The Gentleman and the Thief by Sarah M. Eden

Author:Sarah M. Eden
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Romance, Victorian, Clean & Wholesome, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781629727905
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: 2020-12-15T08:00:00+00:00

Elizabeth has been contacted by two families looking for a private music tutor.” Ana poured tea for her father. “She thinks, in time, I might find enough pupils to be an independent teacher. I could choose when and who I teach. I could live here again.”

Father looked to his ever-faithful valet. “What do you say to that, Wallace? Ana could live here, perhaps chase away the specters that have you so alarmed.”

Though Father’s tone held mountains of teasing, Wallace didn’t look amused.

“Specters?” Ana looked from one to the other a few times.

“There have been odd noises around the house.” Father took a sip of tea. “I’m convinced we have a draft or a squirrel or mouse. Wallace, though, has taken Lafayette Jones’s stories a bit too much to heart.”

The man remained as stalwart as ever, not blushing or cringing at the teasing. “I ain’t saying it couldn’t be vermin or wind, only that I ain’t one to ignore possibilities.”

Ana poured Wallace a cup of tea as well. He was a servant, yes, but he was also a friend. Without Wallace, this house would be in shambles and her father would be alone. She treasured him for his efforts to help.

“If Mr. Jones’s depiction of ghosts is accurate,” Ana said, “we needn’t be overly alarmed should our noises prove to be supernatural. Ghosts are, apparently, quite friendly to us ‘Perishables.’”

“I am looking forward to seeing how those ghost boys manage to keep their new friend hidden,” Father said. “That Jones weaves an entertaining tale.”

“He does, indeed,” she said.

“Would you truly come back home if you found enough students?” Father asked.

She smiled at him over her cup. “In a heartbeat. I’ve missed home. I’ve missed seeing you every day.”

His eyes wandered to the low-burning embers. “It’s hardly a home now.”

Ana rose and crossed to the table. She set her teacup on the table. “I would require you to read to me every evening, to provide copies of the latest penny dreadfuls, and point out each and every interesting thing occurring on the street below so I could spy on the neighbors as adeptly as you do.”

“Impossible,” Father said. “No one spies as well as I do.”

Wallace choked on his tea. Ana tossed him a laughing smile. Father did not always tease or jest, so when he did, it was surprising in the best way.

“This does make me hesitate.” Ana pretended to be concerned. “If I have gentlemen callers here, you will no doubt spy on them.”

“We both will,” Wallace said. “Cain’t have anyone importuning you, Miss Newport.”

“Your last gentlemen callers were perfectly acceptable,” Father said. “More than acceptable.”

“Oh, Father.” She shook her head as she passed his chair on her way to the window. “I had very few callers all those years ago, certainly none who stood out enough to still remember.”

“I meant Mr. Darby and Mr. O’Donnell.”

That stopped Ana briefly in her tracks. “They weren’t callers, Father. Not in that sense.”

He turned in his chair enough to look at her. “Why shouldn’t they be? They’re young and handsome.

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