To Trust a Thief (16 page)

Chapter Twenty-eight

Min woke and stretched, grimacing at her stiff muscles. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed in Arthur’s clinic. Enough was enough. The term was over and Bryant had been alone at the school for three days. She couldn’t wait any longer. He could have found the necklace and been halfway to Australia by now.

Charlotte entered just as Min was about to stand. “Min! What are you doing? Get back in bed this instant!”

“I’m fine, Charlotte. And I’m tired of lying around here doing nothing when I need to be out looking for the necklace. Where’s Arthur?”

Charlotte didn’t lose her disapproving frown, but at least she stopped protesting. “He’s visiting a patient in town.”

“Perfect!” Min threw her clothes on, growling in frustration as her clumsy fingers tangled in the laces of her boots. Charlotte batted her hands away and took over. As soon as Min was presentable, she grabbed Charlotte’s hand and tugged her to the door. “Let’s go! We need to get out of here before he gets back.”

Arthur hadn’t been able to get back into the mausoleum, as the key seemed to have disappeared. He’d tried picking the lock but he apparently didn’t have the aptitude for it that Min did. They were both growing desperate to get into the tomb, but for once Arthur was siding with Bryant. Both insisting (separately) that she stay in bed and let them handle the necklace situation. But Min couldn’t let the men handle things on their own. Arthur, because she was afraid he wouldn’t get the job done, and Bryant, because she was afraid he would.

“I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on you,” Charlotte said, only halfheartedly struggling. “You aren’t supposed to leave the clinic and certainly not unaccompanied.”

“But I am accompanied. By you.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. They’d reached the small sitting room at the front of the clinic. Min drew up short at the sight of a familiar redheaded gentleman.

“I would have told you if you’d given me half a second,” Charlotte said.

Bryant’s redheaded friend stood up and gave Min a little bow. “Mr. Julian Durant, at your service.”

Min glanced at Charlotte, who shrugged. “In this one instance, at least, Dr. Carmichael and Mr. Westley are in agreement. You are not to be left alone and under no circumstances are you to be allowed to go near the school. Mr. Durant is—”

Julian smiled. “I am your babysitter for the afternoon.”

Min’s jaw dropped. What was she? Some wayward toddler? “You must be joking.”

“Unfortunately not. It wasn’t my first choice of pastimes, I assure you. Still,” he said, appraising her like a pony up for auction, “I’ve had worse assignments.”

“I doubt it,” Min mumbled, trying to keep her flaring temper under control. She needed to get out of the house and she could tell just by looking at Mr. Durant that she wouldn’t be able to talk her way past him.

He chuckled. “Don’t be so angry. Our dear Mr. Westley simply wanted to ensure that you would come to no harm and Dr. Carmichael concurred. After all, you do seem rather accident prone.”

Min gasped in outrage and Charlotte gave an amused snort, which she made no attempt to conceal.

“Since the good doctor couldn’t continue to neglect his patients, and as I had no outstanding commitments for the time being, I volunteered my services. I am to provide any assistance you might need.”

Min’s slight dash of hope was quickly crushed when Julian continued, anticipating her next question. “So long as I keep you here.”

Min glared at him for a moment before she released her breath in an exasperated rush.

“Well,” she said, hoping he’d buy her compliant attitude, “any friend of Mr. Westley’s, I suppose.”

“I am happy to be in your good graces, Miss Sinclair,” he said. “I will try my best to live up to your expectations.”

“I’m sure you will.” Min took Charlotte by the arm. “You know, I suppose I am still feeling a bit tired. Perhaps I’ll go lie down for a bit.”

“Good girl,” Mr. Durant said, returning to his seat with a yawn.

Min resisted the urge to smack the condescending look off his face and dragged Charlotte back to her room.

“Well, at least you are being sensible,” Charlotte said.

“Very sensible,” Min agreed. She walked to the small window and threw it open, revealing the neat little yard at the back of the clinic.

“Min! What are you doing?”

“I’m going to get to that school. Really, Charlotte, you can be so slow sometimes.”

“But—”

“I’ll need you to stay here and keep the charming Mr. Durant company.”

Charlotte sputtered, for once at a loss for words.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“I can’t let you just go running off… How are you going to get there, anyway?”

