Where The Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens Read Free Book Online Page B

any example, not wanting to color her response.
    She frowned, her straight dark brows forming a line above her nose. They continued to walk, rather briskly, while she thought. Eventually she volunteered, “They are, all four of them, rather thin and slight, but they’re healthy and strong enough—wiry, if you like.And all struck me as nimble and quick. But they aren’t all the same height. In fact, I can’t think of any other characteristic they have in common. They weren’t even the same age.”
    It was his turn to frown. After a moment, he asked, “How tall was the tallest?”
    She held up her hand level with her ear. “Dick was about this tall. But Ben—the second one who disappeared—was more than a head shorter.”
    “What about their general appearance—were they attractive children, or…?”
    She shook her head decisively. “Plain and totally unremarkable. Even if you dressed them well, they would never rate a second glance.”
    “Blond hair or brown?”
    “Both—varying shades.”
    “You said they were nimble and quick—did you mean quick as in movement, or quick-witted?”
    Her brows rose. “Both, actually. I was looking forward to teaching all four boys—they were bright, all of them.”
    “What about backgrounds? They were all from poor homes, but were these four from more stable families, likely to be better behaved, perhaps easier to train, more tractable?”
    She pursed her lips, but again shook her head. “Their families weren’t of any one sort, as such, although all four had gone through difficult times, even for the East End. That’s why the boys were destined for us. All I could say is that there was no hint of any criminal associations in any of the four families.”
    He nodded, looking ahead—to where her mother waited in her carriage, staring rather pointedly their way.
    Penelope hadn’t noticed; she was busy studying his face. “What does that—what they look like and so on—tell you? How does it help?”
    His gaze raking the line of carriages, Barnaby inwardly swore. How long had they been away? He should never have allowed her to distract him with her questions. Countless dowagers were peering at them, some even wielding lorgnettes. “I don’t know.” But I can guess. “I’ll take your answers back to Stokes, and see what he says. He’s better acquainted with that world than I.”
    “Yes, please do.” Penelope halted beside the carriage door and fixed her gaze on his face. “You will inform me of what he thinks, won’t you?”
    Adair looked down and met her gaze. “Of course.”
    She narrowed her eyes, ignoring all the curious glances focused so avidly on them. “As soon as practicable.”
    His lips thinned.
    Uncaring of propriety, she tightened her grip on his arm, perfectly prepared to cling if he dared try to leave without promising…
    Blue eyes like flint, he tersely conceded, “As you wish.”
    She smiled and let him go. “Thank you. Until next we meet.”
    He held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded. “Indeed. Until then.”
    Steely warning rang in his tone, but she didn’t care; she’d won her point.
    He handed her into the carriage, took his leave of her mother, then, with another curt nod, strode off. She noted his direction—toward Scotland Yard, where Peel’s police had their headquarters; leaning back against the seat, she smiled a satisfied smile. Despite her senses’ preoccupation with him, she’d managed that encounter rather well.

4
    S tokes was on his feet behind his desk, tidying it before leaving for the day, when Barnaby strode in. Stokes looked up, took in his friend’s features. “What?”
    Penelope Ashford is going to be a problem. Barnaby drew in a controlled breath. “I asked Miss Ashford about the four boys.”
    Stokes frowned. “Miss Ashford?”
    “Penelope Ashford, Portia’s sister, currently the Foundling House’s administrator. She said all four boys were thin, wiry, nimble, and quick—both in movement and