To Trust a Thief (20 page)

Chapter Thirty-nine

Min and Bryant sat across from Aunt Laura in her office. They recounted as much of the story as they safely could. Min explained that Bryant, upon discovering Min during her search, had decided to help her. They continued to look for the necklace together, drawing closer in the process. The end culminated in the story that everyone knew: a fake necklace was found and a mortal fight ensued when opposing treasure hunters met in the search.

Aunt Laura listened to the tale, her expression becoming increasingly confused. “I appreciate you telling me all this, my dear, but I am afraid I don’t understand why you find it necessary.”

“We are telling you, Lady Courtland, because we know where the real necklace is located,” Bryant said.

“The
real
necklace? But you said you searched where it should have been and found only the counterfeit.”

“That is the official version of the story, yes. We would rather not go into too many details.” Min flicked her eyes to Bryant. “However, over the course of several strange events, we ended up in possession of something we believe belongs to you.”

“Hold out your hands, my lady,” Bryant said with a smile.

Aunt Laura obeyed, her hands trembling as she cupped them beneath Bryant’s. He opened the bag, pouring the glittering stones into her waiting hands. Min laughed at the expression on her aunt’s face. The older woman lifted the necklace toward the sun streaming in through the windows, a rainbow of colors bathing her delighted face.

“Well,” she said. “This is a strange turn of events, I must say.”

“That it is,” Min agreed.

Aunt Laura looked thoughtful for a moment and then turned to Bryant. “Am I right in assuming that coming forward with the real necklace now would raise questions we might not want to answer?”

“You are correct.”

Aunt Laura leaned forward, her shrewd eyes staring into Bryant’s. “Would I also be right in assuming that an independently wealthy dance instructor such as you might have the knowledge and means to dispose of an asset such as this?”

Min’s jaw dropped.

“Oh come, my dear,” her aunt said. “I’m not senile yet. Lord Rellik recommended Mr. Westley for the instructor’s position, after all. I can put two and two together.”

Bryant just laughed. “Yes, my lady, I can help you if you wish.”

Aunt Laura nodded and put the necklace back in its bag. “Good.”

She hesitated before sliding the necklace to him. “While coming forward with the necklace was an admirable thing to do, I hope you won’t be too offended by what I’m about to ask.”

“You’d like to know if you can trust me to return.”

“Precisely.”

Min bit back a laugh. She might trust Bryant now, but she’d be lying if she said the thought hadn’t momentarily crossed her mind as well. Bryant looked at her, a fleeting smile crossing his lips. Min had no doubt he knew exactly what she was thinking.

“May I?” Bryant asked, picking up writing materials from Aunt Laura’s desk. At her nod, Bryant spent a few moments scratching down a list of information, and then handed everything back to her aunt.

“These are the names and addresses of my mother and Mr. Barrett, my legal representative. If I fail to reappear, you may contact either one of them. If anything happens to me, they will know of it. Also, as an added precaution, my close friend and associate, Mr. Julian Durant, will be staying in town until I return.”

Min frowned, not fooled for a moment as to why Mr. Durant was staying. Even with Rellik gone, Bryant apparently wanted to take no chances where she was concerned. Bryant smiled down at her.

“Very good,” Aunt Laura said, pushing the bag across to Bryant. “Now, my dear boy, if you’d be so kind as to give me a moment alone with my niece?”

“Of course,” he said, putting the bag back into his vest. “I’ll wait for you in the library,” he said to Min. He bowed politely to Aunt Laura and left them alone.

Once he was gone, Min’s aunt sat back in her chair, a bemused smile playing at her lips. “Well that was certainly unexpected.”

“What will you do now?”

“I’m not sure. I suppose I’ll no longer need to keep the school open. Yet…”

Min raised an eyebrow. “Yet?”

“It’s been rather nice having these dusty old halls filled with people again. I enjoy having my girls here.”

“You could always use the money to expand the school, hire more teachers, take on more students.”

“Yes, I suppose I could. Definitely something I must consider, to be sure. And what about you, my dear?”

“Me?”

“I wouldn’t be in this position without you and that young man out there. He deserves some sort of finder’s fee at the very least.”

“I think he’d like that,” Min said, happy for Bryant and relieved that her aunt had offered before Bryant’s newfound good behavior was tested by the temptation to skim a bit of the profits.

“And what would you like?”

Min looked down at her clasped hands. “To be honest, I’m not sure. My mother is on her way home. Linnet is taken care of. For me…I just want…”

“Freedom?”

Min laughed. “I know it sounds a bit melodramatic, but yes. I would like to be able to choose my own path.”

Aunt Laura nodded. “This new development affects you as well.”

“How so?”

“Several months ago, I had my will drawn up. Making you my heir.”

“What?” Min asked, too stunned to say anything else.

