How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,68

relying on Lord Coleridge’s promise that he would retrieve Rebecca. Caroline doubted that was possible. She hoped it was not. She prayed her beloved cousin was safe and sound with the man she loved. However, she knew not what plan Pembroke had concocted.

And it drove her mad.

If only there was a way for her to find out what had happened! Where they had gone!

“Lord Markham!” The name flew from Caroline’s lips in a hushed tone. She clamped her hands over her mouth in shock.

“Are you all right?” Sarah asked as she strode closer, her green eyes watchful as they swept over Caroline. “What about Lord Markham?”

Drat! Why had she spoken out loud? “It’s nothing.”

Sarah’s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Caroline sighed. “Fine, I simply realized that as Lord Pembroke’s friend, Lord Markham might know what happened tonight. He might know where they are.”

Sarah nodded. “Do you wish to send him a message?”

“Yes!” No! Caroline frowned. By the time her message was delivered and answered, it would be morning and she wouldn’t have slept a wink.

Sarah’s eyes widened, and she began to slowly shake her head from side to side. “Absolutely not! No!”

Caroline frowned. “Who works for whom?”

“I don’t care,” Sarah retorted firmly, her bright green eyes flashing dangerously. “That man is not who he says he is. He is hiding something, and I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be alone with him.”

Caroline paused. “How do you know?” Of course, she had her own suspicions, however, how would Sarah have obtained said information? Or at least drawn such a conclusion?

Her friend inhaled a rather exhausted breath. “I’ve watched people my whole life. He is hiding something.”

“But perhaps it’s nothing bad.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “You cannot truly believe that.” Then her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What happened? You’ve been…not yourself for days. Something’s changed since…since the day you asked me to fetch him.” Her hands settled on Caroline’s shoulders, her green eyes drilling into her friend’s. “What did he do?”

Caroline shrugged off her friend’s hands and strode over to the window. “Very well,” she said, firmly keeping her back to Sarah. “I know his secret.” At least she assumed as much. “And I know he would not hurt me.” Another assumption. “He is the only one who knows where Rebecca is.” She finally turned to face her friend. “I need to speak to him.”

“You want to leave? Now? In the dark?” Sarah stared at her incredulously.

Caroline nodded, frowning. “Don’t act as though it would be the first time.”

“This is different,” Sarah insisted. “It’s not an emergenc—”

“Yes, it is! Do you truly think I can sleep a wink not knowing if she is all right?” Caroline stated vehemently, and Sarah sighed—a first sign of weakness. Caroline pounced on it! “I promise I’ll be careful as always.” Fortunately, Sarah did not know about the masked stranger Caroline had encountered more than once on her nightly outings or her friend would never allow her to go. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“I’ll accompany y—”

“No!” Caroline interrupted lightning-quick. “You need to stay here and make sure that my parents don’t learn of this.”

Again, Sarah sighed. “I don’t like this.”

Caroline almost squealed in triumph. “Thank you. Thank you.” She gave her friend a quick hug and then rushed to dress. In less than ten minutes, Sarah was guiding her along the servants’ stairs, ensuring that no one was up and about. Then Caroline slipped out through the servants’ entrance and kept her head down as she headed down the street.

Fortunately, according to Sarah, Lord Markham’s townhouse was only a few streets away.

Caroline’s heart pounded wildly as she hurried through the night. It pounded even stronger when she came to stand outside the man’s home who might know her like no other ever had. Or had ever wanted to. What was she to do now? Knock on the door? Would his butler have palpitations finding a young woman on the doorstep past dark? Or would that be more of a common occurrence?

Caroline begrudgingly admitted that she knew very little about the man he was.

“Too late to turn back now,” she mumbled to herself and then made to head toward the front steps when she noticed someone rushing toward the street from the servants’ entrance.

Caroline froze, panic racing up and down her spine. What if she was discovered?

Before Caroline could duck behind the nearest tree or lamppost though, she caught the faint sound of sobs echoing through