“A thief!”
“Surely not here!”
“Whatever will happen to my jewels?”
Lady Worthington elbowed her way through them and reached her guest, where she held up her hands. “Quiet, everyone. I’m sure there’s just some misunderstanding.”
The distraught woman glared at her hostess. “This is no misunderstanding! Someone has stolen my necklace!”
“But who among us would do such a thing?” Worthington countered as she swept her arm over the present company. Marc ducked the swing as though his life depended on it. “All of us are known to one another. Perhaps the clasp broke, and the jewelry is to be found on the premises.” She turned to the crowd and clapped her hands. “Everyone! Begin a search immediately! Leave no stone nor book unturned!”
Marc grinned at me. “You heard our venerable hostess. Outside.”
We slipped out as the crowd dispersed for the treasure hunt. I didn’t need two guesses to know they should have been following us.
Whelan didn’t need two guesses, either, as the servant stepped into our path. His nostrils flared, but this time not in my direction. He frowned at Marc. “Sir, I must insist that you not leave the premises.”
“We’re only obeying Her Ladyship’s orders,” Marc countered.
Whelan scanned his person with his bright yellow eyes. “There is an unusual smell coming off your person, sir. Would you allow me to search you?”
Marc’s eyes widened, and he feigned insult. “You suspect me of something?”
“I do not suspect you of anything, sir, but your scent is not as it should be. There is an item on your person that does not belong to you.”
Marc stared blankly at him before his eyes lit up. “Oh!” He rummaged through his pocket and drew out a napkin. The surface was most definitely soiled by unknown stains. “You mean this?”
Whelan drew back and clasped his hand over his nose. “Sir, what are you doing with that?”
Marc held up the napkin and beamed at it. “Mr. Campbell used this napkin himself, and I admire his business prowess so much that I couldn’t help but snatch his napkin.” He thrust the cloth in Whelan’s face. “Is this what you smelled?”
The servant stumbled back and curled his lips back in a snarl. His muffled growl floated through his fingers. “Sir, you will remove that and yourself from the premises immediately.”
Marc tucked the napkin back into his pocket and shrugged. “Alright. There’s no need to be insulting. Come along, Thorn.”
He looped his arm through mine and led me past Whelan and down the walk. I glanced over my shoulder and watched the servant recover his composure before he strolled inside. He shut the door behind him, blocking out the sounds but not the sights. Shadows flitted across the windows as the party continued its search.
I looked up at my companion. “Did you take it?”
Marc grinned down at me. “Steal what?”
I snorted. “You know what. The necklace.”
He reached into his pocket and drew out a glittering mess of jewels on a gold chain. “Is this a necklace?”
“Wow,” I breathed as I studied the beautiful craftsmanship. A thought struck me, and my face fell. “What if it’s an heirloom?”
“Not this fancy piece,” he assured me as he tucked it back into his pocket. “The design is too recent, perhaps a decade old.”
“You must know a lot about jewelry.”
“Enough to know its value.”
I cocked my head to one side and studied my companion. “Did you ever consider getting a job? I mean, one that didn’t involve plundering and swords.”
He grinned. “You mean like becoming a jeweler and the like? The cramped space would have killed me.” He took in a big gulp of air and let it out. “Give me a sea breeze and good sails under a bright sun, and I couldn’t be happier. Besides, I promised Captain Morgan I’d find his-” He jerked to a stop and snatched my hand, tugging me against his side.
I stumbled over my own feet and crashed into him. “What’s the-” A quick look up into his tense face told me shutting up was a good idea.