Aunt Laura smiled. “The title, of course, will go to Edward’s distant cousin. However, the estate is not entailed, which means I can dispose of it as I’d like. And I’d like to give it to you.”

“Aunt Laura, are you sure? I mean, why…”

Her aunt reached over and cupped her face. “My dear girl, you put the smile back on my face when I had thought it was gone forever. You encouraged me to start this school, to make a life for myself. Despite my best efforts, I fear you’ll never be the proper young lady your sister managed to become. But I admire your spirit and envy your strength. I am glad that I can ensure you have the freedom to put those traits to whatever use you see fit. Since I apparently have the means, I’ll leave a little something to your sister, of course. But as she is securely married, the bulk of what I have will go to you. And you deserve it now more than ever.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say thank you and leave it at that.”

Min laughed. “Thank you.”

“You can do anything now, my dear. You can do anything you want.”

Min gave her aunt a wry smile. “So can you, Aunt Laura.”

“That may be true,” she said with a grin, “but then, I might want to enjoy my freedom as well. Now, go say good-bye to that young man of yours so he can be about his business.”

Min jumped up and came around the desk, wrapping her arms around her aunt in a bone-crushing hug. “Thank you, Aunt Laura.”

“Oh my dear. It is I who owe you my thanks.” She gave Min a swift kiss on the cheek and shooed her out the door.

Into Bryant’s waiting arms.

Chapter Forty

Min turned her face to the breeze, willing it to clear her mind. She knew it wasn’t safe on the ancient balcony, but it was away from the concerned gazes of her family and Charlotte. She could think in peace up here. And she could watch. Wait.

She paced the length of the walkway, careful to stay away from the crumbling wall of the balustrade. Bryant wasn’t there to save her should she fall again. In fact, six weeks had passed since she had last seen Bryant, and she was beginning to doubt whether she would ever see him again. How long did it take to sell a blasted necklace? Surely if he was able, he would have come to her by now. Unless he couldn’t. Or didn’t want to. Unless he’d taken the money and disappeared.

Min spun away from the wall and continued her pacing, trying to put the thought from her mind. He loved her. He would return for her. After all they’d been through she was ashamed at the thought creeping into her consciousness. Yet once there, she couldn’t dislodge it.

Mr. Durant had finally grown concerned when Bryant had failed to check in at a designated meeting place and had gone to find him… If he still lived…and wanted to return.

The wind calmed for several seconds and in the silence, Min thought she heard the sound of horses approaching through the dell. She peered at the road below and spotted two riders moving toward the manor. Min’s heart raced.

Her agitation grew as the riders drew nearer. She leaned over the walkway and strained to see them clearly. For an instant, she saw a shock of black hair peeking from beneath one of the rider’s hats and her heart leapt. They cantered into the courtyard and the rider lifted his head and caught sight of her. He waved and jumped from his horse. Min cried aloud and ran for the stairs. She flew through the attic and down the staircase, for once in her life not pausing to grip the handrails. Bryant thundered up the stairs just as Min reached the last few steps leading into the picture gallery.

Her foot caught in one of her petticoats and instead of elegantly slipping into his embrace, as she had intended, she tripped down the remaining steps to land in a heap at his feet.

“Blast,” she mumbled, swatting away Bryant’s hands as she hauled herself to her feet.

Bryant chuckled. “Come here, Madam Grace.”

He opened his arms and Min threw herself at him with such force he staggered back a step. She wrapped herself around him, determined to never let him leave her side again.

Bryant tightened his grip around Min’s waist while he stroked her hair with his free hand. He whispered, “Shh, love, it’s all right. I’m here now.”

Min released her hold on him only after he had repeated himself several times. She stepped far enough away to be able to place her hands on his cheeks. She gazed at him for a moment and then buried her head into his chest.

Bryant kissed her gently. “I’m all right, Min.” He kissed her again, his lips caressing hers as he murmured assurances to her. “I told you I would come for you, my love. Did you doubt me?”

Min embraced him for a moment longer and then pulled back and clasped his face in her hands, her fingers reaching to entwine in his hair.

“You’ve been gone for weeks! I had no idea what might have happened to you. Do you have any idea what that did to me?” She gave him a little shove, perilously close to losing her self-control. “Don’t ever do that to me again!”

Bryant gathered Min close, tilting her face up, his fingers gently stroking her cheek. He chuckled. “Well I can’t promise anything, but I will try.”

Bryant’s lips descended and Min spent the next several minutes floating in a happy haze of intoxicating sensation. All too soon, he pulled away.

“Don’t you want to know where I’ve been?” he asked, his voice smug and satisfied at the reaction he was able to wring out of her.

“Yes!” Min exclaimed, tugging him toward one of the benches that lined the gallery. She sat down, pulling him to sit beside her. “What on earth have you been doing for the last six weeks?”

