Free Stolen Love by Carolyn Jewel

was nothing he would like better than to have everything back the way it was before his father died, and seeing Elizabeth laughing made him long for the days of his lost innocence.
    "Five pounds a month and she's all yours, Mr. Villines."
    "Father!" Amelia exclaimed. "And you, too, Beth. You should be ashamed."
    "I hope you will keep this man away from our servants, Mrs. Willard," said Havoc.
    "Is it true flowers are a hobby with you, Mr. Villines?" Amelia asked, giving her father a warning glance.
    "Yes, I cultivate orchids in particular. I find it relaxing, especially after I've had a harrowing day."
    "Do you really have harrowing days?" she asked. "You're so terribly stern, you don't seem the type to have them."
    "I'm sorry to say I do indeed have the occasional harrowing day. It's working with my orchids that keeps me from tearing out my hair after a particularly bad one."
    "So, you took your grandfather's advice after all," Elizabeth said.
    "I suppose I did at that." He should not have been surprised she remembered. "My grandfather always encouraged me to take up gardening as a hobby," he explained. "He said it was a gentlemanly thing to do."
    "I should love to see your orchids," Elizabeth said longingly and completely without the archness her cousin would have affected for his admiration.
    "I've even built a conservatory for them. You must call on me, so I may give you a personal tour." He looked around the table as he issued the invitation.
    "We should be simply too thrilled to come," Amelia said.
    "Then you must. I'd be happy to show you the house as well."
    The rest of the evening passed in a similar fashion, and even after he and Havoc had been left alone to sample the port and smoke one or two of his excellent cigars, it was not long before they joined the women in the drawing room. For a time they talked about London, then listened to Amelia play the piano and sing. At Elizabeth's insistence, Nicholas did some of his magic tricks. Elizabeth accused him of being a liar after he professed to be out of practice but managed to successfully carry off each trick. After he finished a complicated attempt, Elizabeth suddenly said, "Tell me, Nicholas, what do
you
think of the Mayfair Thief?"
    "I'm afraid I don't know him," he answered.
    She frowned at him. "You know what I mean. Mr. Rutherford says he admires him."
    "Honestly, Elizabeth, I don't believe there's any such person. And I don't think Ripton does, either."
    "But what if there were?"
    "Thievery is hardly exciting," said Havoc.
    "I concur with your uncle, Elizabeth."
    "Well." She was blushing a little. "I still think he exists."
    "I can see exhaustion has affected your brain, Elizabeth," he said, laughing as he stood up. "If I may, regretfully, say good night and thank you for a charming evening, I believe I ought to go."
    "You must come and see us often, Mr. Villines," said Mrs. Willard.
    "I believe you'll find I'll take advantage of such a kind invitation."
    "Oh, but you must. We will be simply devastated if you do not," Amelia added.
    "Watch out you don't run into the Mayfair Thief, Nicholas," Elizabeth called out as he was leaving.
    "He only steals jewels, and I haven't any with me tonight. I'm leaving them behind at Tavistock Square," he replied with a smile.
    "Why, thank you, Mr. Villines." Amelia giggled. "But do be careful!"
    "I'll be quite safe, I assure you," he said, hardly loud enough to be heard. The sound of Amelia's laughter followed him out into the hall.
CHAPTER 11
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    N icholas lived on Cambridge Terrace in one of the stucco buildings facing the west side of Regent's Park. The house was really too large for a man living alone, but when it had become available after his improvement in fortunes, he'd rather liked the idea of having so much unused space. He was determined to have the purchase reflect the grandeur of the scheme that had made it possible, and the Cambridge Terrace house was certainly grand. But it was the view from the front