Thick As Thieves by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1992-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Through a crack in the clothespress door I could see that Grindley was carrying a lighted candle. He wore evening clothes, but still managed to look common. He sniffed the air a couple of times and looked around, but was apparently satisfied that there was nothing amiss. He strode purposefully toward the bed, lifted the mattress, and picked up something. Between the dim light and the small size of the article, I could not tell what it was, but I caught the wink of metal. He shook the object a moment in the palm of his hand, frowning, then slid it into his pocket and left.

We soon heard his footsteps running back downstairs, heard the front door close, and our hearts returned to our chests. I pushed open the closet door and stepped into a pitch-black room. I felt a little restraint from Dalton's arm, but that may be because I bolted forward unexpectedly. In any case, he did not try to detain me, nor did he turn flirtatious.

"Let us see what is under the mattress, then leave," I said at once. "This spree has killed my taste for adventure."

He relit his lamp, and we went to the bed. There was nothing under the mattress. We searched all the way around, and looked under the bed and under the pillow for good measure.

"I believe it was jewelry," I said, and described the metallic flash. "A ring, perhaps, or something small. It could have been an ear pendant. He has lost all his money at cards and is using jewelry for collateral."

Dalton rubbed his chin in a way I was coming to recognize was an habitual gesture. "That explains his hurry; he is eager to get back to the Rose and Thorn."

"You will be going there now?" He opened his lips, and I said, "Don't worry, I am not going to ask you to take me along. Should we have a look at the other rooms before leaving?"

"No, let us go before Harelson returns. Between bad singing and housebreaking, I have entertained you enough for one evening, but I shall let you know tomorrow if I learn anything at the inn."

When we returned below, the front door was actually hanging open. Grindley had been so eager to return to the card game that he had not bothered to close it properly. "No point bolting the door after the ring is gone," I said. We closed the door but did not try to lock it.

We slipped quietly out and went along the dark street to Dalton's carriage, parked in the shadows of a big elm tree. Dalton directed the groom to my house, and we were off.

"It looks as if Grindley is our man," I said.

"We have not proved anything, except that he is a shocking bad houseguest, leaving the door open. Thieves are usually more careful. Attention to detail is ingrained with them."

"Tonight he was not stealing. I daresay he is more careful when he is on the job, as it were.

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