How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,63

lead to suspicions, especially from her nosey cousin. And Caroline was not ready yet to share with another what she could hardly explain to herself. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about that at present. As long as Lord Markham remained absent, all she could do was wait and find some means to pass the time without losing her mind.

And so once again, Caroline turned her focus to her beloved cousin. Perhaps at least one of them could end the evening with an answer they desired. “Rebecca and I will make our rounds,” she told her parents as she slipped her arm through the crook of her cousin’s. “We’ll assure everyone that Lord Coleridge is recovering swiftly.” And before her parents could object, the two women disappeared amongst the throng of people. “I assume you have plans for tonight,” Caroline whispered to her cousin as they moved along arm in arm, offering a smile here and there to an acquaintance they passed, “and no intention of leaving before seeing them through?”

Gratitude rested in Rebecca’s green eyes as she chuckled. “You assume correctly.”

“Then you won’t mind if we walk over to the other side of the ballroom where a certain gentleman seems to be waiting for you?” Caroline suggested with a teasing note, knowing how displeased her father would be if he saw his hopes for a union with Lord Coleridge thwarted by the young American. He did not care for Rebecca’s happiness.

Caroline, however, did.

“Not at all,” Rebecca replied, her eyes glowing as they swept over the man watching them with hawk eyes, the longing in them all but palpable.

Another sting of envy found its way into Caroline’s heart and, once again, she pushed it aside. “And you won’t mind if I get distracted by…say, a dear old friend and leave you alone for…oh, a minute or two?”

Turning to look at her, Rebecca smiled. “What would I do without you?” she whispered, her hands grasping Caroline’s as her green eyes moved to hold her gaze. “I hope you know that if you ever need my help, I—”

“I know,” Caroline assured her quickly, noting the hint of suspicion that lingered in her cousin’s gaze. Of course, Rebecca had noticed something! Sometimes that woman was like a bloodhound! “You’re sweet to say so, but I’m perfectly fine.”

“Are you?” Rebecca challenged that statement, and her eyes narrowed alarmingly. “The mention of the highwaymen seemed to upset you.”

Trying to hold on to her composure, Caroline cleared her throat. “Oh, the thought of being set upon by such criminals is most disconcerting!” she exclaimed with feigned concern.

Unfortunately, her cousin saw right through her charade. “Oh, fine,” Rebecca laughed. “Don’t tell me, but please, be careful.”

“Aren’t I always?” Caroline asked with a grin before she allowed her gaze to travel past Rebecca’s shoulder and to the man waiting by the side of the dance floor. “He seems rather impatient.”

“Promise me!” Rebecca insisted nonetheless, her green eyes full of concern as they held Caroline’s. “Promise me you will be careful.”

Caroline squeezed her cousin’s hands in reassurance, touched by the depth of her concern. “I promise,” she finally said. “Now, go to him.” Then Caroline turned away and quickly addressed a passing acquaintance, hoping Rebecca would redirect her attention to her own plans for that night.

Fortunately, she did.

While Caroline passed the evening with one boring conversation after another, Rebecca danced with Lord Pembroke, the sight of them together whispering of a deeper connection than Caroline had ever thought possible. They seemed like magnets drawn to one another, dependent on one another, for whenever Rebecca was dancing with someone else that night, both their lights seemed to dim until they were finally reunited.

It was almost magical.

And utterly frustrating—at least for Caroline—because by the time her parents called for the carriage, Lord Markham still hadn’t appeared.

Rebecca, too, seemed somewhat disappointed on the ride home, and so when they arrived and stepped into the hall, Caroline could not help but ask, “I assume your evening did not go as expected?”

“Unfortunately not,” Rebecca sighed, regret palpable in her voice.

On top of that, they found a supper invitation for the following day had arrived in their absence. Apparently, not even being attacked by highwaymen seemed to dissuade Lord Coleridge from pursuing Rebecca. The man was like a dog with a bone!

Expectedly, her cousin was far from overjoyed at the prospect of sharing her evening with that man and thus had to endure a well-intended lecture from her aunt on the merits of securing