it?"
"There is something very interesting here, my lord." She held the lamp closer to the surface of the stone. "I am not precisely certain, but it may very well be the edge of a tooth." Harriet studied the outline in the rock. "And it appears to be still attached to a portion of the jaw."
"A great thrill for you, apparently."
"Well, of course it is. A tooth that is still embedded in a jaw is ever so much more easy to identify than one that is not. If only I could use my mallet and chisel to get it out of this rock today." She whipped around anxiously, willing him to understand the importance of retrieving the fossil for study. "I do not suppose I dare…?"
"No." Gideon dropped the glittering necklace back into the sack and rose to his feet. "You are not to use your tools in here until we have cleaned out this nest of thieves. You were quite right to hold off on your work in this cavern, Miss Pomeroy. We do not wish to alarm this ring of cutthroats."
"You think they might move their stolen goods elsewhere if they thought they had been discovered?"
"I am far more concerned that if anyone saw evidence of fossil collecting in here, the trail would lead straight back to you. There cannot be that many collectors in the district."
Harriet eyed the rocky outcropping in frustration. The thought of leaving this new discovery behind was very upsetting. "But what if someone else finds my tooth?"
"I doubt anyone will notice your precious tooth. Not when there is a fortune in gems and silver sitting in the middle of this chamber."
Harriet scowled thoughtfully and tapped the toe of her half boot. "I am not so certain my tooth will be safe here. I have told you before that there are a great many unscrupulous fossil collectors about these days. Perhaps I should just chisel this one little bit out of the rock and trust that no one will notice— Oh ."
Gideon had set down his lamp and taken two long strides forward. He was suddenly looming over her, one huge hand planted against the cave wall behind her head. She was caged between his solid body and the equally solid rock. Her eyes widened.
"Miss Pomeroy," Gideon said very softly, each word spaced for maximum emphasis, "I will say this once more and once more only. You are going to stay out of this cavern until further notice. Indeed, you will not come anywhere near this place until I say it is safe to do so. In fact, you will stay out of all the cliff caves until I have taken care of matters."
"Really, St. Justin, you go too far."
He leaned closer. The yellow glare from the lamp in Harriet's hand cast his harsh features into demonic relief. For a moment he truly looked like the beast he was reputed to be.
"You will not," Gideon said through his teeth, "hunt fossils anywhere on this beach until I have given you express permission to do so."
"Now see here, sir, if you think I will tolerate this sort of behavior from you, you may think again. I have no intention of giving up all fossil hunting along this beach until such time as you see fit to allow it. I have certain rights in this matter."
"You have no rights in this, Miss Pomeroy. You have clearly come to think of these caves as your personal property, but I would like to remind you that my family happens to own every square inch of the land that is presently over your head," Gideon bit out. "If I catch you anywhere near these caves I shall consider it trespassing."
She eyed him furiously, trying to determine if he was actually serious. "Is that so? And what will you do, sir? Have me clapped into prison or transported? Do not be ridiculous."
"Perhaps I shall find another way to punish you for disobeying me, Miss Pomeroy. I am St. Justin, remember? The Beast of Blackthorne Hall." His eyes gleamed in the golden light. The scar on his face was a vivid, savage slash of old pain and mortal danger.
"Stop this intimidation at once," Harriet ordered, albeit rather weakly.
He leaned closer. "The local people think I am a man totally
"There is something very interesting here, my lord." She held the lamp closer to the surface of the stone. "I am not precisely certain, but it may very well be the edge of a tooth." Harriet studied the outline in the rock. "And it appears to be still attached to a portion of the jaw."
"A great thrill for you, apparently."
"Well, of course it is. A tooth that is still embedded in a jaw is ever so much more easy to identify than one that is not. If only I could use my mallet and chisel to get it out of this rock today." She whipped around anxiously, willing him to understand the importance of retrieving the fossil for study. "I do not suppose I dare…?"
"No." Gideon dropped the glittering necklace back into the sack and rose to his feet. "You are not to use your tools in here until we have cleaned out this nest of thieves. You were quite right to hold off on your work in this cavern, Miss Pomeroy. We do not wish to alarm this ring of cutthroats."
"You think they might move their stolen goods elsewhere if they thought they had been discovered?"
"I am far more concerned that if anyone saw evidence of fossil collecting in here, the trail would lead straight back to you. There cannot be that many collectors in the district."
Harriet eyed the rocky outcropping in frustration. The thought of leaving this new discovery behind was very upsetting. "But what if someone else finds my tooth?"
"I doubt anyone will notice your precious tooth. Not when there is a fortune in gems and silver sitting in the middle of this chamber."
Harriet scowled thoughtfully and tapped the toe of her half boot. "I am not so certain my tooth will be safe here. I have told you before that there are a great many unscrupulous fossil collectors about these days. Perhaps I should just chisel this one little bit out of the rock and trust that no one will notice— Oh ."
Gideon had set down his lamp and taken two long strides forward. He was suddenly looming over her, one huge hand planted against the cave wall behind her head. She was caged between his solid body and the equally solid rock. Her eyes widened.
"Miss Pomeroy," Gideon said very softly, each word spaced for maximum emphasis, "I will say this once more and once more only. You are going to stay out of this cavern until further notice. Indeed, you will not come anywhere near this place until I say it is safe to do so. In fact, you will stay out of all the cliff caves until I have taken care of matters."
"Really, St. Justin, you go too far."
He leaned closer. The yellow glare from the lamp in Harriet's hand cast his harsh features into demonic relief. For a moment he truly looked like the beast he was reputed to be.
"You will not," Gideon said through his teeth, "hunt fossils anywhere on this beach until I have given you express permission to do so."
"Now see here, sir, if you think I will tolerate this sort of behavior from you, you may think again. I have no intention of giving up all fossil hunting along this beach until such time as you see fit to allow it. I have certain rights in this matter."
"You have no rights in this, Miss Pomeroy. You have clearly come to think of these caves as your personal property, but I would like to remind you that my family happens to own every square inch of the land that is presently over your head," Gideon bit out. "If I catch you anywhere near these caves I shall consider it trespassing."
She eyed him furiously, trying to determine if he was actually serious. "Is that so? And what will you do, sir? Have me clapped into prison or transported? Do not be ridiculous."
"Perhaps I shall find another way to punish you for disobeying me, Miss Pomeroy. I am St. Justin, remember? The Beast of Blackthorne Hall." His eyes gleamed in the golden light. The scar on his face was a vivid, savage slash of old pain and mortal danger.
"Stop this intimidation at once," Harriet ordered, albeit rather weakly.
He leaned closer. "The local people think I am a man totally
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