To Love a Thief (Steel Hawk) (8 page)

“Greed. It must be worth thousands of pounds.”

“But there’s easier things to steal than something so public. And if they’re stealing diamonds, why not the Koh-I-Noor? It’s owned by the Queen of England, for heaven’s sake.”

Frustration rode across Nathan’s expression, and Rose found herself concentrating on the man and not the dire straits they were in.

He had a strong face, an angled jaw and cheekbones that gave him a rather autocratic air at times. When he was being dogmatic, she rued. When he called her squirt.

Squirt. It isn’t so bad, is it?

A sudden cough spluttered up her throat. Attention riveted, Nathan redirected his gaze to her, a hand patting her back. The feel of him touching her, albeit through her baggy clothing, sent disconcerting waves of heat right to her toes and back up.

This felt different.

Stop it!
She wasn’t allowed to like anything about Nathan Hawk.

She waved a hand at him. “I’m all right. You do not need to hit me so hard.”

“We’ve just survived being hauled off to someone’s dungeon, so don’t go and choke to death on me.”

“And I told you I’m fine.” She pulled away from him, wrapping her arms across her middle and dropping her gaze. She didn’t want to look at him, or let him see what she knew would be in her eyes. That she
did
want him to touch her. Hold her.

Maybe even kiss her.

Rose pulled herself together and lifted her gaze. She would not let him tease her like this. His mouth curved into that sensual smile she remembered.
“You always were a prickly little pear, always pestering.”

“I was not.”

He chuckled. “Oh yes, you were.”

About to counteract his ludicrous statement, even though it contained a certain ring of truth, she forestalled her denial as the boat master called out. “The dock be up ahead. Grab the rope, lad, and make ready to jump.”

Rose pulled away from Nathan, aware of his quizzical inspection the moment before he turned to the boat master.

Land and safety were only a few yards away. The tide had turned, and with the sail eased down, the small craft cruised gently toward the dock. Nathan jumped to the jetty, quickly securing the vessel.

The boat master came alongside her. “I don’t want to know what ye done back there, but I tell ye one thing, if you mess with those up at that house, ye take your lives in your hands.”

“But who are they?”

“Already told ye I don’t know. But take heed. Several who put their noses where they shouldn’t have disappeared.”

Disappeared! Papa! Oh, dear God.

“Your warning is heeded.” However, she had no choice but to deal with them if she were to save her papa.

Nathan joined them and held out a hand to the man. “I’m sorry we put you in such danger, but we had no choice.”

“Aye, but ye both got away.” He jiggled the pouch of gold Nathan had tossed him. “A nice tidy sum be here, which means I can rest my weary bones awhile.”

Rose leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

A blush stained his face, but his delight was real. “Be off with ye, and you.” He wagged a finger at Nathan. “Make sure your young miss puts on a dress. Though I must say, a female in trousers is rather a novel thing.”

Nathan cast an assessing gaze at her legs. “I see what you mean.”

“’Tis shameful ye allow her to wander in trousers.” He shook his head.

“Allow her?” Nathan choked on a breath. “Tell Rosie what to do? That’ll be the day.” Eyes glinting with mirth, he offered a jaunty wave and turned, stepped across to the jetty and began to walk off.

Rose stared at his back, hands on her hips. “That’s right, Nathan, you can’t tell me what to do.” She crossed to the jetty but didn’t follow him, and Nathan kept on walking.

Chapter Seven

What now?

This had to do with Zarrenburg, but that was all she knew. They were several miles away from her home, and it would take some time to get there on foot.

Rose dug into her pocket and scraped up the few lingering coins. Counting them, she knew she had maybe just enough to hire a horse to at least get home more quickly.

Then what?

She didn’t know, but reason said start at home.

Prompted by an adrenaline rush to get moving, she glanced in each direction down the lane that sided the jetty, exhaling a relieved sigh when she spied the stables.

Without hesitation, she strode over to the ramshackle building, hoping the beasts inside weren’t as derelict as the building.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” she called.

