Page 62 of The Redemption of the Shrew

“That, and I was so bloody ashamed—”

She squeezed his arm. She understood perfectly, but she had to put it into words. “You’re not responsible for your master’s behavior.”

“No, but it makes me sick, and yet I can’t afford to leave him, what with my mum needing whatever I can send her. Maybe in a year or two I’ll have saved enough to take a chance on another master.” He paused. “Miss Morrison, I don’t know why he asked to see that school, but it’s not because of anything Lady Marianne wishes to do. Please warn your mistress not to allow herself to be alone with him again, even for a minute.”

“She won’t. She knows better than to trust him—and for more than one reason.”

“He tried again?”

“To assault her? No, but . . . would it surprise you to learn that your master is a thief?”

He blew out a long breath. “No.”

That surprised her.

“By what I’ve overheard of household gossip, he stole as a boy in school and later from his father, when he’d run through his allowance.” He eyed her in the darkness. “What’s he done now?”

She explained about the missing Book of Hours, and for a while they strolled along in silence. At last Mr. Turner said, “So that’s what he was up to.”

They were getting too close to Miss Glow’s house, so they changed direction and walked the other way. Despite the subject of their conversation, the dark streets seemed friendly and safe when one was on the arm of a wonderful man.

After another ruminative pause—this was one of the characteristics of Mr. Turner’s way of speaking—he said, “Soon as he was on his feet again, he started cursing and swearing at me to hurry up. Afraid of Lord Garrison coming to finish off what the Frenchman started, he was. Would’ve served him right. Then he went into the corridor. That was after you brought me the water, and Miss Warren and the marquis had gone downstairs. He came back a minute or so later, but I was in such a rush to pack that I didn’t look at him straightaway, so if he was carrying something, I didn’t see it. He must have put it in the strongbox with his valuables.” He paused. “Almost certainly—because when we returned, he had me set it by the bed and told me to leave it be. Usually, he has me choose his rings and fobs and such.”

He stopped at the corner of the street. “He’s such a piece of shite. Hell to work for, but he pays me well. He knows it takes skill to make him show to advantage.” He blew out a frustrated breath, and it was all she could do not to hug him. “But it’s no matter. I’ll have a look for it, shall I? That’s what your mistress wants, I take it.”

“Yes, and if you feel that it’s too dangerous to steal it yourself, just let us know where it can be found, and she’ll hire a burglar for that part.”

He cocked his head to one side. “Mayhap we could feign a burglary. Make it look like somebody broke in. It succeeds more often than not.” Her horror must have shown, for he grinned. “Don’t look at me like that, love. I’ve never stolen a thing, but I keep my ears open.”

Elspeth pulled herself together. “My mistress will reward you handsomely, and you won’t have to work for that man anymore, or for anyone else, if you don’t want to. You could start a business of your own—buy an inn, perhaps, or become a tailor.”

Another long silence. “I don’t think I’m cut out to be an innkeeper. Or a tailor.” He paused. “Or a burglar, so don’t fret.” He chuckled.

“Oh, you!” she said, laughing as well. “Another occupation, then. The important thing is . . .” She didn’t have the courage to put it into words.

His smile slowly grew. He took her hands in his. “We could afford to marry.”

Delight overwhelmed her. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Right, then,” he said. “I’ll do it—on two conditions. First, if anything goes wrong—if I lose my position or worse, I wind up in Newgate, your mistress will take care of my old mum.”

“I’m sure she’ll agree to that. But nothing must go wrong!”

“And second, you’ll give me a good luck kiss.”

Chapter 13

Gloriana had never seen her maid so excited. “He agreed to look for the book?”

“Oh, yes, miss. He didn’t even hesitate.” Because he loves me, her starry eyes said. “Oh, I hope and pray he doesn’t get caught. He made it sound easy, but . . . He did say it might take time.”

Gloriana sighed. “I shall try to muster some more patience.”

“And he warned me to tell you never to let yourself be alone with his lordship again. ‘What his lordship wants, he gets,’ he said, ‘and he didn’t get Miss Warren, so stands to reason he wants her even more now.’”

“Well, he can’t have me,” Gloriana said, but nevertheless she wished she could have told him straight out that he mightn’t visit the school.

She found that she was wishing for far too many impossibles at the moment. That the Book of Hours hadn’t been stolen. That she hadn’t acted the hypocrite for the past five years—in which case, Philippe might still love her.