. An RWA Golden Heart® Finalist, Darcy loves all things British (except tomatoes for breakfast, or any other time of day, actually) and happy ever afters.

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her devoted husband, their two great kids, and three cats. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. She’s also a fair-weather runner, and her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge. Visit Darcy online at
www.darcyburke.com
, follow her on Twitter at
Twitter.com/darcyburke
, or like her Facebook page,
Facebook.com/darcyburkefans
.

Contents

Title page

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

About the Author

BOOK: To Love a Thief
13.5Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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