I shrugged. “You… remind me of someone I used to know. It’s what he would’ve done—maybe not the pickpocketing—but he sent more than one gentleman penniless back to wherever they came from, head hung in shame.”
Miss McAllen huffed out an irritated, bitter chuckle. “Can I make an arrangement with him instead?”
“You can try, but you’ll have to ask the devil, himself. Or perhaps heisthe devil… No way of knowing.”
“That’s unfortunate. He sounds like much more fun.”
An assessment shared by nearly everyone acquainted with both Gabriel and myself. It had vexed me in my youth—but it had ceased to bother me in the months and years after his demise.
“You’re not wrong—too much fun, perhaps. But, alas, you’ve only me to deal with. And since my estate isn’t in any condition to live in, I’ll need to stay here.”
Overgrown brows shot so high, they hit the treetops. “Oh, no, ye’ll not.”
“Oh, but I will. You’re not leaving my sight until my home is in perfect order.”
“That could be months!”
“A generous estimate, I expect.” At some point, entirely without my notice, I’d lost control of my hands, and they danced about before me, gesturing to nothing in particular. The effort only served to betray my agitation. I clenched my fists at my sides in what was certain to be a futile effort at restraint. “Perhaps you should have considered it before you stole from me!”
She let out an “Agh!” before spinning on her heels in a manner that was so perfectly reminiscent of Davina that I was forced to bite back a laugh. My sister directed that sound to me on such a regular basis that I almost considered it a term of endearment.
I padded down the hall after her—I was serious about not allowing her out of my sight—even if my reasoning hadn’t been the entire truth. We reached the kitchen and she dragged a ceramic cannister across the worktop, pulled off the lid, and snatched a roll of bills from inside.
Miss McAllen thrust her fist toward me with a huff. “Here—ye can go now.”
A quick flip through the bills revealed one hundred pounds. It was a struggle to keep my feelings off my face. The sum was rather impressive and reflected decent—if slightly immoral—sense. I wasn’t fool enough to believe that was all of what she had stowed away. But it was certainly enough for her to live quite comfortably on for some time if she was frugal.
“And the rest?” I demanded with a raised brow.
“That’s all of it.”
“Do you take me for a fool?”
“Yes, if I’m honest.”
“I admire the honesty. But I’m certain you’ve at least double this hidden away.”
There was a judgmental, assessing quality to her gaze and the set of her mouth, her upper lip curled just slightly. “In my room.”
“Lead the way.”
Her steps were heavy as we turned back down the hall and ascended a flight of stairs. She paused outside a rickety door. “Ye cannae come in—a lady’s room is private.”
“You’re no lady.”
“It wouldnae be decent.”
She wasn’t quite as skilled as Davina—scheming and adventuring was in my sister’s very marrow. I suspected this was a muscle Miss McAllen hadn’t had to flex very often. But I knew without a doubt that she planned to escape out the window.
At my nod, she whirled into the room, then shut the door in my face. Quietly, I slipped back down the stairs—fortunately in good repair so there weren’t any loose boards. No sooner had I stepped outside where Godfrey and Lock leaned against the carriage, than I caught the familiar drag of a window opening.
I stepped between the men, leaning against the carriage with my arms crossed. The sensation of being watched crept over me as their curious gazes dug into me. My eyes, however, were fixed on the second-story window farthest from the door.
From my new vantage, I watched as a dove-grey-skirt-covered leg slipped out the window. Then a hand escaped, wrapping around to catch the drainage pipe. Finally, a dark head appeared, focused on the pipe.
“That doesn’t look particularly sturdy…” I called out.
Her attention shot to me with a curse, audible even several feet away.
