Free Dangerous to Know by TASHA ALEXANDER Page B

delighted to make your acquaintance. You might inspire his fiction.”
    â€œFiction?” Sebastian asked. “Is this gentleman a writer?”
    â€œEnough!” Mrs. Hargreaves found her tongue. “Who is this man?”
    â€œAllow me to present Mr. Sebastian Capet,” I said. “Mr. Capet, Madame Hargreaves, ma belle-mère. ”
    â€œEnchanté,” Sebastian said, turning his attentions to her. “I’ve much enjoyed your hospitality. Thanks are long overdue.”
    â€œWhat on earth can this mean? Emily, is this man not a thief? The man who has only just violated the privacy of my home?”
    â€œSuch harsh words, good lady.” His smile revealed straight, fine teeth. “I assure you I’ve never taken anything of yours.”
    â€œI’ve asked the butler to send for Inspector Gaudet,” I said. “Mr. Capet is here to give his alibi to the police.”
    â€œHow are you acquainted with this man?” she asked, touching Cécile’s arm.
    â€œPrimarily by reputation, and I can assure you he is a man to be much admired,” Cécile said.
    â€œHe broke into my house.”
    â€œNow, Mrs. Hargreaves, you don’t know that,” Sebastian said. “The mere fact that notes from me were delivered to your son and his lovely bride does not prove I was actually here. You give me too much credit. It’s entirely possible I paid a servant to do my bidding. Can you really think I would disrupt any part of your extremely comfortable abode?”
    I didn’t believe him for an instant, but Mrs. Hargreaves’s features softened. It was hard not to be charmed by Sebastian’s easy smile and affable manners, particularly when one first met him.
    â€œBut you just thanked me for my hospitality,” she said.
    â€œWhich I obviously would have no need of doing had I invaded the seat of your domestic bliss.”
    â€œSo I’m to forgive your other transgressions because you claim to have stolen nothing from me?”
    â€œTransgressions?” He laughed. “My dear lady, someday I will regale you with tales of my adventures. If, after that, you still find me guilty I will repent and change my ways forever. But now I see our valiant inspector and your illustrious son coming up the path. Will you excuse me? I always like to get boring business out of the way without delay.”
    He raced outside, greeting Gaudet with an eager handshake. My husband, whose scowl was unmistakable, stood, arms crossed, two paces from Sebastian. I watched through the open window as they spoke, the inspector pulling out a notebook and writing in it furiously as Sebastian talked. I could hear nothing they were saying—the only thing audible to me was Cécile’s efforts to convince Mrs. Hargreaves that our intrepid thief was something less than a complete reprobate—but in a short while Gaudet nodded. The pair shook hands again and the policeman walked away without so much as a glance towards the house.
    Sebastian, grinning like a wicked child, returned to us, Colin following close behind, as if on guard.
    â€œYou’re lucky to have had a ready alibi,” my husband said to him as they entered the room.
    â€œDid the inspector accept it?” I asked, crossing to Colin, whose lips barely grazed my hand as he kissed it.
    â€œKallista, darling, could you doubt he would? Your lack of faith slays me.” Truly, Sebastian was infuriating! I could see Colin was about to reprimand him, but wanted to make the interjection myself. Otherwise, it would appear not only that my husband was being domineering, but, more importantly, that I myself did not object to the liberties being taken.
    â€œDo not, Mr. Capet, take on tones of familiarity with me. And don’t even consider making yourself comfortable,” I said, my voice severe. “What did the inspector say about the stolen Monet?”
    Sebastian laughed. “It was a