“Arthur’s horse. You said he was seeing someone in town, so I assume his horse is available.”

Charlotte’s arms were crossed so firmly across her chest Min wasn’t sure how she could breathe. Her eyes darted from the window to the doorway. “So now you are resorting to horse thievery?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am.” Min gathered her skirts, ignoring the protest of her aching limbs, and climbed gingerly out the window before Charlotte decided to call for help. “Now go distract the babysitter.”

“But Min!”

Min jumped to the ground, stifling a grunt of pain as the landing jarred her ribs. She looked back at Charlotte, who was still hanging halfway out the window. “Go!” Min waved at her.

Before Charlotte could say another word, Min disappeared around the corner and made her way to Arthur’s shed.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Bryant must have heard her horse, for he stood on the front steps wearing a somewhat confused frown on his face as Min rode into the front courtyard. She slid down and tied Arthur’s horse to the hitching post. She didn’t know how long Charlotte would be able to keep Mr. Durant occupied, but Min doubted she had much time.

Bryant marched over to her. “You were to stay at the clinic.”

The softness of his voice made his anger all the more apparent. But it was tinged with something else—a tone Min had never heard from Bryant before. One that made her fear she might have made the wrong choice in coming back.

“I couldn’t stay away.”

“I had a reason for wanting you to stay away, Min, especially today. You aren’t safe here.” He gripped her arm and steered her back to her horse. “You need to leave immediately.”

Min pulled away. She’d debated over and over what she’d say to him, but now that she was here…and after what he’d said when she’d been hurt, how he’d looked…maybe it was time to trust him. Besides, she was desperate.

She ignored the quaking in her gut and just spit it out. “I think I know where the necklace is.”

Bryant’s eyes widened. Not quite the reaction she was going for. Nor were his next words. “Perhaps we could discuss it later. But for now, I need you to get on your horse and get out of here.”

“What?” Min asked, confused beyond her bearing.

“Now, now, Westley. No need to send our guest off so soon. I’m certainly interested in what she has to say.”

Min’s blood ran cold at the unexpected sound of a taunting and unfamiliar voice. Bryant drew her close to his side. A sickly thin, brown-haired man walked down the steps toward them.

She returned the man’s stare, refusing to turn away from his malice, even though her heart seemed ready to burst with fright. She knew from the man’s elegant clothing and domineering attitude that she must be face-to-face with Lord Tyson Rellik.

Bryant stepped slightly in front of her. Rellik clasped his hands behind his back and turned to Gage, who followed him.

“I assume from Mr. Westley’s sudden protectiveness that this must be the young friend you reported?” Rellik questioned.

“Yessir, that be ’er. Miss Minuette Sinclair,” Gage said.

Rellik turned back to Min. “Well, Miss Sinclair. I cannot say that returning here was an incredibly intelligent decision on your part, especially since I am sure that our fierce Mr. Westley instructed you to stay away. However, I confess that I am delighted to make your acquaintance, as I understand you were quite instrumental in helping Mr. Westley. I’ve only just arrived myself. You can imagine my excitement when I received Mr. Westley’s letter informing me he’d finally located my necklace. I came as quickly as I could.”

Min glared at Rellik. “I’m afraid you are mistaken, my lord. The necklace belongs to the Courtlands.”

His eyes narrowed. “Then that would make you a thief, my dear, as you are not a Courtland.”

“My aunt is a Courtland—”

“By marriage. And you are not your aunt, so the point is moot, wouldn’t you agree?”

Min opened her mouth to debate him further but he held up a hand, his patience obviously at an end. “I have been waiting a long time for this, Miss Sinclair. I hired my old friend here to do a job for me, and as of late, his performance has been exceedingly disappointing.”

Rellik leaned closer to Min. She glanced at Bryant, hoping for some sort of sign as to what she should do. But Bryant’s attention was riveted on Rellik.

“Do not make me ask again.” Rellik pulled a pistol from beneath his coat and leveled it at Min’s head.

“That won’t be necessary,” Bryant said, his ice-cold voice freezing Min to the core. He leaned over and grabbed the silver chain that peeked from her collar. She gasped, her hands flying to her throat, but Bryant was quicker. With one sharp tug, the locket was in his hands.

“What are you doing?” Min asked, his betrayal snaking through her heart.

