The River Knows Read Online Free PDF Page A

dance with you a few times.”
    “Yes, and I knew there had to be a reason for that,” she said. “As you, yourself, pointed out, there is a limited number of explanations for why a person would sneak up a flight of servants’ stairs during a social affair. Until tonight I had assumed you were in the habit of meeting your lover in that manner, but this evening I began to suspect that you were more likely a thief.”
    “You take my breath away, Mrs. Bryce.”
    She doubted that was a compliment. So much for trying to prod him into telling her the truth. He obviously was not going to confess to being a burglar. Fair enough. She certainly wasn’t about to confide her secrets to him, either, even if he did have an alarming effect on her pulse.
    “Given your profession, Mr. Stalbridge, you are hardly in a position to question my activities, let alone criticize.”
    “Mrs. Bryce, this conversation is far and away the most riveting one I have had in years. I will, however, be blunt. I do not know what you intended tonight, but I must tell you that you took a grave risk going into Elwin Hastings’s bedroom. You obviously have no conception of the enormity of the danger involved.”
    The grim certainty in his words gave her pause.
    “Surely I was in no serious jeopardy of anything other than having to face a few moments of mild embarrassment,” she said.
    “If you believe that, then I must tell you that you do not know as much about Hastings as you seem to think you do.”
    “I will allow that you may know considerably more about him.” She paused and then gave him an encouraging smile. “Perhaps you would be good enough to enlighten me?”
    His expression hardened. “Pay attention, Mrs. Bryce. If Hastings had cause to suspect that you might be a threat to him, you would be in great jeopardy.”
    She stopped smiling. “Surely you are not implying that he might go so far as to murder me simply because he learned that I accidentally opened his bedroom door.”
    “Yes, Mrs. Bryce, that is exactly what I am implying.”
    She drew a sharp breath. “Really, sir, that is preposterous. He is certainly not a nice man, but he is a gentleman. I doubt very much that he would stoop so low as to murder a lady who had done him no grave harm.”
    Anthony sat forward abruptly, making her gasp in surprise. He captured her wrists in his hands and leaned in close.
    “Heed me well, Mrs. Bryce. If I am correct in my conclusions about Elwin Hastings, he has already committed murder twice.”
    Horror reverberated through her. “Good heavens, sir. Are you certain?”
    “I have no proof yet, but, yes, I am certain.”
    “I suppose I must take your word for it,” she said slowly. “You no doubt have better connections in the criminal classes than I do, and therefore you are better informed about such matters.”
    “Do I detect a note of envy?”
    “Well, I must admit, I would find detailed information about the criminal underworld extremely useful from time to time.”
    “Just what line are you in, Mrs. Bryce?” he asked very gently.
    Another chill trickled down her spine. She was fiercely aware of the strength in his fingers. He wasn’t hurting her, but she was most definitely a captive. It took a great deal of effort to keep her voice calm and even.
    “Never fear, sir, I am not your competition,” she assured him. “I have no interest in Hastings’s jewels.”
    “Then what the devil did you hope to find in his room?”
    She hesitated a moment longer and then made her decision. He already knew that she had been in the room, and he had not betrayed her to the guard. It was clear that he was no friend of Elwin Hastings, and, although he appeared to be a gentleman, he was a self-confessed professional thief, a species not known for its scruples. It was not as though she had a great many options here. Anthony was an unusual gentleman; not at all like other men. He just might consider helping her, if only because he might find the