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“As you can easily determine, my Lord, I possess particular skills that, once it is located, will permit me to remove the necklace you seek. I do not require your participation or your permission in order to serve both my friend and Lord Liverpool.”
“I assure you, Miss Everley, a simple sleight of hand will only infuriate those you seek. I know London’s worst neighbourhoods and the habitué within.”
“Do you, Lord Harlow? I wonder,” she said as a means to present him the gauntlet of a challenge. “Are we or are we not to be partners in this endeavour?”
Colleen forced herself to meet his steady gaze. The same heat of recognition she had experienced that day in Hyde Park, and earlier when she had opened the door to him, had returned; yet, she refused even to blink.
After an elongated pause, he said, “For the time, I will follow Lord Liverpool’s orders.”
She wished to dance a jig in celebration, but, instead, Colleen presented him a simple nod of acceptance.
“Although you may not disclose the owner of the necklace or its location when it disappeared, might you tell me if other items were removed from what I must assume was a home safe?”
Lord Harlow frowned dramatically, indicating hers was a question he had not asked of his employer.
“Not to the best of my knowledge,” he admitted in reluctant tones. “Is such important?”
“It is to us. We must determine whether the theft was one of opportunity or one designed to make a statement,” she explained.
His eyebrow rose, announcing his question before it was spoken.
“A statement?”
“Did the thief take the necklace because he might never have another opportunity to claim such a priceless piece, or did the thief wish to prove the ease with which he could remove the necklace, despite what I must assume were precautions to prevent such an eventuality. Before you ask, my father was, generally, of the second type.”
Again, his brows drew together in an obvious acknowledgement of the consideration he gave her questions.
“Before I can respond properly, I must ask for clarification from Lord Liverpool.” Which meant he could not speak on the theft itself with any certainty. He grudgingly asked, “What else should we know before we go further in this search?”
Colleen wanted to purr with satisfaction: she had bested Grandison the Great. When his lordship departed, she would be dancing that jig, after all.
Rather, she said, “It would be helpful to be aware of how many knew of the necklace in the safe. If nothing less, did the servants possess knowledge of the necklace’s presence? Were any doors or windows left unlocked for the night? After all, whoever managed to enter the property to open the safe avoided encountering both servants and the house’s residents, am I correct in my assumption?” His Lordship nodded his head in agreement. She continued, “The person must possess very specific skills. Stealth, for example, not to mention the ability to open a safe. Was the safe itself one of the more secure models found in many finer homes, or was it a simple lock and key style? Also, do we know how the thief came by the knowledge of the necklace’s value and whether he, or she,” Colleen said with a mischievous grin, “possessed any accomplices. I am assuming, at this time, that you do not possess the answers to these questions.”
“Perhaps the house proved convenient pickings for the thief or thieves,” he suggested lamely.
Colleen shook off his suggestion.
“I would again assume that the owner of the necklace holds a prominent position in Society if both you and Lord Liverpool are involved.” He kept his lips sealed, indicating her assumption correct. “A common thief would not take the chance of being caught by such auspicious personages, for he would hang because of the notoriety of the deed.”
“Then we are searching for someone of your father’s skills?” he asked with a lift of his eyebrows, insinuating that she, herself, could be a suspect.
“As the British government has seen to my father’s permanent place of residence for the remainder of his days, your thief cannot be Thomas Everley,” she responded, irritation lacing her tone.
His lordship’s predictable accusation arrived.
“Perhaps the thief is someone Thomas Everley has trained.”
Colleen set her tea aside and stood abruptly.
“I believe our business is at an end, my Lord. I shall have Mr. Jones see you out.”
She started for the door, but Lord Harlow was quicker.
“Not so fast, Miss Everley,” he said as his hand wrapped about her forearm. “Our ‘business’ is not finished until I say it is.”
“I am not your property, my Lord. I am of age, and I can say with whom I keep company, and you are not among those I choose to entertain. I shall thank you, first, to remove your hand from my person, and then, likewise, remove yourself from my house.” She glared at him until his fingers lifted from her arm. “Good day, my Lord.”
With that, she strode from the room, allowing the door to swing hard against the wall as she shoved it from her way.
