Lady Thief by Kay Hooper

Even if you had Sir George’s approval, you’re both too young to set up housekeeping.”
    Quietly Robert Collins said, “I’m twenty-six, Miss Courtenay—old enough to know my mind.”
    “For heaven’s sake, call me Jenny.” She smiled suddenly. “Since you seem bent on becoming my brother-in-law.”
    He smiled in return. “Only if you will call me Robert.”
    “Very well—Robert—you are twenty-six and Meg is sixteen—”
    “Nearly seventeen.” It was Meg, her voice firm.
    Jenny nodded. “Seventeen, then. The fact remains, Meg, that you are barely out of the schoolroom. And to marry a man you have just met . . .”
    “Jenny, I love him. I don’t have to know him for years to be sure of that.”
    Jenny sighed. “I know that, honey. I only want to be sure you aren’t getting married only to escape from your father—if you will forgive my plain speaking, Robert.”
    He nodded, his blue eyes serious. “Of course. Jenny, I know that Meg is very young, but I love her. I’ll take care of her.” He sighed. “I wanted to talk to Sir George, but Meg assures me that he would have me thrown from the house.”
    Jenny smiled wryly. “She’s right. Sir George intends Meg to marry a fortune—especially now that he’s found he can’t bend me to his will.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “You weren’t thinking of Gretna Green, I hope?”
    Robert stiffened. “I would never consider taking Meg there.”
    “Well, don’t poker-up about it,” Jenny said mildly. But she was pleased by his response. It showed him to be a sensible man, not given to romantic flights of fancy. Coming to a decision, Jenny said, “I’ll help you. I don’t know how as yet, but I’ll help you.”
    Meg flew to embrace her. “Oh, Jenny—thank you! I knew we could depend on you.”
    Jenny hugged her stepsister. “Don’t become overexcited, Meg. I may be unable to help at all. But, I promise to do what I can.”
    Robert stepped forward with a smile. “That’s all we can ask. Thank you, Jenny.”
    Jenny gave them both a warning look. “You may have to be patient. Meg cannot be married without Sir George’s permission—and obtaining that will take some doing. Also, I have other matters that must be attended to.” She watched as the young couple exchanged intense looks. “I’ll leave you alone to say good-bye. Meg, if you aren’t outside in ten minutes, I’ll come in after you.” With that, she quietly left the room.
    As the two young ladies rode toward home, Meg kept up a constant flow of chatter about Robert. Jenny listened for the first five minutes and then began to lose patience with her stepsister’s raptures.
    Ruthlessly, she cut her off in midsentence. “Meg, why don’t you ride on home? I have something I must do.”
    Meg smiled absently, caught up in her dreams. “All right, Jenny.”
    Jenny watched her ride away, then turned her horse toward the woods. She had a restless urge to check the hollow tree where she had told Spencer to leave messages. It had only been a few days since she had seen him, of course, but she had a feeling he may have learned of the missing dispatches by now. She had to get them back to the War Office some way, and giving them to Spencer seemed the best solution. He, at least, was no traitor.
    Jenny wasn’t sure why she was so positive about Spencer’s loyalty to England. She simply was. However, her trust in his loyalty had little to do with her trust in him as a man.
    Nearly an hour later, Jenny was reading a message from Spencer. It was a short note, stating simply that he needed to see her. She frowned slightly as she considered the note.
    Spencer had probably learned of the missing dispatches. Or perhaps he merely wanted to see her again. Jenny was not being vain when she considered that possibility; the duke had seemed very curious about her when she had returned his jewels to him. It was possible that he would send for her in order to learn as much as he could about