You may imagine my joy at seeing you in Hyde Park later that day."
"So you lied to me, too," I pointed out.
"One good lie deserves another. I had not yet discovered your identity. I followed you to South Audley Street, and went from there directly to my man of business. When I learned you were a lady of good reputation and considerable property, I felt you would do the proper thing, and return Lady Dormere's ring to her. Which you did—eventually." A mischievous smile reminded me of my reluctance to do so.
"If I hesitated, it is only that I had no reason to trust you. I knew that ring had not fallen out of your pocket. I thought you were planning to keep it."
"I know you did. I should resent it, but as I wronged you, I withhold my resentment. Isn't it nice that we now know we are both above reproach?"
"I am glad the air is cleared. I am not used to deceit."
He cocked his head to one side. "Pity. I was about to suggest a whole summer of deceit to you, Miss Denver."
"Indeed! And what form would this summer of deceit take?"
"I happen to require an heiress to act as bait to catch Tom, the burglar. If common gossip toots you as a fabulous heiress, you will be a natural target for him, as you suggested yourself."
"You have brought me here to lure a burglar! You have shouted in the journals that I am rich, and put me into Lady Grieve's dungeon, for the purpose of having my jewels stolen? Well, upon my word, Mr. Dalton. You go too far!"
"No, no. I brought you here for the purpose of catching Tom. Naturally your jewels, if you have any troublesome amount of them, will be safely sequestered elsewhere."
"As a matter of fact, I do have rather a lot of jewelry." I explained about my stepmama's taking her friends' jewelry as collateral.
"Best get them into a safety box at the bank at once."
I was intrigued by Dalton's plan and asked what my part in it would be.
"You would have to become more highly visible than you will like. That is all. Go about in society, wearing your jewels. Your name would appear in the journals, relating your doings. In short, I am asking you to become one of society's outstanding ladies of fashion, to attract Tom's attention."
Dalton regarded me fearfully, thinking I would cry out in horror at becoming a public figure. I was thrilled to death, but, of course, did not say so. "It sounds tedious," I said doubtfully. "Why is it your job to catch Tom, Mr. Dalton?"
"Because he robbed me of five hundred pounds, and several of my friends of jewelry. Bow Street is active in the case, of course, but Townshend thinks the thief is a member of society. Some gent down on his luck—or lady, for that matter," he added. "They have asked me to help. I consider it my duty to help uphold the law," he said nobly. Then he added with a twinkle, "Besides, it is demmed good fun pitting my wits against Tom."
"Despite what you know of me, I, too, am eager to uphold the law. Just one thing puzzles me." He looked interested. "Why did you pick on me, when you know any number of ladies who are already well-known society figures?"
"There are several reasons. The idea came to me when I discovered how brave and quick-thinking you are. I refer to your lifting the emerald ring, and dumping it in my pocket when the constable came on the scene. Then, too, it was my hope that my accomplice would agree to live in Lady Grieve's dungeon, close by, for easy communication. I preferred a younger lady—and that you happened to be attractive was no deterrent." A glance full of admiration darted all over me. "There, I have opened my budget. Will you do it?"
"At some point in this summer of deceit, am I likely to end up with Tom's gun pointing at my nose? I fear that going to bed every night with the fear of having Tom invade my house will deprive me of my beauty sleep."
"I cannot say there is no danger in it, but there is not so much as you fear. Tom never strikes when the victim is at home. He seems to have ways of knowing when his victim
"So you lied to me, too," I pointed out.
"One good lie deserves another. I had not yet discovered your identity. I followed you to South Audley Street, and went from there directly to my man of business. When I learned you were a lady of good reputation and considerable property, I felt you would do the proper thing, and return Lady Dormere's ring to her. Which you did—eventually." A mischievous smile reminded me of my reluctance to do so.
"If I hesitated, it is only that I had no reason to trust you. I knew that ring had not fallen out of your pocket. I thought you were planning to keep it."
"I know you did. I should resent it, but as I wronged you, I withhold my resentment. Isn't it nice that we now know we are both above reproach?"
"I am glad the air is cleared. I am not used to deceit."
He cocked his head to one side. "Pity. I was about to suggest a whole summer of deceit to you, Miss Denver."
"Indeed! And what form would this summer of deceit take?"
"I happen to require an heiress to act as bait to catch Tom, the burglar. If common gossip toots you as a fabulous heiress, you will be a natural target for him, as you suggested yourself."
"You have brought me here to lure a burglar! You have shouted in the journals that I am rich, and put me into Lady Grieve's dungeon, for the purpose of having my jewels stolen? Well, upon my word, Mr. Dalton. You go too far!"
"No, no. I brought you here for the purpose of catching Tom. Naturally your jewels, if you have any troublesome amount of them, will be safely sequestered elsewhere."
"As a matter of fact, I do have rather a lot of jewelry." I explained about my stepmama's taking her friends' jewelry as collateral.
"Best get them into a safety box at the bank at once."
I was intrigued by Dalton's plan and asked what my part in it would be.
"You would have to become more highly visible than you will like. That is all. Go about in society, wearing your jewels. Your name would appear in the journals, relating your doings. In short, I am asking you to become one of society's outstanding ladies of fashion, to attract Tom's attention."
Dalton regarded me fearfully, thinking I would cry out in horror at becoming a public figure. I was thrilled to death, but, of course, did not say so. "It sounds tedious," I said doubtfully. "Why is it your job to catch Tom, Mr. Dalton?"
"Because he robbed me of five hundred pounds, and several of my friends of jewelry. Bow Street is active in the case, of course, but Townshend thinks the thief is a member of society. Some gent down on his luck—or lady, for that matter," he added. "They have asked me to help. I consider it my duty to help uphold the law," he said nobly. Then he added with a twinkle, "Besides, it is demmed good fun pitting my wits against Tom."
"Despite what you know of me, I, too, am eager to uphold the law. Just one thing puzzles me." He looked interested. "Why did you pick on me, when you know any number of ladies who are already well-known society figures?"
"There are several reasons. The idea came to me when I discovered how brave and quick-thinking you are. I refer to your lifting the emerald ring, and dumping it in my pocket when the constable came on the scene. Then, too, it was my hope that my accomplice would agree to live in Lady Grieve's dungeon, close by, for easy communication. I preferred a younger lady—and that you happened to be attractive was no deterrent." A glance full of admiration darted all over me. "There, I have opened my budget. Will you do it?"
"At some point in this summer of deceit, am I likely to end up with Tom's gun pointing at my nose? I fear that going to bed every night with the fear of having Tom invade my house will deprive me of my beauty sleep."
"I cannot say there is no danger in it, but there is not so much as you fear. Tom never strikes when the victim is at home. He seems to have ways of knowing when his victim
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