“What I was hired to do.” Bryant barely spared her a glance. “Our dear Miss Sinclair has an unusual attachment to this locket,” Bryant said. “I wondered why.”

It only took a moment for Bryant to remove the two eye portraits and the paper hidden beneath them. Min bit her lip to keep from crying out.

“Well, well.” Rellik’s pleased grin made Min’s stomach roil in protest.

Bryant replaced Edward’s portrait in the locket and shoved it in his vest. He held the two halves of the map out to Rellik.

“Aren’t you the clever one,” Rellik said. Then he reached out and yanked Min closer, pointing to the maps with his gun. “Why don’t you share the secret with us all?”

Min hesitated, unable to predict whether telling Rellik the location of the necklace would help matters or doom them all.

“Min.” Bryant’s voice, though soft, left no room for argument, and his eyes were filled with a fury that matched her own. “Tell him.”

Her gaze lingered on him before she turned to face Rellik. She took the pages, cursing her trembling hands, and pieced them together. “I think the necklace is buried with Edward Courtland’s mistress, Anne Benton.” She pointed at the boxed-in star. “Here.”

Min looked again at Bryant, whose every muscle was tightly coiled and ready for a fight. This made her even more terrified for their safety and anxious about what would happen after the necklace was found. She found it hard to believe Rellik would simply offer his thanks and go on his merry way. She needed to make it through this so she could throttle Bryant with her bare hands.

“And where exactly does this map lead?” Rellik asked.

Min hesitated just a second too long. Rellik raised the gun again.

“The family mausoleum,” Bryant said. He stepped between them, blocking her view of Rellik and his gun, and took the map from her.

Rellik frowned at Bryant but gestured with his pistol for him to lead the way. Bryant grabbed Min’s arm and turned her toward the cemetery.

“You aren’t going on a treasure hunt without me, are you?” a decidedly young and feminine voice asked.

Min wheeled in the direction of the voice, surprise replacing a bit of her anger as she recognized the newcomer.

Lady Katherine smiled and continued down the front stairs, coming to a stop beside Rellik.

“You seem surprised to see me,” she said to Min.

“Not really. Lord Rellik seems the type of gentleman with whom a
lady
such as yourself would keep company.” Min flinched at the sudden pressure on her arm. She shot Bryant a glare but refrained from saying anything further.

Katherine ignored Min and walked around Bryant, running her finger across his chest. She stopped in front of him and pushed her body against his, tracing the line of his jaw with her finger. “I think she is jealous of us, my dear. Someone must have told her of our little interludes.”

Bryant’s face tightened in rage. With a disgusted sneer, he grabbed her arm and pushed her away.

Katherine tittered smugly and sauntered to Rellik’s side. Rellik scarcely glanced at her.

“Enough,” he demanded. “Let’s go retrieve
my
necklace, shall we?”

Rellik jerked his head and Bryant propelled Min through the gardens, with Rellik, Katherine, and Gage following a short distance behind. Min stumbled, and Bryant slipped an arm around her waist.

“Get your hands off me,” Min said, trying to twist out of his grip.

He held her tighter, leaning down to whisper furiously in her ear. “I’m trying to get you through this alive. It would be helpful if you’d stop making it so difficult.”

Rellik spoke before Min could respond. “I think Miss Sinclair is capable of walking on her own, Westley. Keep your distance.”

Bryant released Min with a little shove, forcing her ahead of him, keeping his body between her and Rellik’s gun. She bit back a curse.

They slowed as the cemetery came into sight, sprawled in a clearing guarded by an old wrought-iron gate, with a sizable copse of trees beyond. Min and Bryant passed first through the gate and walked straight toward the enormous mausoleum at the center of the burial yard.

They found the mausoleum’s large ironbound doors securely locked, just as Min had left them.

A burst of panic ran through her. “I don’t have the key,” she told Bryant. “I had it a few days ago, but…” Min had no idea what had happened to it after she’d fallen.

“No matter. Gage,” Rellik ordered.

The horrifying little man had come prepared with a crowbar. A few minutes later, the doors fell open and a cloud of dust and stale dead air met the group.

Gage stepped aside, his face twisted in a greasy smile of satisfaction. “There ye go, guv.”

Rellik looked at Bryant and nodded. “After you, Westley.”