Rose peered into the dark recesses of the building, surprised to see a clean and organized home for the animals within. Obviously, the outside did not reflect the inside. A young man exited.

“Do you have a horse I may rent?” she asked him. “I could have it returned, or leave it at Hadfield Stables in Pickle Street.”

The young man eyed her. “You mean Floyd Hadfield?”

Holding her breath, hoping he’d agree, she simply nodded. She pushed her shoulders back. “I have money.”

“Ten shillings for Bessie.” He pointed to an old nag that, while clean and seemingly well fed, Rose guessed wouldn’t get her home any faster than she could walk.

“I don’t think so. She’s old and your price is highway robbery.”

He shrugged and turned to walk away. “Take it or leave it.”

She spied a rather beautiful mare with a white star on its forehead. “This one. Three shillings.” She might be female, but she was no fool with money, something he would find out soon enough.

His eyes widened and then narrowed. “That’s Star, and she’s ten shillings.”

“Four, and I’ll arrange for her to be returned to you at my journey’s end.”

The young man’s expression shifted, and Rose knew she’d gained his interest. This deal was about to go her way.

He scraped a hand across his unshaven jaw. “Seven.”

“Five and not a penny more.” She turned to the exit and walked toward it, holding her breath, frustration building as she walked out into the fresh breeze blowing off the Thames.

She’d barely taken a few steps when he called out. “Five it is, then, though me father will flay me hide.”

Rose suppressed her smile as she turned back to him. “Thank you, though it should have been no more than three.” She had no time to waste haggling. She handed over the money, and he brought out the beautiful beast. It bore no saddle, and he noted her hesitation.

“You didn’t barter for a saddle, just for Star.”

Her smile broke. “Well negotiated.”

He returned her grin. “Aye.”

Rose grazed a calming hand along its neck. The horse whinnied, tossing its head a few times.

“She likes you,
miss
.”

So much for her disguise! “You knew.”

“’Course I did. You’re too pretty to be a boy.”

Despite herself, Rose blushed. “Thank you, but now I must be on my way.” She climbed on the back of the horse, tugged on the reins and guided the horse toward the way she’d come, past the jetty and her most recent mode of transport, and offered the boat master a wave as she passed him.

“Come on, Star,” she encouraged as she guided the horse up the lane toward home.

It took a while to catch up to Nathan, which surprised her as he’d walked considerably farther than she’d expected. As she drew up alongside him, she noticed his limp and the pain etched across his face.

He glanced up at her. “I wondered how long it would take you to catch up.”

Rose straightened, pushing her shoulders back. “I had business to undertake. Riding is so much better than walking, don’t you think?”

He didn’t smile. “So are you going to offer me a ride?”

“You obviously wanted to walk, whereas I decided riding is smarter—and faster—so why should I?”

“Out of kindness.”

She slowed the horse to keep pace with Nathan.

“You need me, squ…Rosie.”

“Like a hole in the head.” However, she noted that each time Nathan put his left foot forward, he winced. “Do you have a sore foot?”

“A blister.”

“Poor boy. Have you forgotten how to walk since you left to live in your America?”

“Nope. Just new shoes.”

“And fine they are too, but I guess they’re not made to walk England’s lanes, but only the halls of fancy hotels.”

“They’re the finest leather, I’ll have you know.”

“You’ve come up in the world, Nathan.”

“I’ve worked hard to get where I am.” The strength in his voice told her in no uncertain terms that he was proud of what he’d achieved.

“Fine words, and fine shoes, but you’ve still got a blister.”

“So are you going to give me a ride or not?”

“I could, or I could just go on my way.”

“You wouldn’t leave an injured man.”

“Perhaps. But I’ll tell you one thing. It is rather enjoyable being able to tease you. The shoe’s on the other foot, so to speak.” She smiled down at him, enjoying the moment. “Tell me why I should, apart from your sore footsie.”

“Because two heads are better than one, and if you want to find
and
save your father, then I think we should work together.”

“And don’t forget about finding your diamond.”

