A Dash of Scandal(78)

“I noticed. You seem to be doing a lot of that this afternoon. What took your thoughts off what we were talking about and gained your fancy this time?”

“Hiring a Runner to find out who among the ton might be in embarrassing financial trouble at the moment.” He glanced over at her again and gave her a warning smile. “Not that I believe for a moment that Andrew is one of them, but I can see where having that information right now would be useful.”

Her deep amber eyes sparkled up at him from the cover of long, dark lashes. She smiled warmly at him. “I’m sure there are other things we can do to help the authorities find the thief if we just put some time into thinking about it. Sometimes I think we are the only two people in London who are convinced the thief is a man and not a ghost.”

He shook his head in wary amusement. “It’s getting downright ridiculous what some people are saying about Lord Pinkwater’s ghost.”

“Some members of Society are actually trying to make a game out of it.”

“I know.”

“And I’ve heard that at least two of the gentlemen’s clubs are considering taking bets on whose house will be the next one robbed.”

“As unbelievable as it sounds, it’s true.”

“I just had a thought. Have you given any consideration to the idea that the thief might be a woman?”

Chandler smiled down at her and slightly raised an eyebrow. “A woman? You jest.”

“Absolutely not, sir, I seem to remember only a few days ago you were more than willing to believe that I might be the thief.”

“No, no, Miss Blair. I thought you might be an accomplice working with the thief. I’ve since been enlightened about your real duties and why you take notes.”

Millicent rolled her parasol in her hand and said, “We should consider all possibilities. I was just thinking if you and the authorities are going to be looking at gentlemen who might be needing money, maybe you should also look at unattached ladies, too.”

“That is another idea to contemplate,” he admitted.

“The thief must be tall enough to have reached the items that were stolen without benefit of furniture to climb on. That would have taken too much time. I can immediately name Lady Lynette, Viscountess Heathecoute, and Mrs. Honeycutt, all of whom might be of that height.” She cut her gaze around to him. “Not that I think for a moment that any of them are capable of such a vile act as robbery.”

“But you were more than willing to lay the blame on my dear friend of fifteen years.”

“I can see you are not going to let me forget that slip of the tongue.”

“It’s the slip of the pen that I had problems with.”

“It has not yet been proven that Lord Dugdale is in the clear.”

“I have no fear that it is only a matter of time and he will be,” Chandler said confidently.

“So then, are you going to hold a grudge?”

“Why shouldn’t I when I love the way your eyes shine with indignation every time I mention it?”

“You do like to try to put me in a dither, but I won’t let you. The day is too beautiful and I’m quite content.”

“Hmm. I know. You wouldn’t let me kiss you a few minutes ago, even though I’m going mad to do so.”

“I’ve caught on to you and your machinations.”

“I’ll just have to come up with a new plan.”

She laughed softly. “Don’t you dare. You have already gone beyond the pale too many times.”

“But it’s such fun.”

“I’ll not be so easily caught by surprise again.”

“That sounds like a challenge too good to pass on.”

Millicent looked up at him with a serious expression on her face. “I do want to help you find the raven, Chandler.”

“I know you do, and I thank you for that. You’ve already helped by your suggestions. I suppose the thief could be a lady. Mrs. Moore is as tall as Lady Heathecoute.”

“You’re right.”

“I’ll have Doulton making some discreet inquiries about some of the ladies as well as the gentlemen.”

“We might as well include everyone we feel might possibly be a suspect.”

“I’ll have him check the names he comes up with against attendance at the parties. But there’s one thing that bothers me. How would a lady get the object out of the house? The purses ladies carry are so small, and a pelisse fits much too tightly to hide even the smallest of objects—unlike a gentleman’s coat, which can be cut much fuller.”