Free Thick As Thieves by Joan Smith Page A

is teaching me to play roulette. The trick is to bet the numbers. You don't make enough to bother with on the colors."
    "But the odds are not so high against you," I pointed out.
    "The gaming table is no place for the fainthearted," she informed me.
    The vicar's widow was sliding fast down the slippery road to damnation. Only last week she had refused to buy a raffle ticket, and that was for charity. She swilled down a glass of champagne and trotted back to the roulette table. I hoped Lord Brockley would not introduce her to the vice of punting on tick when she had lost her ten pounds.
    We did not remain long at Mrs. Lament's. Mr. Dalton refused to reveal how much he had lost, which inclined me to think it was a large sum. We dropped Lady Filmore off at her front door, and Mr. Dalton walked me home.
    A fat white moon shone above, casting shimmering ripples of gold and silver on the ocean's face. A breeze lilted my lace shawl. I shivered, but whether it was the wind or the handsome face lurking in romantic shadows above me that caused it, I could not say.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    "Did you enjoy your evening?" Mr. Dalton asked.
    "I enjoyed the rout, but gambling is boring," I told him, to prevent a repeat engagement. "If I want to gamble, I would prefer to play cards, where some skill is involved."
    "We don't have to go back. I wanted you to be seen by more people. The sooner you are known, the faster we catch Tom."
    I had hoped for a more personal sort of conversation, but did not mean to institute it myself. "Do you think it possible Grindley might be involved?" I suggested. "He has no money; he gambles; he has managed somehow to be a part of society."
    "I have pinned my suspicions on a dozen people, over the months. My feeling is that Tom has got money from his thievery, which is why I tend to discount Grindley. Besides, Grindley is an awkward concern. I cannot see him scampering up a trellis and sneaking into a lady's chamber without breaking the window or knocking over a chair. But I fancy it is someone like him. Some young buck who has run through his own fortune."
    "His awkwardness could be an act to avoid suspicion, and so could his poverty. I mean Tom might be amassing a fortune, planning to skip off abroad when he feels he has enough. Or he might be losing the money as fast as he steals it. Grindley is an unlucky gambler—horse races, the gaming table."
    "I don't count anyone out," he said.
    We were at the door. As it was one o'clock in the morning and I did not know whether Hennie was home yet, I did not invite him in. He thanked me for the strawberries; I told him he was welcome. I did not tell him their history, as I was ashamed of being duped by my own gardener.
    "I shall call on you tomorrow to arrange the evening's outing. You are still game?"
    "Certainly. I do not welsh on my bargains, Mr. Dalton."
    "And about your jewelry—we want to get it out of your house soon, for safety's sake."
    "If I am to continue wearing it, then it will be awkward to have it in a bank."
    "I had a safe installed at my place after I was robbed, and my servants are always on guard. What do you think of leaving it with me? It would be handy for your use."
    "That sounds a good idea. Do you want to take it tonight?"
    "Do you have it put away safely?"
    "It is hidden under my mattress."
    He shook his head and tsked at my simplicity. "And here I thought you were up to all the rigs, Miss Denver. That is the first place Tom would look. Put it at the bottom of your potato barrel tonight, and I shall collect it tomorrow."
    "I will do nothing of the sort. I am not going into the cellar alone at this hour of the night. Tumble does not return from London until tomorrow. I sent him to get some decent furnishings. I told the servants to lock the doors and leave one light on downstairs."
    "I don't like to send a lady alone into a house at night. I shall go with you and collect your jewelry while we are about it."
    I hesitated a moment, wondering if I