“No, I haven’t forgotten that. The Pasha Star and its safekeeping represent everything Ben and I have worked so hard for, for years. Our combined designs will revolutionize the lock-system industry, and the world will know all about Steel Hawk Locks soon enough.”

“You talk a convincing argument.”

“Where the diamond is, your father will be. We find one, we find the other. However, time is something that is not on our side right now, Rosie.”

Time.
Nathan spoke the one word that changed her teasing into reality. “When the thieves have the paste your father makes, they won’t need him anymore.”

“But the real diamond has already been stolen.”

“True. But they don’t know that—yet—and that’s to our advantage. It’s up to you and me to find the real diamond so we at least have something to barter with.”

“You would give them the Pasha Star?”

“I didn’t say that, but how about you let me up on that horse of yours and we can find these bastards?”

“We?”

For a moment, Nathan’s gaze held hers captive, his dark gaze hypnotizing, drawing her in. It felt comforting, and something else. Something she’d craved but denied for so long.

“Of course, you’re not in this alone. We both want something, so let’s pool our resources.”

Did she have any? Rose wasn’t sure. “I don’t need your help. Remember, it was me who saved your hide.”

He scrubbed a hand through his shaggy hair. The well-to-do man she’d met twenty-four hours ago had disappeared, replaced by the boy from the streets.

“Maybe it’s me who needs you. I’ve been away for years, and my contacts might not be around anymore.”

“You remembered Harry Biggins.”

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Harry is hard to forget. A more hen-pecked rogue I’ve never met.”

Rose’s laughter joined his. “He is rather. The poor man.”

Nathan offered a pained expression. “What about me and my poor feet? Don’t I get any sympathy?”

Rose knew all along she wouldn’t say no to him, but she’d enjoyed this banter. It had always been like this. Nothing had changed.

But he had. He was worldly. A businessman. While she was an old maid who looked after her father.

“Hop on up.”

He joined her in an instant.

The journey back to Pickle Street took several hours, time filled with Nathan regaling her with amusing stories of America.

“The New World sounds an adventurous place.”

He leaned into her back. “You would love it, squirt. There are so many opportunities.”

“Ones you’ve obviously taken up.” She eased away from him for the umpteenth time.

“Just because I was born on the streets doesn’t mean I have to stay there. Just like you wanted to learn a trade instead of being foisted off in marriage.”

She opened her mouth to speak, bitter words on the tip of her tongue. Nathan was right. She had wanted the independence of being able to earn her own money, and because of it had been considered different, difficult and unmarriageable.

Now she was twenty-six. But while she was skilled as a craftsman, it didn’t seem to be as exciting and didn’t fill the gaping hole she tried repeatedly to deny existed.

But it did.

She drew up outside the stables at the end of the small street where she lived and called out to Floyd, the blacksmith who’d tried repeatedly to court her. When he saw her, a smile lit his face and he put down his hammer. Then he spied Nathan sitting behind her, and Floyd’s eyes darkened.

Rose tried to ignore it. “Can you feed her and arrange for your brother, Jimmy, to take her back to the stable down by the Billingsgate Wharf, please?”

Floyd stiffened, still eyeballing Nathan. “Who’s he?”

Nathan dismounted and closed the gap between him and Floyd.

Rose’s breath hitched as she looked from one man to the other.

“Don’t you remember me, Floyd?” Nathan held out his hand. “Nathan Hawk.”

“So, the prodigal boy is back. Taking up your old life, Hawk? It might be difficult.” One side of his face twitched upward. “I hear the Raven is still in business.”

“So I heard as well.”

Floyd looked to Rose, and she sadly witnessed the softness returning to his expression. The man still wanted her, but he would never have her.

“Floyd, we need to go, we have—”

“Business to attend to,” Nathan cut in.

“Business with him?” Suspicion rode across Floyd’s face. “I thought better of you, Rose.”

“Yes, well, that has always been the problem, hasn’t it? You don’t really know me at all.” Rose quickly gave her remaining coins to Floyd, and, sidestepping Nathan, she headed back up the street to the small place she called home.

