The room next door to the right, enter that. You will find two silver boxes inlaid with jewels. Take both.
Stealing was wrong, she knew that, just as she knew she’d pay heavily if caught. But she had to do this for her elderly neighbors; their security depended upon it. She did not want them tossed out on the street, left cold and homeless, nor did she want to go to jail, which would happen if she was caught. The thought made her feel queasy.
Heart thudding so hard in her chest it hurt, she waved to Mr. Zwart to follow, and thankfully the door was open so she could walk through it. Her hands felt clammy, and Ruby was sure her knees were knocking. This was almost as terrifying as fleeing her home in the middle of the night.
Opening the next door, she moved into a sitting room and located the boxes. Mr. Zwart put them in the sack. She moved slowly through the room, taking the things on the list. When that was done, they retraced their steps to the hall. Third door on the right, she opened and entered. It was a bedroom.
Both she and Mr. Zwart took a moment to study the huge bed and soft coverings. She then grabbed the rug from the foot and held it out. Mr. Zwart nodded and stuffed it in the sack. It would stop things from clanging in there, if nothing else. Plus, the Amble sisters had once lived here, and in luxury; they deserved that rug.
Ruby continued moving quietly through the house with Mr. Zwart on her heels, collecting the items on the list. The tension they both felt was palpable. Her throat was tight, and her breathing seemed loud in her ears. Would she survive this and return to her brother? Would she go and see sweet little Ella tomorrow and her handsome father?
She had to.
When they had collected everything and her nerves were strung tighter than piano wire, they headed back to the hall, and it was then they heard the voices below. Ruby shot Mr. Zwart a look, and he pressed his hand to his lips, shaking his head, which she guessed meant “stay silent,” which she’d had every intention of doing. He then waved her to follow him to the window.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs made the fear clutch at her with a fierce grip. Mr. Zwart shot a look over his shoulder but kept walking.
“It’s right pleased I am that the miserly blighter is not coming to London for the season. Him and that snooty cow he’s wed to.”
The words were getting closer.
“What he did to his aunts was wrong. They were wonderful ladies, and he tossed them out on the street.”
Ruby and Mr. Zwart made it into the study they’d entered through. She closed the door behind her and turned the key in the lock as slowly and silently as she could. Mr. Zwart stopped beside the desk and added something to the sack. He then took a chair and placed it before the window.
“We must go,” Ruby hissed.
He nodded and handed her the sack, then climbed onto the chair and out. Ruby got on the chair next and handed the sack out the window to him. The sound of someone trying to open the door had her pressing a hand to her mouth to stop the shriek escaping.
“It’s bloody well jammed. I’ll go to the shed and get some tools, see if I can get it open.”
She climbed out and shut the window, moving along the ledge to the ladder. Mr. Winston was steadying it.
“Run!” she whispered as loudly as she could. “Don’t wait, they’re coming outside to the shed! Stay together!”
They scattered like a flock of hens. Mr. Zwart reached the ground and started moving. Mr. Winston grabbed Ruby, lifting her off the last rungs and to the ground.
“Go with Mr. Zwart. He’s hardly inconspicuous carrying that huge sack. I’ll put the ladder back and follow.”
Mr. Winston hesitated.
“You must see they all get home, or they’ll end up lost. I will follow soon.”
He left behind Mr. Zwart. Ruby lifted the ladder. It was heavy, and she nearly fell backward, but managed to balance it enough to lower it. She then dragged it to the fence and left it there. The rear door of the house opened. Ruby pressed herself to the fence and eased sideways, slipping in between that and the shed.
If I get out of this, I will never again break the law.
With her heart thudding hard inside her chest, she waited for whoever was inside the shed to get what they needed.
Finally, the shed door was swung shut. Ruby didn’t move until she heard the door to the house close too. Slipping out from her hiding place, she ran down the side of the house and out onto the street. Of the elderly residents, there was thankfully no sign.
She didn’t give in to the fierce need to brace her hands on her knees and inhale deeply, instead walking down the road as if it was something she did every night.
Ruby pulled up the collar of her coat. It was cool; the night air had brought a chill with it. She felt jittery. Like at any moment someone would stop her and say they knew what she’d done.
Stay calm. Walk slowly, she reminded herself.
She was clearly not cut out for the life of a criminal.
