The Mysterious Lord Marlowe Read Online Free PDF

would make a competent burglar,’ Jane said, her humour asserting itself as she followed him to the rear of the house. There was no use in repining or complaining. They found the glass doors, which led out to the pretty and secluded garden. George stood looking at it for a moment, seemingly in deep thought. ‘What will you use to break the window? Or had you not thought so far?’
    ‘There you wrong me. I was merely remembering some good times I had here as a boy. It seems sacrilege to disturb the place, but it must be done.’ George took a pistol from his coat pocket, and turning the handle against the glass, gave it a sharp rap. It shattered at once. He pushed the jagged glass in and put his hand through the opening. Finding the catch which secured it, he was able to open the door.
    ‘I shall go first and light a candle,’ George said. ‘Be careful for there is broken glass. Ido not wish you to stumble in the dark and hurt yourself.’
    Jane hesitated just inside the door, allowing him time to explore. A few seconds passed and she heard him strike a tinder and then light flared in the darkness. He lit a branch of wax candles, the yellow glow illuminating the pretty if neglected parlour in which she now stood. She looked about her with interest, noting the delicate furniture, workbasket, spinet and the French cabinets filled with porcelain figurines.
    ‘This parlour must have belonged to a lady.’
    ‘Yes, it did—an elderly lady. She was my great-aunt and more than ninety years of age when she died.’
    ‘I hope she would not mind us breaking in?’
    ‘I should imagine she might find it exciting. I believe she was rather a dashing lady in her youth. She took a shine to me because I was considered a bruising rider to hounds as a youngster—and she was fond of hunting herself.’
    ‘A lady after my own heart, though it is the thrill of the chase I love. I usually leave the field before the kill.’
    ‘Aunt Augusta would not have approved ofthat,’ he said and smiled. ‘However, I seldom hunt these days. I saw enough death and killing in the army. I have no desire for more.’
    ‘Yet you joined forces with a dangerous man to help abduct an innocent young woman.’ Her tone was accusing and made him look at her.
    ‘I have no excuse I may give other than that I have already offered. I believed I was helping to provide the illusion of an abduction. Until she struggled so desperately I hoped the lady was willing, as I had been led to believe.’
    ‘Yes, so you told me.’ Jane frowned as he led the way from the small parlour into another larger one, then into a hall, through several more reception rooms and finally a large kitchen at the rear. It was still painful for her to walk, though a little easier than it had been when he found her in the hut. ‘I find it hard to believe that you were duped, sir. I would not take you for a fool.’
    ‘I had my reasons.’
    Jane glanced at the grim set of his mouth and said no more on the subject. It would not do to antagonise him at this point. She must never forget that Mariah was in danger and this man was perhaps her only chance of finding her friend.
    ‘I think the fireplace in the larger parlour was set with wood and paper,’ she said. ‘It would be more relaxing than the kitchen for there are some comfortable chairs.’
    ‘I thought we might find some wine here…’ George disappeared into what looked like a storeroom. Jane heard him rummaging around for a moment or two. He emerged triumphant with a bottle of red wine. ‘There are several bottles here, though most must be in the cellar, but I have no intention of going there at this hour.’
    Jane found another branch of candles and lit them from his. Her ankle was throbbing and she sat down at the table, trying not to show how weary she felt.
    ‘Shall we explore further or settle on the parlour?’
    ‘I think the beds must need airing. It is more than a year since the house was closed. My lawyers thought