How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,79

his gaze sought hers, a charming smile lingering on his flawless features. For all intents and purposes, he portrayed a kind and caring young man, delighted to be received by dear friends and most eager to entertain their daughter with humorous anecdotes and witty comments.

Caroline barely managed to eat a bite all evening, her stomach in knots as her mind tried to see beyond the mask he’d most likely been wearing all his life. She tried to glimpse the cold, unfeeling monster she now knew him to be, but struggled to do so. Indeed, his mask was almost flawless, and it riled her that a man with a heart so dark would possess such an innocent face.

“I hear you enjoy embroidery, Miss Hawkins,” he commented with a sidelong glance at her parents, who all but beamed at him, no doubt already working on the guest list for their wedding.

“I enjoy little else, my lord,” Caroline replied, determined to be the most boring and tiresome creature he’d ever encountered. Unfortunately, the blasted man would not be deterred no matter what she said. And so, Caroline decided to see this moment as an opportunity instead of a curse.

“A charming man like yourself must have a lot of devoted friends,” she remarked over a bite of venison. “Do tell, who are you most intimately acquainted with?”

Smiling ever so charmingly, he told her about various lords he considered friends, how they’d met and how often he saw them. Caroline filed all of the information away for future reference before she launched into questions about his favorite pastimes, travels to the country, his estates and all else that came to mind and would not be considered too inquisitive of her to inquire about.

“Do you hunt, my lord?” Caroline wondered, a timid smile playing on her lips. “I must admit the sound of a shot being fired frightens me terribly. What if it went astray?”

Smiling at her, Lord Coleridge patted her hand. Caroline wanted to vomit! “There’s no need to be frightened so long as you’re in the company of experienced hunters,” he boasted. “I often travel through the country in search of new hunting grounds. Kearsley and Amhurst generally accompany me as it does get a bit lonely being out on the road by oneself, especially after dark.”

“Surely, you don’t travel all night?” Caroline asked innocently, quickly returning her gaze to the peas on her plate.

“Of course not,” he told her, sipping his wine. “Fortunately, there are a number of inns on the road that provide adequate shelter to travel-weary lords.” He chuckled. “Sometimes we turn in at a friend’s estate. My cousin owns a small estate near London we used to frequent a while back.” Something in his tone changed, grew…darker, disapproving.

“Are you close?” Caroline asked quickly. “You and your cousin?”

Coleridge sighed. “We were.” His gaze became distant, and Caroline could sense that something severe had happened between them.

“What happened?” she asked carefully, hoping he would share his thoughts.

Unfortunately, Lord Coleridge heaved a deep sigh and shook his head. “It was nothing. A quarrel among cousins. I’m certain you’re familiar with familial disputes.” He gave her a pointed look, indicating her own wayward cousin.

“Of course,” Caroline replied with a false smile, cursing inwardly at this missed opportunity. If only she knew what had happened between him and his cousin!

Her parents, at least, seemed delighted and would have died utterly happy had lightning struck them down in that moment.

By the end of the evening, Caroline was exhausted. The muscles in her jaw ached from the fake smile she’d forced on herself all night, and her mind spun with all she’d learned. Most of all, however, was she distressed by the ease with which Lord Coleridge hid his true self. And yet, she could not help but notice that his smile, no matter how brilliant it might sparkle, never reached his eyes. There was nothing warm and caring in it. It looked pretty, but lifeless.

Not like Pierce’s smile.

His smile made her feel. Her stomach fluttered, and her heart skipped a beat or two. She felt shivers dance across her skin as though his fingertips were trailing up and down her arms. She felt all that and more when Pierce smiled at her.

When he winked at her.

When he grinned at her.

Staring out the window at the darkened world, Caroline sighed with longing. Three days had passed since she’d last seen him. Never had three days seemed that long. Perhaps she felt his absence even more acutely because