Everything I Ever Wanted Read Online Free PDF Page B

our murderer?"
    South shrugged. "I couldn't say. Is she capable? I can think of no way to answer that except by asking, who among us is not?"
    "How would you assess the risk to yourself if I ask you to continue?"
    "I certainly would go on more cautiously than I began." He frowned slightly."Are you thinking of asking me to stop now? I assure you, nothing of note has been accomplished."
    "I need to consider this further."
    South's frown deepened. It was unlike the colonel not to have made a well-considered decision at the outset. The fact that he was reexamining caused South to wonder what he had said that was giving his mentor pause. "Is it that I referred to her vulnerability?" he asked frankly."What does that signify?"
    Rather than answer the question, Blackwood said, "Let it rest. I find I am in need of the same. I will send for you in a few days' time. I think an evening at the theatre is in order for me. Pray do not show your face there until you have heard from me. And mind your friends stay away. Northam has much to do that has nothing in common with this bit of business, and Eastlyn and West have their own affairs to consider."
    Southerton gave voice to none of the questions that occurred to him. The affairs of East and West were certainly the colonel's doing. Of North's current assignment he knew only a modest amount. That worthy had been tapped to find one rogue among the ton known familiarly to all as the Gentleman Thief. Northam's recent marriage had complicated the investigation, but South had no real concern that his friend would not be successful. The colonel demanded it. The members of the Compass Club therefore never delivered anything less.
    South stood slowly, stretched. He tossed back the last of his drink and relieved Blackwood of the tumbler in his outstretched hand. He placed both glasses on the sideboard. "In a few days, then," he said, carefully neulral.
    "Yes." The colonel waited until South had reached the door before he spoke again."It was done well, Southerton."
    "Thank you, sir." South considered later that the colonel had only been so effusive with his praise to prompt a reaction. He hadn't disappointed, either. He had practically gaped, which in turn caused him to wince and clap his hand to the side of his face. The colonel had most definitely chuckled. The man had a decidedly twisted sense of humor.
    India Parr examined her face in the mirror for remaining traces of the paint and powder. The application had been done with a particularly heavy hand for this evening's performance, and removing it had proved to be difficult. She was not inclined to spend more time on the matter. She wanted to remove herself from the theatre, away to her home, and crawl between the cool sheets of her bed. Perhaps lick her wounds.
    True, there were no visible scars from tonight's altercation, but her loss of control left her feeling wounded and out of sorts. Behind her she heard Mrs. Garrety gently clucking her tongue as the dresser arranged clothes in the armoire.
    "Leave it," India said. "Leave all of it."
    "It's no good being cross with me, dearie. I'm not the one you're angry at."
    India eyes refocused on her own reflection. She conceded the truth of what had just been said. "No, you're not."
    "I've never seen the like before," the older woman continued as she straightened and fussed over the clothes and costumes. "You were were"
    India sighed as words failed Mrs. Garrety. "I've never been so provoked. It's the sort of thing I could expect in the beginning. In the less reputable theatres. And always from the students crowding the back who thought it a good joke to pull the actors from the play and make them part of their own little dramas. It was surprisingly easy to resist then. They were obvious in their intent." She swiveled on her stool, turning away from the mirror."I think I won their respect because I never gave in."
    "I know ye did, dearie. I was there. Remember?"
    A slight crease appeared between India's