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pouch, retied the cord, and placed the little sack in a pocket.

    He tossed the other three sacks back into the safe, closed the door and locked it. Next he repositioned
    the carpet. There was no telling how soon Hastings would check the contents of his Apollo, but when he
    did, he was sure to get a well-deserved jolt of alarm. No ordinary thief would leave most of the jewelry
    behind. When Hastings realized precisely what items had been taken, he would know that someone was
    hunting him. With luck he would start to sweat.

    Anthony went to the door and listened intently.
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    Outside in the hall a floorboard squeaked. The first creak was followed by another, closer this time.
    Someone was coming down the hall toward the bedroom. One of the guards, most likely. Would he
    open the door of his employer’s bedroom or was that forbidden territory? There was no way to know
    how thorough Quinby or Royce would be, but from what Anthony knew of Hastings’s temperament, it
    did not seem likely that he would authorize either man to prowl through his private sanctuary.

    Voices sounded out in the hall. A man whispered something in soft, urgent tones. A woman responded,
    her voice equally low and eager.

    Hastings had evidently brought one of the female guests up to his bedroom while his young bride was
    dutifully dealing with the crowd downstairs. The action certainly confirmed Louisa’s already low opinion
    of his character. But the sensibilities of the very new Mrs. Hastings were not his primary concern at the
    moment. He had to get out of the room.

    There were two alternatives: the window and the connecting door to Mrs. Hastings’s bedroom. He
    chose the latter. If he went out onto the ledge he might not be able to find another unlocked window to
    crawl back through.

    His hand was on the knob of the adjoining bedroom door when he heard the outer door of that room
    open. He stilled, listening as the couple entered.

    “This is so damned risky, Lilly.”

    “Hastings and his guests have all had far too much champagne tonight. No one will notice that you and I
    have slipped away for a short time. In any event surely this is no more reckless than the way we used to
    meet before I was forced into this ghastly marriage.”

    “But if anyone discovers us—”

    “Darling, I have been so desperate for you. The past few weeks have been a nightmare. Hold me.”

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    There was a rustle of heavy skirts and some passionate-sounding moans.

    “Oh, God, Lilly. You cannot know what it has been like for me. I lie awake every night thinking of you in
    Hastings’s bed. The image is driving me slowly mad.”

    “Do not torment yourself, my love. He was unable to consummate our marriage on our wedding night,
    and he has not come to me since.”

    “Hastings is impotent?”

    “He says it is my fault. He claims I do not understand his special needs. I believe he goes elsewhere to
    satisfy those needs, and I am truly grateful, believe me.”

    “So am I.”

    Anthony released the knob and went back across the room to the door that opened onto the hall. He let
    himself out into the shadowed corridor and descended the rear stairs.

    4

    She did not realize how tense she had become waiting for Anthony to return until the carriage door
    opened abruptly. She nearly yelped in surprise when he vaulted up inside the darkened cab.

    “Didn’t mean to startle you, Mrs. Bryce.”

    He pushed open the trapdoor.
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    “Arden Square, Ned.”

    “Aye, sir.”

    The vehicle rumbled forward. Anthony dropped down onto the seat across from her.

    She knew at once that something had happened. A hot, seething energy emanated from him. She felt as
    though she was sharing the carriage with a panther that had just scented