A Simple Case of Seduction

“Precisely.” Had Daniel been a man of great emotion, his tone would have conveyed a hint of admiration for her insight. “Which is why I’m confident I can find the person responsible before the day is out.”

“Well, when you do,” Madame Fontaine blurted, “tell them if they pay for the damage I’ll say no more about it.”

Daniel nodded. “Now let us address the matter of theft. As it’s been days since the thief found a way into the shop, I assume Mrs Chambers has a theory.”

“A theory? I … I have been a little preoccupied of late.” Mrs Chambers looked at her hands resting in her lap. The air of confidence that oozed from every fibre of her being had vanished. “The matter should have been a priority but …”

Her lack of attention proved worrying. “Then tell me all you know.”

When she met his gaze, a look of vulnerability passed over her features. The hairs on his nape stood to attention. Damn it. Something was wrong.

“The thief entered via the basement door,” she said. “As I’ve already told you, he stole two dresses, gloves and slippers.”

Madame Fontaine tutted. “He was so quiet we never heard a thing.”

Daniel was puzzled by the thief’s chosen booty. Why steal accoutrements that held little value when he could have carried another silk dress?

“Were the accessories matching?”

Madame Fontaine nodded. “Once a garment is ready for collection, I box the accessories and keep them together.”

“Did the thief take the boxes?” One man would struggle to carry the packages on his own.

“Yes.”

“Then the appropriate term is thieves.”

“It occurred to me that there might be two men,” Mrs Chambers said, and Daniel was relieved to find that logical thought had not completely abandoned her.

“Who were the dresses made for?”

Madame Fontaine shuffled to the edge of her seat. “One was a mourning gown for Mrs Armstrong-Clarke. The other a ballgown for Miss Cartwright. From the random choice, it’s obvious the thieves took the first garments they came across.”

“Is it?” Daniel suspected otherwise. When it came to the motive for committing a crime, obvious assumptions were often wrong. “Did you have any doubts regarding your clients’ ability to pay?”

“No.” Madame Fontaine averted her gaze, only briefly, but it was enough to rouse Daniel’s suspicion.

“Has either lady ordered dresses from you before?” he said, determined to receive an answer.

“Mrs Armstrong-Clarke has been a loyal customer for two years or more.”

“And what about Miss Cartwright?”

Madame Fontaine batted her lashes far too rapidly. “It’s the first time I’ve made a dress for her.”

“As the woman is unmarried, are her parents paying the bill?” Daniel would drag the truth from the modiste if he had to sit there until Michaelmas.

A brief silence ensued.

Madame Fontaine opened her mouth but snapped it shut.

“What’s wrong, Betsy?” Mrs Chambers said, as it was apparent the woman was reluctant to reply. “Can you not answer Mr Thorpe’s question?”

A faint blush touched the modiste’s cheeks. “Miss Cartwright’s order was cancelled.”

“Cancelled? Why did you not mention it before when I asked you about the theft?” Mrs Chambers’ eyes widened. “You said there was nothing unusual about the transactions.”

Madame Fontaine raised her chin, but her trembling lip belied her confident facade. “That’s because I knew what you’d say if I told you what had happened.”