Eloise turned and gave Grenable a fierce look. He involuntarily fell back a step. “I fail to see what information my daughter might give you that could possibly aid you in your attempt to apprehend the criminal who broke into our house tonight,” she said bitingly. “I suggest you begin searching the streets without delay.”

Grenable swallowed. Of course the marchioness was right. The open window had just seemed a bit havey-cavey to him. He would do better to go back to Bow Street and send a description of the pearl necklace out to the best-known fencers. He rubbed his hands together, bowing very low as the marchioness swept her daughter from the room.

“I agree, I agree,” he said, turning to the marquis as the door closed behind Eloise and Sophie. “There is nothing more for me here. I must warn you, milord, that the possibility of recovering the young lady’s necklace is very slim.”

The marquis looked remarkably calm as he shook Grenable’s hand. “Do your best, man, do your best. I’m not one of those who criticize the runners. From what I’ve seen, you’re good men, the finest. Always chasing after malefactors.”

“Yes,” Grenable said a bit uncertainly. “We certainly do our best.” Somehow he found himself out the front door and heading back to Bow Street before he thought twice.

Given that one of his operating rules was never to show indecision in front of his men, Grenable decided to dismiss the queerness of the marquis’s behavior. After all, what was a string of pearls to such a man, anyway? Grenable should just bless his lucky stars that this particular peer wouldn’t kick up a row if the bloody pearls couldn’t be traced. The very thought cheered him up.

The family butler, Carroll, was even more cheerful when he found that the master seemed to have no intention of turning him off as a result of his slanderous suggestion that Lady Sophie had eloped.

“Don’t think about it twice, Carroll,” George said expansively. “It was a viable conclusion. I thought it m’self. But there, we told you Lady Sophie was safe in her bed, didn’t we? Too bad we didn’t know about the thief when her mother and I left for the ball. But the important thing is that Lady Sophie was right and snug in bed. Well, good night, Carroll.” And off went the marquis, rubbing his hands together.

Funny behavior for a man who’d lost a mint of money to a thief, to Carroll’s mind. But what was it to him?

Chapter 10

Chapter 10