To Catch A Thief (Saved By Desire 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

another dress,” Sophia replied darkly.
    Delilah glared at her. “While you are under my roof, I would ask you to mind your manners and stop prying into my private affairs. In fact, now you have handed over Hooky’s orders there really is no reason for you to stay. You can go home and tell Hooky to mind his own business. You have done what you were told, but I won’t budge.”
    “I am sorry it has come to this,” Sophia replied carefully.
    She hated being at odds with anyone, but her aunt’s behaviour today left her with grave concerns that Delilah was hiding something. Strangely, Sophia suspected that it wasn’t a lover she was hiding because she suspected Delilah didn’t have one. It was something else. 
    “I am sure you are, dear.”
    The atmosphere between them became awkward.
    Sophia sighed. “I shall endeavour to write to Hooky and ask him to send the carriage for me then.”
    “Do that, but you must do it in the morning,” Delilah declared contemptuously. “I have already accepted the Lord’s invitation for tonight. It would be rude to send your apologies so late in the day so you will have to come with me I suppose. We have to leave in an hour, so hurry.”
    She didn’t wait to see if Sophia was going to agree to go, and stormed out of the kitchen without a backward look.
    “I suppose I had better get ready then,” she sighed reluctantly.
    The last thing she wanted to do was attend yet another tedious dinner. Having to share meals with a group of people with whom she had nothing in common was always a dull affair. But, as Delilah had said, it would be rude to send her apologies so late in the day. As far as she was concerned, there had been enough discord for one day without antagonising the locals.
    To the sounds of her aunt banging around in her bedroom directly above the kitchen, Sophia tidied the room and hurried upstairs to get ready. She paused on the landing, and suspected that the drawers of curious items was being relocated somewhere Sophia couldn’t find them.
    It made her wonder why her aunt would move something she had no reason to want to hide?

CHAPTER THREE
     
    Jeb watched several servants hurry into the dining room laden with plates, and his father’s best cutlery, and shook his head in disgust.
    “Why I am allowing the blasted people in here I don’t know,” his father grumbled as he watched the table being set for dinner. “Jessop, make sure everything else is tucked away. I don’t want anything taken from this house tonight.”
    Jeb watched Jessop, the butler, beckon to numerous footmen who began to collect several ornaments from around the room. He had never seen anything so ridiculous in his life. As far as he was concerned, an evening of fine dining should be an affair where one could relax and enjoy the evening. Not spend the time watching the guests avidly and praying that nobody would steal anything. Jeb watched Jessop disappear toward the back of the house laden with a heavy vase and turned to follow his father into the study across the hall.
    “Why do you invite the guests if you don’t trust them?” he asked curiously. “Surely it would be best to tell them you are not holding any engagements at the moment because of the thefts. Nobody would condemn you for that. It might just encourage them to find the culprit instead of just griping about it, and speculating who it might be.”
    Jeb poured them both a brandy and took a seat in front of the fire. He watched his father take the seat opposite, but rather than slump wearily against the covers as Jeb did, Algernon sat perched on the very edge, a study of tension and worry.
    Algernon ran a weary hand down his face and looked at his son. “I am pleased you are here,” he declared fervently.
    “I know,” Jeb replied with a gentle smile. “You have said so several times.”
    He couldn’t really be angry with Algernon for his repeated heartfelt declaration. If he was honest, it was good to be back; far better