Page 4 of A Scandal at Stonecliffe

“Looking for a safe,” she replied, as nonchalantly as if she’d said she was looking for a dropped fan. “The study seems the most likely place.” She glanced at him. “If you’d help, we’d be done much faster you know.”

“Blast it, Verity.” Nathan joined her in searching. Irritating as it was to do as she said, Verity was right. The key thing was to get her out of here as soon as possible. He might be able to talk himself out of it if they were caught, but he actually was who he said he was and a well-known member of London Society, whereas Verity was anything but that. “Tell me why I’m risking jail, or at least my reputation.”

“Lord Arden has a valuable brooch that belongs to my client.” Verity turned away from her fruitless search of the walls and bent to pull up a corner of the rug to peer beneath it.

“Arden stole a piece of jewelry?” Nathan half turned to throw her a skeptical glance.

“No. Well, not exactly. My client gave it to him. It fastened at the top of her frock, and he apparently removed it in the course of, um...”

“Yes, I understand,” Nathan said quickly, feeling his cheeks heating. How was it that Verity always managed to make him feel like a green schoolboy? “So Arden pocketed the brooch?”

“Yes—a playful sort of thing, you understand. She was moved that he wanted a sign of her affection, so she gave it to him.”

“And now the affair is over, and she wants it back.” Nathan lifted the end of the rug closest to him to peek under it.

“She needs it back,” Verity replied. She moved to the desk, opening and closing drawers and, when one would not open, she pulled something from her hair and inserted it in the lock, manipulating it until the drawer opened.

Nathan was impressed by her skill. Completely illegal, of course, but he couldn’t keep from wondering if she might be willing to teach him how to do it.

As she carefully picked through the drawer, Verity went on, “The brooch is apparently part of a set of jewels that belong to her husband’s family, and she is supposed to wear the entire set next week when she sits for a portrait.”

“Seems like a foolish thing to give away, then.”

Verity flashed him a quick grin. “Yes, doesn’t it?” She shrugged. “But they say love makes people foolish.”

Nathan made a noncommittal noise in response. He suspected Verity was shooting a barb at him for his long and unrewarding pursuit of Annabeth. There wasn’t much he could say to that. It had been a mistake. But at least he’d finally realized it.

“Not, of course, that I would know anything about that,” Verity went on. She closed the drawer and, hands on hips, cast an encompassing look around the room. “Well. If there’s a safe here, he’s disguised it too well for me to find.” Her eyes twinkled. “And there’s little chance of that.”

“Then we’re finished. Good.” Nathan smoothed down a rumpled corner of the rug with his foot and started toward the door.

“Yes.” Verity joined Nathan as he cracked the door a fraction.

He listened for any sounds of people in the corridor outside and, hearing nothing, carefully opened the door. The hallway seemed empty for the moment, and he breathed a little sigh of relief and stepped out, Verity behind him.

Nathan started back toward the party, but Verity grabbed his hand and tugged at him, nodding her head in the other direction. “Take the back stairs. It’s less noticeable.”

“You’re going up to the family’s rooms?”

“Of course. The next most likely place for a safe is his bedroom.”

“Verity, really...” But Nathan went with her. He told himself that he had to do what he could to keep her from getting into trouble, but the truth was he couldn’t deny a tiny thrill of excitement as they sneaked up the servants’ stairs.

The corridor on the floor above was empty, and Verity hurried through it, looking into the darkened rooms as she went. Suddenly, there was the sound of voices on the main stairs.

Verity grabbed Nathan’s lapels and yanked him to her so hard that they stumbled back against the wall. “Seduce me.”

CHAPTER TWO

“WHAT?” NATHAN’S EYEBROWS shot up.

“Sh!” Verity hissed. “Pretend, Nathan. As if you want me in your bed.”

Well, that wouldn’t be difficult, pressed against her this way. Nathan braced his forearm against the wall and half turned to shield her from the view of whoever was climbing the stairs. He lowered his head, bending toward her and setting his other hand on her waist. “Wonderful,” he groused. “Now everyone will say I’m a lecher.”

“More acceptable than everyone saying you’re a thief.”

Verity curled one hand around the back of his neck, and a frisson shot down his spine like a bolt of lightning. Heaven help me, she smells good. It wasn’t the bold provocative fragrance he would have expected her to wear, but a light, elusive floral scent that was somehow even more stirring to his senses.