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the idea was unthinkable. But now that he was captured, the housebreaker would likely be hanged. At the thought of that powerful body dangling at the end of a rope, Anna felt a sharp wave of nausea.
    True, he was a criminal, but his smile had held a wealth of charm. He had frightened her half to death, but she had suffered no real injury at his hands, and he had even taken care to wrap her in his cloak before, as he had meant to do, carrying her outside. The kisses he had stolen had been shameful, a disgrace, the way he had touched her too disturbing even to think about, but still—she could not wish to see him dead.
    At the thought Anna shuddered and dropped her head to her hands.
    “Here, ducks, ’tis all right now. Mrs. Mullins is ’ere,” the housekeeper crooned, fixing her taper in a holder on the wall and returning to bend over Anna. Clumsily she patted Anna’s shoulder. “Whatever’s ’appened, ’tis not so bad, you’ll see.”
    “She said he’d not harmed her.” This was Davis, sounding disapproving, as he always disapproved of Mrs. Mullins.
    “Of course she’d say that, you dunder’ead! Miss Anna’s that modest, she is,” Mrs. Mullins returned fiercely. At that Anna looked up.
    “Truly, I’m all right. He—meant to make me go with him, but I hit him. He never harmed me.”
    “Thank the Lord!”
    While Mrs. Mullins was offering up thanks, the housemaids, Polly, Sadie, and Rose, peeped cautiously around an arch to take in the scene. After a moment, apparently convinced that it was safe enough to do so, they sidled into the front hall. A sheepish-looking Henricks, the second footman, followed close on their heels. All wore night attire, with various bits of daytime clothing hastily thrown on. All looked more curious than inclined to be helpful. Anna was not surprised to see both Mrs. Mullins and Davis, acting in concert for once, scowl at them in a way that boded them no good before their attention returned to Anna and the housebreaker.
    “Who is ’e?” Mrs. Mullins spoke for them all as she leaned closer to stare down at the man’s bloodless face. His head was turned slightly toward Anna, and she could see the bruise already darkening his temple. Wincing, she tried not to think that she might have done him a permanent injury.
    “He’s a bloody thief, that’s who he is, ’tis clear as the nose on your face! What else would he be doing skulking about the house in the middle of the night? We should be searching him for his booty, not standing around gawking like a bunch of bloody imbeciles!” Beedle had finally dared to edge closer, but he stood poised as if for attack, axe at the ready.
    “Did you see ’im take anythin’, Miss Anna?”
    Just then the cause of all the commotion groaned and stirred. All of them, Anna included, gasped, their gazes fastening fearfully on the intruder.
    “Here, now, don’t you be movin’, you, or it’ll be off with your head!” Davis shook the poker threateningly, but the housebreaker was already still once more. If the man heard, he gave no indication of it. Anna was conscious of a moment’s deep relief that she truly hadn’t killed him after all. Then, as Mrs. Mullins repeated her question, Anna slowly shook her head.
    Perhaps if they found no evidence of thievery, they wouldn’t be able to hang the man after all. She could hurry up to the library, replace the jewels in the hidey-hole, tidy up the mess, and no one would be the wiser as to what he had been about.
    Suddenly the jewels inside the cloak she wore seemed to burn. Never before in her life had Anna told such a monstrous, deliberate lie.
    But what was a man’s life worth, when all was said and done? Surely more than one small lie!
    “Somebody go summon the master! You, there, ’Enricks, don’t stand about lookin’ as stupid as can be! You go!” Mrs. Mullins gave the order over her shoulder, her tone a decided snap.
    “Henricks takes his orders from me,” Davis reminded the