An Honorable Thief by Anne Gracíe Read Free Book Online Page A

snapped Hugo. "I am barely two and thirty, Amelia, as you very well know! And you, sister-in-law, have the advantage of me by more than ten years."
    "Nonsense, it is barely seven!" retorted Amelia instantly. "I am not yet turned fort —no, I cannot even say it. It was most ungallant of you to raise such an unpleasant subject." She waved away his objections. "The point is, Hugo, that I know how overwhelming a man of your age and experience can seem to a chit just out of the schoolroom."
    Hugo opened his mouth to argue, but Amelia continued, "She must have a tendre for you, else why would she lisp and behave shyly? Take it from me, she is not shy with anyone else. Quiet, pretty-behaved, yes. But I've found her
    perfectly ready to converse and not a hint of shyness. No, if she is developing a tendre for you, it is yet another reason why you must certainly stay away from her."
    "Oh, do not be ridiculous! How the devil can I investigate her background if I cannot go near her? You and Thomas would soon find yourselves in the suds if her fortune was not as large as it is reputed to be."
    "We will find ourselves in the suds if the girl decides she prefers you to Thomas, too!" responded Amelia crossly. "Stop it Hugo! There is no need to roll your eyes at me in that disagreeable manner. I am merely stating a fact."
    "Rubbish! Believe me, there is no danger of me succumbing to her simple-minded charms."
    "The girl is no more simple-minded than you or I!" Amelia stamped her foot. "She is young, yes, and innocent, but she is not the least bit stupid or shy."
    "But —"
    "And she does not stutter —"
    "Lisp."
    "Lisp, then." Amelia hurried on, her eyes narrowed with ambition. "But she's clearly smitten by your masculine charms, Hugo, and thus all our problems are compounded. I knew you would ruin everything! You must leave this girl, and take yourself back to your rural wastes and your horrid ships. Thomas and I will see to securing this fortune ourselves. I'll not stand by to see you dazzle the girl with your elegance, your worldly address and your —"
    "Steal my nephew's bride from under bis nose?" interrupted Hugo with asperity. "Apart from being ridiculous, I have no intention —"
    "She is not his bride yet; they are not even betrothed. And —"
    "Oh, well, if she's not even betrothed," he said provocatively. "Oh, don't look like that! I have no interest in the girl, or her purported riches. I merely wish to investigate her background —as Thomas's trustee! And that is all! Put those ridiculous suspicions from your mind! I have no need of a fortune, let alone a diamond mine of unproven provenance. And there is not the slightest danger of my succumbing to the charms of the younger Miss Singleton. Far from it! I am more like to strangle the girl!"
    Kit frowned as she adjusted a curl in the mirror of one of the withdrawing rooms set aside for ladies. It was a puzzle as to why Mr Devenish was so interested in her. All those questions about her father. And New South Wales.
    Perhaps Lady Norwood and Mr Devenish thought Kit a fortune hunter, out to snabble a lord for a husband.
    She would have to allay their suspicions. It would be disastrous to her plans if Mr Devenish investigated her background too deeply and discovered that Miss Catherine Singleton was in fact Miss Kit Smith, actually christened Kathleen, and not a member of an aristocratic family at all. And that her father had been thrown out of New South Wales and a number of other places for cheating at cards. And worse.
    If that came out, there would be a frightful scandal, and poor Rose Singleton would be the one to suffer for it. Kit would not permit such a thing to happen, not if she could prevent it. Whatever she had done in the past, Rose was an innocent, a kind and generous-hearted innocent, and Kit would not allow such a sweet-natured woman to suffer on her behalf.
    She would have to speak to Thomas as soon as possible and make it clear she had no interest in him. And if he