Lie by Moonlight by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page B

to do for the safety and security of my students. It was not as if I had a great deal of choice.”
    â€œI am aware of that. My apologies, Miss Glade.”
    â€œGood night, Mr. Wells.”
    She stalked up the stairs, skirts clanking and thudding on every step, and vanished into the shadows.
    He went back to the fire and stood looking into it for a long time.
    It was plain that the teacher did not hold thieves in the highest regard.
    Pity.
    He was such a skilled one.

5
    S he went swiftly down the hall to the door of the inn room. So he considered her little better than a common street thief or a prostitute who robbed her customers. Why should she care what he thought of her? She and Ambrose Wells were two people thrown together by a strange twist of fate. When this situation had been sorted out they would go their separate ways and that would be the end of it.
    Just as well, she told herself. If he considered her a thief simply because, under extraordinary circumstances, she had stolen some small items that did not belong to her, what would his opinion be if he were to learn of her unconventional past?
    Try to maintain some perspective. Petty thievery was the least of her sins tonight. She had killed a man.
    Her mouth went dry. A vision of Rimpton lying facedown, blood leaking from the grievous wound, rose in front of her like a scene from a nightmare.
    She pushed the image out of her mind. A suitable case of shatterednerves would have to wait for a more convenient occasion. She had other, more important things to concern her now. She must concentrate on taking care of Phoebe, Hannah, Edwina and Theodora.
    She entered the small chamber quietly, trying not to disturb Hannah and Phoebe, who shared the room with her.
    â€œThere you are, Miss Glade.” Phoebe sat up in the shadows, clutching the bedclothes to her throat. “Hannah and I were quite worried.”
    â€œYes.” On the other side of the bed, Hannah stirred and pushed herself up on one elbow. “Are you all right, Miss Glade?”
    â€œI am perfectly well, thank you.” She lit the candle on the washstand and started removing the pins from her hair. “Why on earth would you think otherwise?”
    â€œHannah said that Mr. Wells might try to take advantage of you,” Phoebe explained in her usual forthright manner.
    â€œTake advantage of me.” Concordia swung around, wincing slightly when she heard her skirts clink against the side of the washstand. “Good heavens, Hannah, whatever were you thinking? I assure you, Mr. Wells was a perfect gentleman.” Aside from that odious remark comparing her cleverness to the tricks of pickpockets and prostitutes, she added silently. But perhaps she was a bit oversensitive tonight.
    â€œAre you certain that he did not try to take any liberties?” Hannah asked anxiously.
    â€œNone whatsoever,” she assured her. And immediately wondered why she found that fact oddly depressing.
    â€œOh.” Hannah sank back against the pillows, evidently disappointed. “I was afraid that perhaps he might expect you to kiss him.”
    â€œWhy would he do that?” She unfastened the front hooks of her tight-waisted gown. “We are barely acquainted.”
    â€œHannah suggested that Mr. Wells might play on your gratitude to make you feel that you owed him a kiss,” Phoebe explained.
    â€œI see.” Concordia stepped out of her gown, relieved to be free of the confining bodice and the weight of the items sewn into the skirts. “No need to concern yourself on that point, Hannah. I am quite certain that Mr. Wells is not the sort to attempt such an ungentlemanly tactic.”
    â€œHow can you be sure of that?” Hannah queried.
    Concordia considered the question while she hung her gown on one of the hooks set into the wall. Why was she so certain that Ambrose Wells would not try to take advantage of a woman?
    â€œFor one thing, I doubt that he would find it