To Love a Thief Read Online Free PDF Page B

since meeting Miss Renwick , which was at once terrible and exciting.
    He was thankfully saved from commenting by Aldridge scoffing. “Don’t encourage him in that direction. Miss Renwick is a nobody. I’ve invited Lord and Lady Winslow, and they’ve brought their daughter Lady Caroline.” He looked to his wife. “You’ve seated her and Carlyle together for dinner as I instructed?”
    “Of course. They’re right next to each other.”
    He beamed at Lady Aldridge. “Excellent. Speaking of Lord Winslow, I must go and greet him.” Aldridge looked to Daniel. “Come with me, Carlyle.”
    He should, and normally would have. But the pull of Miss Renwick in the drawing room was too much to resist. “I’ll join you shortly.”
    Aldridge pursed his lips, but gave a nod and took himself off.
    Lady Aldridge leaned in. “Never fear. I put Miss Renwick on your other side.” She laughed softly and while Daniel appreciated her thoughtfulness, he was certain Aldridge would disapprove. Well, he’d leave that between them.
    “Thank you, my lady. If you’ll excuse me.” He flashed her a smile, which she returned with a slight wave of her fingertips.
    Daniel entered the drawing room a few moments later and immediately scanned for Miss Renwick. He suppressed a frown when she wasn’t there. Her employer, Mrs. Harwood, was seated with another older woman, their heads bent in conversation. Disappointed, he turned and exited. He considered a moment before his feet took him to Aldridge’s office—the place he felt most comfortable. He was still not quite at ease at these sorts of events, even after a year in Society.
    Daniel recalled the day he’d learned of his inheritance as if it were yesterday. A solicitor had come into the magistrate’s office in Queen Square and informed him of the death of his father’s second cousin, Viscount Carlyle, and his son. That had been a year after his father’s death and without his presence, Daniel hadn’t a clue what to do next. Fortunately, the former viscount’s secretary and valet, and the butler at Carlyle Hall, had turned out to be stalwart aides in educating him. He wouldn’t say he’d mastered any of it, but he could at least muddle through his duties.
    Aldridge had been the other integral piece of his training. They’d met at the Queen Street office when Aldridge, a proponent of police reform, had stopped in to talk with the constables on a few occasions. When he learned Daniel had inherited, he’d traveled to Essex to extend his sympathy and his assistance.
    Daniel didn’t know how he would’ve managed any of it without him. Every other nobleman he knew had been born and bred to their position, whereas Daniel hadn’t known the first thing about his role in the House of Lords, how to manage his retainers, or how to acquit himself at a social event. Aldridge had, quite plainly, saved him from total humiliation and failure.
    Daniel reached Aldridge’s office and went inside. What greeted him made him stop in his tracks. “Miss Renwick?”
    She stopped, her hand on the desk drawer she’d just closed. She stood straight and smoothed her skirt. Dots of pink colored her cheeks. She would have looked alluring if she hadn’t also looked guilty. “Good evening, my lord. I do believe I’m in the wrong room.”
    Wishing to conduct his interview in private—and he intended to conduct an interview as the constable in him roared to the surface—he closed the door behind him. “What are you looking for in Lord Aldridge’s office?”
    “Nothing. As I said, I’m in the wrong place. I was looking for the retiring room.” She moved around the desk and made for the door.
    Daniel stepped into her path. “You thought the retiring room might be contained in the desk drawer?”
    The pink in her cheeks darkened and spread. “Of course not. If you’ll excuse me.” She made to move past him, but he placed his hand on her forearm.
    “I will not. At least not until you tell me what