Lady Thief by Kay Hooper Read Free Book Online

Five
    Spencer gazed broodingly into the fire, thinking of wild eyes and a cool, mocking voice. He wondered irritably how a woman with such distinctive eyes could be unknown. From her manner of speaking, she was gently born and well-educated. Yet more than two weeks of discreet questions and careful search had failed to discover a single young woman with wild, glittering eyes.
    He propped his long legs upon a footstool and released a weary sigh. Devil take the woman. She was nowhere to be found.
    “Good evening, Your Grace.”
    He jerked his head around, staring toward the window. It was her. She sat upon the windowsill, hooded and masked as before, negligently holding a pistol in one black-gloved hand.
    Involuntarily, he said, “I have been searching everywhere for you.”
    “I cannot imagine why—unless you wished for the return of your property.” Her free hand tossed a small leather pouch to land near his chair. “Your jewels. I regret that the money could not be returned as well. Unfortunately, it was needed elsewhere.”
    She turned to go, but Spencer said, “Wait. I—would like to talk to you.” He knew instinctively that if he made a move to rise, she would disappear into the night.
    Her golden eyes studied him intently. “I see no reason for a conversation between the two of us, Your Grace,” she said coolly.
    He smiled. “Humor me. I wish to get to know you. You are, after all, an enigma.”
    “By choice, Your Grace,” she responded dryly. “A well-known thief tends to have a distressingly short career.”
    Again he smiled, genuinely amused by this strange, bold young woman. “You have nothing to fear from me, I assure you. Even if I knew your true identity, I would disclose it to no one.”
    Birdlike, she tilted her head to one side. “That is a very strange statement, Your Grace. I am a notorious thief; it is your duty as a loyal subject of the king to do your utmost to aid in my apprehension.”
    He leaned his head back against the chair and studied her speculatively. “I am not entirely certain that you are a thief.”
    Small white teeth gleamed in a brilliant smile. “Have you forgotten that I robbed you?”
    “No. And yet tonight you returned the jewels.”
    “But not the money.”
    “Which you said was needed elsewhere. I have talked to most of the people you robbed and they all told me that, without exception, all of their jewelry was returned to them. Hardly the behavior of a common thief.”
    “I never said I was common, Your Grace.”
    “What are you searching for?” He saw her stiffen in surprise, and continued quietly, “The only answer I could formulate is that you are searching for a particular article of jewelry.”
    “Astute of you,” she responded abruptly. “And the money?”
    “I can only assume that you have need of the money.”
    “Why not assume that I am simply a thief—greedy for riches?”
    “There is still the matter of the jewels. If you were greedy, you would not have returned them.”
    Her golden eyes narrowed. After a moment, she said softly, “You think, Your Grace. That can be very dangerous in a man.”
    His eyes locked with hers. “It can be even more dangerous in a woman,” he responded smoothly.
    For a long moment, a silent battle of wills took place between them. Then the Cat began to smile. With a soft chuckle, she said, “You would be a formidable opponent, Your Grace.”
    His eyes were grave. “I have no wish to oppose you; I would like to help you.”
    She seemed surprised. “I believe you mean that.”
    “I do. If you would tell me what you search for, perhaps . . .” His voice trailed off as he realized that, although she was still smiling, she had withdrawn from him.
    “Thank you. I am very grateful for the offer, but this is something I must do alone.”
    There was a tinge of regret in his gray eyes. “You do not trust me.”
    Her smile twisted wryly. “My trust in my fellow man was never strong, Your Grace; it has deteriorated