Gilded Cage by KJ Charles

Author:KJ Charles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, romance, Victorian, jewel thieves
Publisher: KJC Books
Published: 2019-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

When Templeton woke, the bed was empty.

He took a moment to work out where he was, and several more to decide if last night had in fact happened. The dried patch on his belly suggested it had, and anyway, his imagination wasn’t nearly that good.

Sukey.

He was not sure at all why she’d kissed him, and had a sudden spasmodic thought that it might have been an attempt to control the situation by giving what she feared would otherwise be taken. No, that had definitely not been the case, he decided, after a frantic check of his memories. She had unquestionably given permission, not to say orders, and also she hadn’t killed him in his sleep.

So where had she gone, and why, and how would she want him to behave now?

He didn’t delude himself they could slip back into their old relations easily. Susan had always been guarded and prickly and she’d honed her defences over the years. She hadn’t given an inch, verbally at least. She’d chosen to bed him for her own reasons; he would not be fool enough to assume that entitled him to anything else, even civility. Today would almost certainly be a field of mantraps.

Still, if he’d wanted an easy life, he’d have done as his father told him.

He washed and dressed, taking care because today, like every day since the murder, might be his last day of freedom. If he’d just had his last night of freedom, it wasn’t a bad way to go.

He emerged into the main room of the suite, and was relieved to see Susan. She sat by the window with a notebook on her lap, glaring out with an expression that threatened the fog.

“Good morning,” he said, and swallowed Mrs. Ranelagh as too provocative.

“Mph,” Susan responded, adding, “Morning,” a moment later.

“Shall I order breakfast?”

“Tea. Kippers.”

Templeton pressed the bell, and gave the order. Once the man had gone, he said, “So. Mortlake?”

“Contact Crozier first. I want to get hold of him this evening if possible.”

“I’ll do my best. What’s my role: your assistant?”

“Too much trouble. Everyone will assume you’re my superior anyway.”

“Colleague at most,” Templeton said firmly. “I’m unqualified to lead.”

Susan scowled at her notebook. “Where do we get you a jeweller’s loupe?”

“We can pick one up on the way to Waterloo. You look annoyed. Can I help?”

“There’s a number of things I’d like to know, but I doubt you know any of them either. We didn’t finish talking about your father.”

“I’m fairly sure we did. What else is there?”

“What if you went back?” Susan said. “Presented yourself as the black sheep made good?”

“I doubt he’d care.”

“He’s old. He might want to know you’re still alive.”

“He’d probably accuse me of hoping for an inheritance. I could never do anything right in his eyes, just as Neville could do no wrong. And when Neville was at fault, of course, he blamed me.” It had always been the case. He’d tried and tried to please his father, and never understood why he failed. In the end he’d stopped trying and started misbehaving.

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