“Well, selling a well-known piece of jewelry isn’t the easiest task, you know. Even broken into pieces, I had to be careful. I had to go through half a dozen of my contacts, and it took time to find the right buyers willing to pay the right price.”

“And?” Min asked, suddenly finding it hard to breathe through the excitement bursting inside her.

“See for yourself.” He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a long leather wallet. She opened it and, with shaking fingers, revealed a thick stack of bank notes. Tens of thousands of pounds.

“Bryant,” Min breathed.

“Shall we go surprise your aunt?”

Min laid the wallet on the bench and reached for him. “Not just yet,” she said, pulling his face down for a very thorough kiss.

“Marry me,” he whispered against her lips.

Min smiled and kissed him again. “No.”

His delicious mouth turned down in a frown though his eyes laughed into hers. “You cut me to the quick, madam.”

“Ah, then perhaps you shouldn’t ask questions to which you already know the answer.”

“Perhaps this is one instance where I wasn’t sure of the outcome.”

“Well, don’t be too hard on yourself,” Min teased. “It happens to the best of us.”

Bryant smiled at her but the amusement in his eyes was tempered with…something else. Sorrow? Uncertainty? Min swallowed against the sudden rush of overwhelming emotion that threatened to choke her. She loved him. More than anything. But…

“Why won’t you marry me, Min?”

“I don’t wish to hurt you, Bryant. I just… I don’t know that I ever want to marry.”

“So it’s not just me? I mean, I’m not the reason…”

“No! Bryant, I love you.”

Bryant looked into her eyes and released a long breath. “How did such an irritatingly wonderful creature like you worm your way into my heart?”

“I’m not sure if you just complimented me or insulted me.”

He laughed, and raked both hands through his hair until parts of it stood on end like a hedgehog. He dropped his hands, letting them dangle. She waited for him to unload whatever was on his mind.

He drew his thumb along her bottom lip, smiling a little sadly. “It’s been a long time…”

He broke off his thought and turned his attention back to the floor. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet, hesitant. “It’s all right, Min. I understand. I know I haven’t lived the most pristine life. I’ve stolen, lied, cheated, and occasionally inflicted harm. I did try never to hurt an innocent person, but there were times…” He stopped and rubbed his hands over his face. “Min, I just… I’m not…”

“I know exactly who and what you are, Bryant. Oh, I don’t know all the particulars, and frankly I don’t think I want to. But”—she took his disfigured hand in her own—“I know enough.”

Min could feel the tension in Bryant’s hand as he stared at her. She placed a hand on his chest, the butterflies in her stomach cavorting in a mad dance. “I understand all I need to, Bryant.”

His heart pounded beneath her fingers and Min held her breath, waiting for his response.

Bryant gathered her closer and kissed her brow. “Then why won’t you marry me?” he asked again.

Min hesitated, not wanting to voice the doubts in her head. “If being a good wife means guarding your hearth and home and bearing your children and losing myself to whatever is expected of me, I don’t know that I…that I can do that. I don’t know how to be a wife. And there are so many things I still want to do.”

Bryant kissed her, pulling away much too soon. “Is that all?”

“What do you mean, is that all?”

“My dear Minuette, if you would be happier traveling the world than ‘guarding my hearth and home’ then I would be very happy to escort you to the ends of the earth. I will follow you wherever you wish to go, support whatever you wish to do.”

“And what about you, Bryant? Surely you won’t be happy living life at your wife’s whims. Don’t you have plans, desires?”

“My only desire, Miss Sinclair, is to spend my life with the woman I love. I am more than willing to do so on her terms.”

“Bryant, I—”

“No. Don’t say it. Don’t overthink this, Min. Do you love me?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Then that is all that matters. The rest will take care of itself. There are no constraints or rules we have to follow. Society be damned.”

Min smiled slowly, the love she felt for the man in her arms nearly overwhelming in its intensity. “You may regret those words, Mr. Westley.”

“Doubtful, Miss Sinclair.” He kissed her again and leaned his forehead against hers.

“You’re sure?” Min asked, still not quite believing she could really have everything she ever wanted. Including this amazing man.

“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

Min took a deep breath. “Then yes. I will marry you.”

Bryant grabbed her about the waist and spun her around, his happiness filling Min with exhilarating delight. He put her down and kissed her until her head swam. When he finally released her lips, he gathered her to his chest, cradling her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

“I know I will never deserve you, Minuette. But I swear on all that is holy that I will spend my life trying. It seems, for better or worse, you have me. But
you
may live to regret it, you know,” he teased.

Min brushed the hair from his face. She rested her hands on his cheeks and drew him down for a lingering kiss. “I will never regret choosing you, Bryant. I will love you through this life and into the next. No matter what happens, I’m afraid you will never be rid of
me
.”

He took her hand, pressing his lips to her inner wrist. “Then I will live and die a happy man, my love.”