Free My Favorite Thief by Karyn Monk Page A

“That’s nae way to be talkin’, lass.”
    Annie sighed. “Beg pardon—I forgot.”
    â€œYou just have to keep asking them, Charlotte,” Annabelle told her. “Keep asking, until finally they are too ashamed to keep refusing you.”
    â€œBut most of them never even give me the chance to ask. I sent more than two dozen letters last month asking a number of wealthy people for a meeting so I could tell them about my house, and so far all of them have eluded my request. They claim to be too busy to see me.”
    â€œWhich is why you have to get out and attend a few balls and parties,” Grace suggested. “Get them to commit some funds while they are surrounded by others and don’t want to appear stingy or unsympathetic to the problems of the poor.”
    â€œHook ’em when they’re a wee bit wellied,” Oliver advised. “That’s when they’ll be dippin’ deepest into their pockets.”
    Charlotte sighed. “I don’t really like going to parties. I only went to Lord and Lady Chadwick’s house for dinner because Lady Chadwick had promised Haydon and Genevieve that they would have me over occasionally while I’m in London. I was concerned they might be insulted if I refused their invitation.”
    â€œI know you don’t care much for those affairs, Charlotte.” Grace regarded her sympathetically. “But if you really care about this house and providing help to those who need it, and you don’t want to keep going to Genevieve and Haydon for money, I’m afraid you’re going to have to overcome your distaste for them.”
    â€œAnd tomorrow night is the perfect time to start,” Annabelle decided. “Lord and Lady Marston are throwing their spectacular annual summer ball, which is sure to be one of the grandest affairs of the season. Didn’t you receive an invitation? They always make a point of sending one to all of us.”
    â€œI sent them a note telling them I wouldn’t be attending,” Charlotte told her. “I know they only invite me out of respect for Haydon. They don’t really want me to go.”
    â€œWell, you are going to attend,” Annabelle decided. “And you needn’t be afraid, because Jamie, Simon, Grace, and I will all be going with you. It will be fun,” she insisted, seeing a look of despair cloud her sister’s face. “Everyone will be thrilled to see that you are safe and well.”
    â€œI’m sure they will all want to talk to you, to find out how you escaped the Dark Shadow,” Grace added.
    â€œAnd while they’re crowding about, you can talk about your house and ask them to donate money,” Jamie finished. “All you have to do is get one person to commit, and the others will follow, just so they won’t appear tightfisted. You’ll see.”
    Charlotte shook her head. “I can’t go, Annabelle.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    Because I hate everyone staring at me,
she thought desperately.
Because I’m not charming or beautiful or gay like the other women there will be. Because everyone will pretend not to look at me when I limp across the room, but I’ll know that they are. Because if I stand for too long my leg will throb and go into spasm, but if I sit down everyone will whisper that I’m a cripple. Because I can’t bear their pity. And I can’t bear their contempt. It weakens me too much, and I can’t afford to be weak.
    â€œI haven’t anything to wear.”
    Annabelle laughed. “That doesn’t matter. Between Grace’s gowns and mine, I’m sure we can find something wonderful for you to wear.”
    â€œThey won’t fit,” Charlotte protested. “I’m smaller than both of you.”
    â€œNot by much,” countered Doreen. “With a wee nip here an’ a tuck there, Eunice and me can have any gown lookin’ like it was made for