The moment she crossed the threshold, tears welled, exhaustion setting in. Her steps faltered on the bottom stair tread, and Nathan reached a hand around her waist. “Come on, squirt. Time to rest, I think.”

She turned to look at Nathan, and though she knew she should resist his help, resist wanting his touch, she was far too tired to do anything other than hold on to him.

“Rest? How can I, when even you said time is not on our side?”

“I know, but an hour’s rest is what we need to regroup.”

“Then what?”

“Then we hunt them down.”

“But who? We don’t know who they are.”

“We both saw the flag. That, at least, is a clue.”

“But my father left Zarrenburg years ago. He has no contact with anyone there.”

“That’s obviously not quite true. Come on, up you go.”

With leaden feet, Rose took the stairs to their tiny flat above the workshop. Fingers on the door handle, she stilled and turned to Nathan. “What did Floyd mean about your old life?”

It was as if blinkers came down. His expression suddenly became guarded. “Nothing. He’s just trying to rake up a past that no longer exists.”

“But he mentioned the Raven. How does that involve you?”

“It doesn’t.” Nathan’s tone was clipped. He reached past her and shoved the door open.

As Rose turned to go in, a gasp burst from her, followed by a wailing cry and the tears that she could no longer hold back. “Oh dear God. They’ve been back.” The place was worse than before. Obviously, they’d come back after taking her and Nathan. Everything lay in disarray. Rose stared balefully at the chaos.

* * * * *

“Nathan!” Ben drew the hotel room door wide. “Bloody hell, Nathan, you look as if you’ve been in the wars.”

Nathan stumbled into the deluxe hotel suite that he and Ben shared. He slumped to the sofa, uncaring that the muck on his clothes would dirty the plush velvet upholstery. “That pretty much describes the last twenty-four hours.”

“Sweet Jesus.” Ben reached for the crystal brandy decanter on a sideboard and filled two glasses. He passed one to Nathan. “You look as if you could do with this.”

Nathan emptied his glass in one hit, the blast of fiery liquid flaming his throat as it slid down. He held his glass out to Ben. “Another.”

Ben said nothing, though his brows rose skyward.

Glass replenished, Nathan eased back on the sofa as Ben sat opposite him.

“I would ask you how it goes, but your face tells a picture, and not a pretty one either.”

Nathan swirled the drink around in his glass, mesmerized for a moment by the sway of the liquor. “The guy who did it got it back doubly.”

“Glad to hear it. But what I really want to hear is that you’ve got the diamond back.”

Nathan lifted his gaze to Ben’s. “Unfortunately not…yet.”

“Shit!” Ben pushed up on strong legs and refilled his own glass. “That is not what I wanted to hear.”

“It isn’t what I wanted to tell you either. But…”

“But what, Nathan? Time is running out. I don’t think I can put the royal family off much longer. The princess wants me to display the locking system and take the bloody diamond out of the case right in front of the Queen of England… The Queen, for God’s sake. What the hell am I to do?”

“More of the same.”

“More what?”

“Put them off.” Nathan stood too, placing his once again empty glass on the sideboard. Ben picked up the crystal decanter, but Nathan waved a hand across his glass. “No more. I need a clear head.”

“What we need is the diamond.”

“I know, I know. It’s…” Nathan squeezed his eyes shut momentarily, wishing he could eradicate the damned saga. But when he reopened them, nothing had changed. “You said you’d been hobnobbing with Princess Mary.”

“It’s part of our promotion. People see us with royalty, knowing we’re protecting her precious jewels, and that way they’ll have faith in Steel Hawk.” Ben rolled his eyes. “Faith. Jesus, Nathan. The bloody diamond is a fake. How do I keep her away from it?”

“I don’t know. You’ll think of something.”

Frustration and rising panic surged inside Nathan’s gut. Ben was right. Time was running out. Quickly. He’d left Rosie behind after helping her pick up her ransacked home and ordered her to rest for an hour, but they couldn’t spare more than that. He needed more help from Ben. “You said you dined with the Zarrenburg royal family. What are they like?”