“Despite what you may think,” she went on, “and I suppose I can’t blame you if you don’t believe this but, I don’t make a habit of cheating or stealing.”
“On the contrary, I do believe you. I know a thief when I see one, and you, Miss Bathurst, are not a thief. Yet the fact remains that you were counting cards at Hart’s Ace this evening, were you not?”
“Yes. I’ve already said so.”
“So you have. I assume there’s a reason a lady who isn’t a thief has resorted to counting cards. If you care to explain yourself, I’m willing to listen.”
“I was… I didn’t—” Her voice was shaking.
“Take your time, Miss Bathurst.”
She drew in a deep breath. “Someone broke into our rooms at the lodging house and stole our every penny. Brighton, it seems, is rife with thievery.”
The lodging house? That was odd. Theft happened, of course, but the better lodging houses were quite careful about that kind of thing. Lady-so-and-so’s jewels going missing could put them out of business.
But Miss Bathurst wasn’t staying in one of the better lodging houses. That was why he hadn’t been able to find her. He’d been asking the wrong people. “Which lodging house would that be?”
“Gardener’s, on Sydney Street.”
Gardener’s? He’d never heard of it.
“In North Laines,” she added.
North Laines. Yes, that explained it. “So, your funds are gone but you’re not yet ready to leave Brighton?”
“I can’t leave Brighton. My brother Percy is taking the cure, and he’s…he’s quite ill.”
“I see.” It was all falling into place now. “He suffers from consumption?”
“He hasn’t been diagnosed with it, but he’s had weak lungs ever since he was a child. He had a hacking cough this past spring, and he’s grown dreadfully thin since then?—”
She broke off, her breath catching.
“That’s unfortunate, and I’m very sorry for it, but consumption is treatable. I daresay your brother will be just fine.”
“Treatments cost money, sir—money we don’t have. Hence the thievery. May I get up now? The damp is seeping through my cloak.”
“In just a moment, yes. I have a few more questions first. Do you know who I am, Miss Bathurst?”
“I have an inkling, yes. Mr. Armitage Hart, I presume?”
“In the flesh. Now, let me see if I have this right. You’re Miss Bathurst, you have a brother named Percy who’s taking the cure, and you’re staying at Gardener’s lodging house, where thieves abound.”
“Yes. Now may I get up?”
“Just one more thing, if you please. May I call on you tomorrow morning?”
“What?” She frowned, her brow furrowing. “Why would you wish to call on me? I just robbed you!”
“Perhaps I find thieves charming.” He grinned down at her.
“I… Yes, I suppose you may call.” She cast a shy glance at him from under her eyelashes. “I mean, if you want to.”
“I do, very much. You’ll permit me to escort you home tonight?”
“That’s not necessary, Mr. Hart. I can find my own way home.”
“Come, Miss Bathurst. You can hardly deny me. No proper gentleman allows a lady to walk home at night alone.”
