To Love a Thief by Darcy Burke Read Free Book Online

her feet to the floor.
    “You have to come with me,” he said. “Until I can ascertain that whoever did this is no longer in the house, I want you by my side. Do you understand?” His eyes were clear, his tone utterly calm.
    She nodded, unable to fault his logic. It was better that he made her decision, for she simply couldn’t.
    He helped her to her feet and he drew her close. “Take a deep breath, can you do that?”
    Maybe . His hand drew circles on her lower back as she inhaled. Finally, air filled her lungs as he conferred his care upon her. She was still tense and scared, but for a moment, she found solace.
    “Ready?” he asked, his touch gently slowing until stopping altogether. He kept his palm against her lower back.
    “I think so.” She told him the way to the scullery. They crept down the stairs and near the bottom heard muffled sounds. Carlyle rushed forward and found the three retainers on the floor, their hands bound to each other behind their backs and rags tied around their mouths. They were trussed exactly as Jocelyn’s servants had been two years ago. Shivers raced down her spine and up her arms.
    Carlyle was already removing the rags from their mouths. The maid, Nan, began to swear, Mrs. Moss began to cry, while her husband thanked Carlyle profusely. Jocelyn jolted out of her shock, and she hurried forward to help untie them.
    “Do you know if the culprits are still in the house?” Carlyle asked.
    Moss shook his head while he massaged his wife’s wrists. “I don’t think so.” He stood and helped Mrs. Moss to her feet.
    Carlyle helped Nan up. “And Mrs. Harwood?”
    “Still out,” Moss said, “by the grace of God.”
    Jocelyn relaxed a bit at this news.
    “Just the same, I think I’d better take a look around.” Carlyle turned to Jocelyn and took her hands in his. “Stay here.” He gave her fingers a squeeze and then raced up the stairs almost soundlessly.
    While Carlyle was gone, they went into the kitchen and assembled themselves at the small table where the staff took their meals. Moss continued to hold his wife’s hands and stroke her wrists in a soothing fashion. She kept looking into Moss’s eyes and smiling tremulously, as if she were doing her best to reassure him.
    Jocelyn blinked tears away. Their love and concern for one another was palpable and evoked bittersweet memories of her parents.
    Nan made tea and when she’d set the pot to steeping, Carlyle came back down the stairs. All of them turned toward him with expectant eyes.
    He took a seat at the head of the table. “The house is empty, but every room was searched. I can’t tell if anything has been stolen.”
    Jocelyn was nearly certain nothing had, that what they’d wanted was tucked firmly in her pocket, but didn’t say so. “I daresay we won’t know until we clean up.”
    She laid her hand over her pocket, feeling the items concealed within. Relief that she’d decided to carry the treasures with her at all times joined her anger at what had been done to their retainers. She was only glad Gertrude hadn’t been here.
    Carlyle turned to Moss. “Can you tell me what happened?”
    The butler gave his wife a reaffirming nod before turning his attention to Carlyle. “I answered the door, and they struck me in the head. The blow wasn’t enough to put me out, but they easily overcame me, my lord.” He sounded apologetic.
    “You did fine, Moss. How many were there?” Carlyle asked, his tone warm and encouraging.
    Moss looked a bit sheepish. “I’m not sure, my lord. Two of them dragged me down here, but it seems likely more came in after.”
    Nan nodded, her lip curling. “One came upstairs and found me. Tall bloke with longish blond hair. Nearly scared the life out of me. I tried to kick him, but he hauled me downstairs and handed me off to another one.” She shook her head, muttering something unintelligible, and then went to get the tea.
    “So perhaps four men?” Carlyle asked calmly. His demeanor