Page 38 of Ravished

Dobbs's gnomelike face wrinkled up into a curious frown. "You think there might have been others?"

"The collection of valuables stored in that cavern is quite impressive," Gideon said quietly. "I believe that they were chosen with a trained, knowledgeable eye, rather than at random during a hurried burglary."

«Ah-hah» Dobbs was intrigued now. "You believe there might have been a mastermind behind the thefts? Someone who arranged for only the choicest items to be stolen?"

"I think it would pay us to interview Crane and the other two we caught last night," Gideon said.

"I'll go along with that," Dobbs said, rubbing his hands. "The more, the merrier. I don't mind tellin' you that solving this case is going to do wonders for me reputation. Yes, sir, the Fancy will be standin' in line to hire one J. William Dobbs to work for 'em."

"No doubt." Gideon turned to Owl. "While I go with Dobbs to the magistrate to deal with the interviews, you are to take yourself back to Blackthorne Hall and instruct my valet to prepare my clothes for this afternoon's call at the rectory. Make certain everything is in perfect order, Owl. I am going to be making an offer of marriage and I shall want to make a good impression."

"You'll be wanting to wear black, then, my lord. Same as you would for mourning"

Effie helped herself to another cup of tea. It was her fourth since Harriet had returned downstairs after her bath. Felicity was pacing the floor near the parlor window, her expression extremely serious Mrs. Stone had been revived yet again after fainting dead away at the sight of Harriet. As soon as she was back on her feet, she had promptly drawn the drapes as if there had been a death in the house.

The tall clock ticked dolefully away, signaling the steady approach of three o'clock. With each tiny movement of the clock hands, Effie appeared to sink further into despondency. All in all, an atmosphere of deep gloom had settled over the household.

It was getting to be a bit much as far as Harriet was concerned. She had been consumed with guilt at first for having overset everyone. But now she was growing impatient with the attitude of despair that hung over them all.

"I do not understand why you are acting as if I had died in that cave," Harriet muttered, pouring tea for herself.

Unacquainted with the appropriate style of gown one wore to receive an offer of marriage from a viscount, she had selected her newest, a muslin that had originally been white but which Harriet had recently dyed yellow after the fabric had started to turn that color on its own. The long sleeves were gathered at the wrist and the neckline was filled in with a modest, pleated chemisette Harriet had pinned a fresh white lace cap on her untamed hair. She always felt vaguely undressed without a cap.

When she had examined herself in her looking glass she had decided she looked very much as she usually did. Quite ordinary, in fact. One would have thought that after what had happened last night, she would appear somehow different. More exciting or interesting, perhaps. It would have been amusing to find she had become a woman of mystery. Instead she simply looked like plain Harriet.

"Thank heaven you did not die," Felicity said. "Honestly, Harriet, I have never understood how you could go into those caves in the first place, let alone spend an entire night in one. It must have been a dreadful experience."

"Well, it was not particularly dreadful, merely uncomfortable. And it was not as if there was a great deal of choice." Harriet sipped her tea "Once in, there was no way out until the tide retreated. The entire thing was anaccident. I would like to stress that point yet again."

"The entire thing was a disaster," Effie said morosely. "Heaven only knows what will happen now."

"What will happen now is that I shall soon find myself engaged," Harriet said with a sigh.

"To a man who is in line for an earldom," Felicity pointed out with her customary pragmatism. "Not such a bad fate, if you ask me."

"It would not be such a bad fate if he were marrying me because he had fallen hopelessly, mindlessly, passionately in love with me," Harriet said. "The problem is that he is going to marry me because he feels honor-bound to do so."

"And so he should," Effie said grimly. "He has ruined you. Utterly."

Harriet frowned. "I do not feel ruined in the least."

Mrs. Stone lumbered into the room with another tray of tea and surveyed the small group. She had the air of one who is about to pronounce doom. "There will be no engagement and no marriage. Mark my words. You'll see The Beast of Blackthorne Hall has had his wicked way with Miss Harriet and now he will toss her aside like so much garbage."

"Heaven help us. " Effie twisted her hankie in her lap and leaned back in her chair with a moan.

Harriet wrinkled her nose. "Really, Mrs. Stone. I would prefer that you did not refer to me as garbage. You may recall that I am your employer."

"Nothing personal, Miss Harriet." Mrs. Stone set down the tea tray with a bang. " 'Tis just that I know the nature of the Beast. I have been through this once before. He's got what he wanted. He'll be long gone by now."

Felicity gazed speculatively at Harriet. "Did he really get what he wanted, Harriet? You have not been precisely clear on that point."

"For goodness' sake," Effie muttered before Harriet could think of a response. "It hardly matters whether he did or did not. The damage is done."

Harriet smiled blandly at her sister. "There, you see, Felicity? What actually happened is unimportant. Appearance is all."

"Yes, I know," Felicity said. "But I am extremely curious, you know."

"Oh, he ravished her, all right," Mrs. Stone said bluntly. "You may depend upon it. No young innocent could spend the night with the Beast of Blackthorne Hall and not find herself ravished."

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