One Penny Surprise (Saved By Desire 1)

“Don’t put yourself in danger, Luke,” she pleaded quietly.

“I won’t. I can take care of myself. I have to do this, Poppy, because I have a responsibility to Toby. It seemed like a good idea to involve him in the investigation at the time because he is able to blend in with the crowd better than we can and is good at noticing things. However, I didn’t realise just how much danger surrounded us. Until we can find this assailant, Toby needs to be in a place of safety.”

Poppy nodded. The young lad had his entire life ahead of him. Even if it was a life of pick-pocketing, it was still a life and he shouldn’t have it stolen from him because he had chosen to help someone in exchange for a few pennies. The very thought filled her with quiet horror, and she couldn’t help but feel proud of Luke for his concern over the younger’s welfare. He was not only protecting her, but also looking after Toby, and was prepared to put his life on the line to do so.

“I can stay here, I don’t mind. I won’t go anywhere. Not after last night. It is best if you go to Toby sooner rather than later. He needs to be here too,” she replied. “Do you think that man is connected to Clarence? Or do you think he has something to do with Sayers? I cannot help thinking that he was too violent to have anything to do with Clarence. I mean, Clarence is a bully but is more verbal than physical. That man last night was a brute, and lethal with that weapon. That doesn’t strike me as something Clarence would get involved in. He moans a lot, but he isn’t a -” She lapsed into silence when she remembered the way Clarence had hit her on that last day and she frowned at the wall as she tried to decide whether she really knew him.

Luke watched the tentative way she touched her cheek. “He hit you, didn’t he?” He saw the confirmation in her eyes when she looked at him. She didn’t answer, just lay her head back down on his chest, but then she didn’t need to answer him. He knew. “Don’t discount anybody, Poppy, that is all I can say. Don’t underestimate what they might be capable of. It is one thing I have learned throughout the years I have worked for the Star Elite. Until you get proof otherwise, everyone has to be guilty.”

“It wasn’t Clarence who attacked you, but it may have been someone he knows. I cannot see Sayers’ sending anyone to attack you. Believe me, Poppy; if Sayers wants someone dead, they die, it is as simple as that. They will be killed with brisk efficiency, and there are few mistakes.”

He didn’t want to say it aloud for fear of upsetting her, but that only pointed to the fact that the attacker last night was most likely connected to Clarence, and that meant her father wanted her dead. Unfortunately, that theory left her with another problem. If the attacker wanted to kill her when she didn’t have the money on her why did he want her dead?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“What made you get involved in this?” she asked curiously.

“What? Sayers?”

“No, the Star Elite,” she corrected. “I have to admit that I have never heard of such an organisation before. How did you come to know about it?”

“You shouldn’t. There are people in the upper echelons of society, most of who work with or around others in the War Office, who do know of our existence, but they rarely speak of the work we do. It is why we are so effective.” He played with her fingers while he spoke. “My father wanted me to join the blacksmith business he had built up, but I didn’t want that kind of life so I joined the army as soon as I was able. I wanted to see the world and travel a bit. The army seemed like the right choice at the time. So I joined up and went straight into battle in France. It was horrendous, but taught me a lot about who I am and what I want out of life. I got injured.” He lifted his leg clear of the bed clothes and pointed to a long, jagged gash down his thigh before he tucked it out of sight again. “I had to return to England to recuperate. Although I was prepared to go back to fight as soon as I was able to walk properly I was told to report to the War Office. They had received some kind of missive from my Captain, or something, I am not entirely sure how they learned about me but, as soon as I was physically fit again, I was set to work with the Star Elite. To begin with we protected the borders from smugglers who were bringing French spies into the country. As soon as the war ended, rather than disband us and allow us to return to civilian life we turned our attention to domestic crime. Then last year, several people in the highest realms of society began to report thefts from their houses. It soon became apparent that a serial burglar now operates in London, but it isn’t just any serial burglar. This one is only targeting the larger houses of aristocracy.”

“How do you know?”

Luke smiled. “Because the only items stolen were jewellery and paintings.”

“That’s incredibly foolish, isn’t it?”

“How so?”

“Well, those houses have staff everywhere,” she replied thoughtfully. “I should imagine it would be incredibly difficult to get anywhere near them without someone noticing. Surely someone would see a man climbing out of a window with a painting on his back.”

“I know. It is why we suspect an insider is providing the burglar with information. It is either that or the thief is one of the ton, and familiar with all the houses targeted. Either way someone somewhere is experienced enough to get in and out of these places without being caught.”

Poppy nodded. “They have to have some sort of insider information to be able to know not only where the jewels are kept, but how to get in and out without being caught.”

“They also have to be aware of just how much the paintings are worth. Can you remember Lord Hampton? Well, his house is littered with painting

s yet only one was taken – the most expensive one.”

“Was it that man in the park, do you think?” she asked hating to even think of that fateful morning.

Luke slowly shook his head. “It would make life simpler if it was, and all the burglaries suddenly stopped, but a few days ago a member of the ton, a highly respectable man with no seedy connections whatsoever as far as we can tell, suddenly upped and vanished from his own house.”

“Did he run away with a mistress or something?” She couldn’t help it she was captivated by his story and began to understand why his work appealed to him so.

Luke grinned at her. “It would be better if he did, but that doesn’t explain why he took quite a valuable painting with him.”

“Is he dead too?” she whispered with a shudder.

“I don’t know, sweetheart. For now, all we can do is wait to see if his body turns up. If it does then it is safe to say that the killer isn’t done yet, and anyone who is aristocracy is at risk.”

Poppy shivered and snuggled deeper beneath the covers. “Just be careful.”

“I will. I promise,” he replied huskily, delighted that she cared so much. After several moments of gentle kisses, Luke settled her against him once more and stared blankly at the wall. “I will go and see your cousin, Peter, today. I went just after you arrived here, but Peter was away. He should be back by now.”

“I think it is safe to say that Clarence wants the money desperately, but I cannot see him having anything to do with the body in the park,” Poppy sighed.