The River Knows Read Online Free PDF Page A

really do believe that I am in the habit of helping myself to other people’s valuables.”

    “It is the only explanation that makes sense in light of the facts.” She cleared her throat. “May I assume that your evening career explains how the Stalbridge fortunes came to be revived in recent years? Lady Ashton told me that four years ago, before you returned to England, your family was rumored to be flirting with bankruptcy.”

    “You think I restored the family finances by taking up a career as a jewel thief?”

    “You will admit it is a viable hypothesis.”

    “Based on the fact that I asked you to dance on a handful of occasions this past week? No, Mrs. Bryce, I will not allow that it is a reasonable assumption. Your evidence is far too weak.”

    “Oh, there is a bit more to it than the dances, sir,” she said coolly.

    He did not move. “How much more?”

    “I saw you slip away from Lady Hammond’s ballroom the other night. I assumed you had an assignation in the garden, but you went up the back stairs instead.”

    “Good Lord, you followed me?”

    “Only as far as the foot of the stairs,” she assured him. “I felt that, under the circumstances, I had a right to know what you were about.”
    “Circumstances? Damn it to hell, woman, all I did was 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