How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,42

and, rather belatedly, Caroline realized what a fool she was being. “Very well,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “I have secrets as does everybody else.” She gave him a deep smile. “Including you.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched and, yet, his composure never slipped.

“Ah! I’m right,” Caroline declared triumphantly, then all but flinched when heads turned toward her, eyes narrowing as they swept over her with interest before moving to him.

Blast it! Gritting her teeth, Caroline cast him another glare before leaving him standing and heading off to calm down. Indeed, if he threatened to unearth her secrets, perhaps she ought to repay him with equal measure. No doubt a man like Lord Markham had a skeleton in his closet!

Probably more than one.

Chapter Fifteen

A Man’s Secret

Pierce wanted to stop her but he knew that that was impossible.

Or at least inadvisable.

Lingering on the rim of the dance floor a little longer, he then proceeded to make his rounds, greeting an acquaintance here and there while his gaze swept the crowd, looking for his little mouse. She’d threatened him!

He chuckled.

Indeed, the notion of her looking into his life to unearth his secrets was unsettling. After all, Caroline Hawkins was no simpering miss. She had a backbone, no matter how much she sought to hide it. And so far, he’d always seen her go after what she wanted with uncompromising determination. If she wanted to unearth his secrets, he had no doubt she would!

That, he could not allow.

Still, Pierce knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he could not simply walk away. She would haunt him. His thoughts. His dreams. She would be on his mind always, robbing him of sleep and distracting him when he could ill afford it.

He needed to unmask her, learn her secret, her reason for this ridiculous get-up. Perhaps then, he would be able to think of someone other than her.

His feet stilled and his eyes narrowed as he caught the distant image of a greyish dress. Turning in that direction, Pierce crossed the ballroom, certain that no other woman would have chosen that color to wear to tonight’s event.

In an odd way, she stood out like a sore thumb.

The ball was in full swing. People moved back and forth, dancing and drinking, chatting and laughing. The noise was deafening, mingling with the soft notes of the orchestra in the corner. Dark had long since fallen this time of year, and the insides glowed with countless little flames, casting their light across the assembled guests. Warmth lingered, almost oppressing, and he saw more than one flushed face. Women hurried back and forth between the powder room and the dance floor, their eyes glowing with excitement.

Only his little mouse seemed ill at ease as she stood by the back wall.

The look in her eyes spoke of exhaustion, and she continued to rub the bridge of her nose.

Standing back, Pierce watched her, feeling an inkling of guilt for having tortured her earlier. Still, she’d held her ground, and he was proud to have found a worthy adversary. He longed to speak to her again. However, the ballroom had proved to be the wrong place.

The dark alley had suited them better.

With a smile, Pierce remembered how boldly she had responded to his kiss after her initial shock had passed. Would she do so again?

His pulse quickened at the thought of her lips once more pressed to his own, and he stalked closer, careful to remain hidden to her.

Sipping another glass of lemonade, she spoke to her mother before her features darkened, a hand to her head. Mrs. Hawkins smiled at her, a few words leaving her lips before she turned back to the small circle around her.

After setting down the glass, his little mouse left the ballroom.

Pierce immediately followed. He saw her slip out through the arched doorway toward the powder room. Careful to remain unseen, he kept to the back, moving quickly where he could not be spotted until he reached that same doorway and hurried through.

The light was dimmer here, and the small opening kept out much of the noise.

Glancing around, he found an adjacent room unoccupied. From the looks of it, it seemed to be a sitting room without a distinguishable purpose. Thus prepared, he huddled in the doorway, praying that Caroline would reemerge from the powder room alone.

If not, all this would have been for nothing.

A most depressing thought!

Luckily, Fortune smiled on him this night.

The moment his little mouse walked past the doorway hiding him from