“It came while you were out. I recognised the handwriting and worried it might be urgent, so I opened it.”
She handed it to Alice, who recognised the handwriting too. Mr Repton.
“What’s it say?” she asked, not wanting to take it and see for herself, though she could guess.
Lill gazed down at the letter and took a deep breath.
“Silas Mourney has discovered Lord Jefferson is giving a grand party at his house. So he’s decided to do what you did. There’ll be loads of new staff working, chaos in the kitchens, people everywhere.”
“He’s going to take the diamonds?”
Lill nodded.
Alice considered this, for there was one very obvious obstacle to her mind. “How does he know Lady Jefferson won’t be wearing them?”
“’Cause Lady Jefferson finally presented his lordship with a son just before Christmas, after producing five girls. His heir has the family name, Rufus, meaning red, so he bought her a magnificent set of rubies to thank her. She’ll be wearing those for the ball.”
“Bloody hell.”
“That’s what I thought,” Lill said sadly. “But that’s not all. The party is tomorrow night, or today, seeing as it’s four in the morning.”
“Tonight?” Alice stared at her in disbelief. “Repton is certain?”
She nodded. “The letter was delivered by hand, and he said to be sure to burn it after, but he didn’t have time to arrange a meeting. It was the best he could do.”
“It was more than I expected. I owe him a great deal,” Alice said, though the news felt like a kick in the stomach.Tonight. There was no time to prepare. She had to get back to town and get into the blasted party with no preparation.
Alice thought about the layout of the house, already mentally planning her route to the man’s office, where she knew his safe was hidden behind a row of false books. Silas wouldn’t know that, at least. All she needed to do was get in, grab the diamonds and get out, but how to stop Silas making it look like she’d done it, when she really had? She needed to plant evidence against himandensure it was found before Silas could do anything about it.
“What you going to do?”
“What can I do?” she said, a sensation like snakes coiling in her belly making her shiver. “I’ve got to do the job before Silas’s men, and I’ve got to make it look like Silas did it. Damned if I know how, though.”
“About that,” Lill said, fiddling nervously with the ribbons on her dressing gown. “Do you remember that fellow I was sweet on? The one with the pretty blue eyes and charming smile?”
“The one that belted you so hard your right eye was black and blue for a sennight?” Alice said darkly.
Lill pulled a face. “Aye, that one.”
“I remember.”
“Well, I was a bit ticked off when I left him, what with the black eye, so I… I took something.”
Alice sat up, her instincts prickling with anticipation. “You never said.”
“Don’t tell you everything, do I?” Lill replied curtly. She gave an indignant sniff before carrying on. “Well, I never told you this neither, but I found out he’d done a job for Silas.”
“Oh, Lill!”Alice put her head in her hands and groaned. “I told you! Didn’t I tell you he was no good?”
Lill folded her arms, pouting. “Well, and that’s why I never told you the rest of it, Miss Know-It-All!”
“Ugh. Fine. Carry on. What did you take?”
Lill looked sulky for a moment but then gave in, her lips quirking into a smile.
“Silas Mourney’s snuff box. Engraved it is, with his name. My fella stole it, then realised he’d never be able to sell it without getting his throat cut when word got out. So he kept it, and I nicked it, and… well, here—”
Alice blinked as Lill held out a small gold snuff box. It was a beautiful thing, depicting a lovely woman with red hair reclining on a chaise longue.
