To Catch A Thief (Saved By Desire 3)

“But it hasn’t,” Jeb finished for him.

Algernon shook his head.

“So the thief doesn’t have much respect for rank or authority, do they?” Jeb replied honestly.

Algernon sighed. “No, I suppose not. What are we going to do then?”

Jeb smiled with more confidence than he actually felt. “Just leave it to me. Tonight, we are going to put these trinket boxes on the table beside the front door and keep an eye on them. It will be too much temptation for the thief to resist. I fully intend to catch them in the act when they try to steal them.”

“What then?” Algernon asked. It was clear he was starting to get distressed at what the outcome might be. “What do we do if the boxes do vanish, and we have no idea who has taken them? I can hardly ask my guests to empty their pockets on the way out of the house.”

Jeb smiled, but it wasn’t the open, warm, and friendly smile he usually gave his father. It was more of a feral grin, so menacingly dangerous that even Algernon took a wary step backwards.

“Then I go hunting.”

“For what?” Algernon asked a little nervously.

“For the thief,” Jeb drawled with a feral grin.

Algernon opened his mouth but, before he could speak, several loud raps on the front door shattered the silence.

CHAPTER FOUR

The evening was worse than Jeb had expected. Mainly because he was sharing it with the most eclectic group of people he had ever seen in one place in his entire life. The low buzz of conversation around the table sounded more like a swarm of bees, but was mostly gossip about people Jeb had never heard of before. It was evident that the gatherings of this particular group were more of a gossip-fest, and it was as annoying as hell to Jeb, who now sincerely wished he was anywhere else.

Sighing deeply, he nodded to the footman to refill his goblet. As long as the wine continued to flow he could manage to grit his teeth and survive the evening. Although he had nothing in common with anyone around the table, there was one person who made the debacle a little more enjoyable.

Sophia Carney.

He was trying not to stare at her, but found it incredibly difficult given she was seated directly opposite. To call her captivating was an understatement of mammoth proportions. She was beautiful. She had a delicate refinement about her rather than exotic mystery that drew his attention back to her time and again. Her wholesome goodness was emphasised by the subtle peach tinged cheeks that he suspected was natural rather than rouged. There was a healthy glow about her that only accentuated her high cheekbon

es and incredible sea green eyes which, when she smiled, twinkled a tantalising peridot colour. The hint of mischief in her eyes tempted him to smile back. Although she was fashionably pale, it only emphasised her delicate femininity which, when combined with the dark mop of curly hair, gave her an impish look that was downright captivating.

He saw her sigh and fought an uncharacteristic smile. There could be no doubt she was just as bored as he was. When Algernon coughed, Jeb looked at his father. Algernon lifted his brows and nodded toward Sophia. Jeb knew his father was telling him to converse with her, but for the first time in his life, was struggling to know what to say.

Thankfully, the lady in question was temporarily distracted from her boredom by the elderly spinster seated beside her, Mabel Harvell, or was that one Pearl? Whichever, it gave Jeb the opportunity to study the way the candlelight altered the shade of Sophia’s hair. He had thought it was dark brown, but the candlelight gilded it and burnished it copper, blonde, and lighter shades of chestnut. It was intriguing him to the point that Jeb wanted to loosen the pins to see if it really was as curly as it appeared to be, and decide upon the exact colour.

When it became evident that Jeb wasn’t going to talk to her, Algernon decided that as host, he had a duty to converse with all of his guests. That included the one who had, wonderfully, captured his son’s attention.

Fighting a delighted smile, Algernon waited until she had turned her attention back to her food and discretely coughed to draw her attention toward him.

“Miss Carney,” he began politely. “How do you find life in Framley Meadow? Not too mundane for you, I hope?”

Sophia stared at him for a moment but then gave him a winning smile that made even Algernon suck in a startled breath. Her smile transformed the delicate oval of her face and mesmerised every man seated around the now hushed table.

“I find the village very pleasant, thank you. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here,” she replied, trying to ignore the fact that everyone was now staring at her.

“I hear you have been here for about two weeks now?” Jeb continued once he had fortified himself with another sip of wine, and could collect his thoughts enough to enter the conversation.

“That’s right. I am due to leave soon, though. I am just waiting for my father,” she continued for want of anything else to say.

“I do hope we get to meet again before you go back home to – where was it?” Algernon leaned forward in his seat.

He couldn’t remember having heard much gossip about her and had to wonder why. Her aunt certainly seemed to always have a lot to say about – well – about everything. Why had she not mentioned her delightful niece? Was she jealous perhaps?

Algernon threw Delilah an annoyed frown when the woman opened her mouth to intercept her niece’s response.

“Oh, I am sure we shall meet again at the Harvell’s tea next Thursday. I am due to return to Brentley in Buckinghamshire as soon as my father arrives to collect me.”