Perhaps I’ll hear it read out in court, when Marjory and I are on trial,she thought bitterly.
“I do not know what you mean,” she shot back. “Please let go of me.”
“Save your excuses. My dear girl, I saw you and your sister whispering and conspiring just now. I wonder why you told herto flee the opposite way? You should have run as soon as you left the storeroom, by the way. I believe I told you that.”
“I am not yourdear girl,” Amelia snarled, tugging weakly again. “Please let go of me.”
“You have already asked that, and I think my answer was fairly plain. Well, I assume you know how much trouble you are in. I assume you know what happens when Orion catches you.”
Amelia stilled, ceasing her struggling, and stared up at him with a frown. He stared back, his clear green eyes boring into hers, as if he could see everything that she was thinking. He had done that in the storeroom, staring at her so intently that it almost made her stop breathing.
There was a strange feeling in her chest too, a tightness that seemed totickle. That was the only way she could describe it. It wasn’t an ordinary rush of fear, more like a tension. Like a band being drawn tighter and tighter until it was likely to snap.
It was unusual, to say the least, but then, hadn’t their entire interaction been unusual? Even if he hadn’t come plunging after her, eyes glinting the way they were now, she was fairly sure she would have spent a lot of time thinking over their meeting in the days and weeks to come.
“So Marjory was right, then,” she mumbled. “You’re him. Orion. The fellow she’s looking for.”
Fool!She inwardly cursed herself as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
Why had she said that? Why imply that Marjory waslookingfor him? The man wanted his identity kept secret, so it was reasonable that he would not want to be exposed.
“I thought you were going to let us go,” she continued, trying to keep her voice as cool and even as possible. “Why chase after us? Is this some kind of cat-and-mouse game you like to play?”
He growled. “Don’t play the fool with me. Which of you took it?”
“Tookwhat?”
“My father’s pocket watch!” His voice rose almost to a shout, ringing out across the alleyway.
Amelia flinched back, eyes widening. “I… What?” she stammered.
A muscle jumped in his cheek. “In the topmost drawer of the chest of drawers, alongside a pair of old boxing gloves, was a silver pocket watch. It is neither fine nor expensive, but it is silver and engraved. It belonged to my father and holds great sentimental value for me. I would like it back. I would like it backnow.”
Amelia swallowed, remembering how Marjory had remarked on a pair of boxing gloves in the drawer. She must have picked up the watch at the same time.
Marjory, if we make it out of this situation in one piece, I am going to scold you so hard your ears will ring for years.
The man paused, his gaze narrowing. Those sharp green eyes raked over her face, and she saw understanding dawn in them. The grip on her wrist loosened.
“Oh, of course,” he breathed. “You don’t know. Or at the very least, you weren’t the one who took the watch. I should have guessed that. You don’t seem like the thieving type, if you don’t mind my saying so. It’s the little Miss Spectacles, isn’t it? She took the watch.”
“No,” Amelia managed weakly.
His heavy eyebrows arched. “No? You have it? Produce it, then.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. She suspected that he already knew.
“There, you see,” the man snorted. “You are of no further use to me.”
He dropped her wrist at once and spun on his heel. As he turned, Amelia looked down the alley—and her heart plummeted. There, of course, stood Marjory.
It was clear what had happened. Having seen the man come pounding after her sister, Marjory had not repeated her mistake but waited behind to see if Amelia needed help. It was very sweet and kind, but at that moment, Amelia wanted nothing more than for Marjory to finally listen to her cowardly side, turn tail, and run.
“Amelia?” Marjory called, her voice wobbling. “What’s going on?”
“You,” the man snarled, jabbing a finger in her direction. “You stayright there.”
He began to stride toward her, and panic bubbled up in Amelia’s chest.
