A Dash of Scandal(61)

This was unbelievable. “Oh, my heavens! You think I’m a thief?”

“An accomplice. I thought you were giving your notes to the thief so that he could come back later and steal one of the items you listed.”

Millicent was almost speechless—almost. “That’s absolutely wretched of you. I don’t believe this. You were watching me all this time, talking to me, dancing with me, and you kissed me so passionately in that shop thinking that I was a thief. How could you have done that?” The thought mortified Millicent.

“No, I didn’t think that of you at the time I kissed you in the shop. By then, I had reasoned that you were merely making notes of names and titles and things about people so you could remember who they were next time you met them. I kissed you because I wanted to and for no other reason.”

Millicent shook her head. “This is too inconceivable. You only spent time with me because you wanted to watch me, get close to me until you discovered who I worked with.”

“Not entirely. I find you extremely attractive, Millicent. You must know that. But, I also want to find the thief and recover the raven.”

“I think it’s perfectly horrible that you thought I had something to do with that contemptible creature who is taking things that don’t belong to him.”

“It’s no more horrible than writing about people’s private lives and publishing them in the newspaper.”

“Oh but it is, sir,” she argued fervently.

“How? You seem overly indignant for a lady who writes gossip.”

“I’m not stealing anyone’s personal property.”

“No, you’re only stealing their privacy and their good names.”

Millicent opened her mouth to tell him that she was only doing it to help her father’s sister, but even though Chandler had found out who she was, he still didn’t know who Lord Truefitt was, and, for her aunt’s sake, Millicent had to keep it that way. She turned away and said nothing.

“Why do you do it?”

Keeping her back to him she said, “I have nothing more to say on the subject.”

“Is it for the money?”

That made her to turn around and face him. “No.”

“Is someone forcing you to do this?”

“Of course not.” She walked away from him and closer to the settee, but unfortunately he followed her. She glanced toward the door. How long did it take Glenda to ask Mrs. Brown to speak to the cook about a pot of tea?

“Tell me why?”

Millicent wanted to tell him the truth and include the fact she didn’t find any satisfaction in what she was doing, but she dared not. She was caught, not her aunt. Millicent couldn’t let him know that her aunt was really Lord Truefitt. She came to help her aunt keep her employment, not expose her and force her to lose it.

“My reasons are of no concern to you and I won’t share them with you.”

“I suppose that the Heathecoutes and Lady Beatrice are not aware of what you are doing.”

Thankfully, he made that a statement and not a question. If she were careful she wouldn’t have to tell him any more than necessary.

“Lady Beatrice and the Heathecoutes have been very good to me. I would hate for them to know what you have figured out.”

“I could make it known who you are and you would lose your employment.”

“I would lose much more than that,” she whispered earnestly, loathe to think that scandal would drive her from London like her mother. “I’m sure Lady Beatrice would ask me to leave.” She would no longer be of use to her aunt.

Suddenly an idea struck Millicent. She was very still for a moment but turned and looked into his eyes. “I hope I can persuade you not to do anything rash, sir. I think I know of a way I can be of help to you.”

His eyebrows rose in question. “You help me? How? You torment me with your writings.”

Millicent cringed. He did make what she was doing sound horrible, but she wouldn’t let that stop her from telling him her idea. “I can help you find the Mad Ton Thief.”

He smiled, then chuckled. “You surprise me and the devil take me if I don’t enjoy it, Millicent. I wish I didn’t, but I do. How could you help me find the thief?”

“For one, I hear things you don’t hear. You are an earl. People watch what they say around you, but with me they are less careful. I am more apt to hear news concerning the Mad Ton Thief than you.”