A choked laugh slipped out of her. Then her smile widened further. “Point taken, sir. But are you going to inform me why you need these funds?”
“Are you going to tell me why you stole my property in the first place?”
“If I do, will you reciprocate?”
He paused, running through all the possibilities before opening his mouth. What would his admission cost him other than some pride?
“I will,” he said with a nod. “And when I give someone my word, I keep it. Which is exactly why I need this money.”
The intrigue in her eyes grew. “You promised it to someone?”
“Yes. Nearly seven years ago.”
“And only now they are demanding it?”
“It was a wager, and this year I have been forced to pay since I was the one to lose.”
“Interesting.” Her brow furrowed. “May I know the particulars of the wager?”
“You first.” He beckoned her on. “Why did you steal my ring?”
She threw her head back with a sigh, then paced across the room. “Do you not ever feel caged and long to do . . . something? Anything to feel alive. To feel that thrill.”
“I can honestly say I have not.”
Mrs. Gillingham looked at the floor. “In a way, I pity you.”
He opened his mouth to interject.
“But I also envy you.”
“Mrs. Gillingham,” he continued, trying to keep their conversation moving. Spending more time in this strange lady’s townhouse was not something he really wished to do. Funds were the driving force behind all his actions right now. “You said there was something I could do to get my money back.”
Her eyes turned practically sardonic. “So, you are interested?”
“My interest is solely in acquiring six hundred pounds. But,” he added, clarifying, “I will not break the law to do it.”
“I don’t think it will come to that.”
“Then what is it?”
Her eyes took on an intrigued gleam. “How about this? I will send you a post tomorrow with instructions for you to follow.”
“Why can you not just tell me now?”
“I want to be sure I have everything set up for you.”
Leonard rubbed the back of his neck, shifting on his feet. “I have a feeling I will very much regret this.”
“Really?” Her pink lips curled into the twisted smile he was already coming to recognize. “I am quite looking forward to it.”
Heaven help him.
Chapter Seven
Leonard did not believe Mrs. Gillingham for one moment. Not her claim that she stole his item simply because she was bored,orher claim that she no longer held the item in her possession. But Leonard still wasn’t sure he was desperate enough to go to the authorities and request a search of her house. It really depended on her standing in society. If no one knew her, it would likely be fine. But if she had friends in high places, his claim could come back on him and his honor as a gentleman. Especially if nothing was found.
As he sat at his breakfast table, tea piping hot with theCourierspread in front of him, footsteps sounded in the hall.
