Free Laura Lee Guhrke by Not So Innocent

a woman’s unmentionables.”
    “Auntie, how did you know about the secret drawer?”
    “Well, darling, it really is my desk, if you remember. I’ve known about it for many, many years. My mama showed it to me when I was a little girl.”
    Sophie was dismayed, thinking of all the stolen jewels she had placed in that drawer over the last four years, “If you think that’s where I’ve been hiding the jewels you . . . umm . . . borrow, why haven’t you taken them back again?”
    Violet looked at her with gentle reproach. “Sophie, you keep your private correspondence in that desk, and I would never go through your things! Why, that would be quite improper.” An almost wicked gleam came into her eye. “Besides, stealing things from you wouldn’t be any fun. Too easy.”
    “Aren’t you the least bit sorry for what you’ve done?”
    “Of course I am, sweeting. I was only teasing you.”
    Sophie was doubtful on that point. She leaned forward in her chair and clasped her hands together, hoping that this time she could impress upon Violet just how serious her affliction was, and how dire the consequences if she were caught. “Auntie, you must stop this. Really you must. Think of the scandal if anyone found out. You could be arrested and sent to prison.”
    “What, an old woman like me? Whose cousin is a viscount? They wouldn’t.”
    “The viscount is the one whose jewels you just stole. I hardly think Lord Fortescue would look kindly upon—”
    “Victor and Katherine would never bring a charge of theft against me. They are quite fond of me. And they would hate a scandal. Besides, we’re supposed to go to their house in Berkshire for Ascot Week when your mother comes, so I can return the necklace just as easily as I took it in the first place.”
    Sophie did not want to be reminded of her mother’s impending visit from Yorkshire, nor did she wish to be diverted from the subject at hand. “That is not the point. Besides, I’m not letting you have those emeralds back for a moment.”
    “Then you can do it. I have every confidence that we’ll manage to get the emeralds back to her somehow. We’ll make her think she had them all along and it will all seem convincing.”
    “And in future? If you keep taking things, you will eventually be caught.”
    Violet smiled. “You worry too much about me, Sophie. The one to be concerned with is that poor police inspector. We really need to think about how to protect him from this assassin.”
    Sophie gave up. She didn’t know why she’d even bothered to attempt a discussion with Auntie about the emeralds. On the other hand, she didn’t want to talk about Inspector Dunbar, either.
    “Grimstock said that the police inspector was alive,” Violet went on, “but that was all he knew.”
    Sophie did not reply, but Violet continued to look at her across the table, waiting for details, and she capitulated. “He’s fine. Someone shot at him with a gun, but missed.”
    “Thank heaven. Still, it must have been dreadful for the poor man.”
    Sophie thought of his threats of the night before and found it hard to feel much compassion for Inspector Dunbar just now.
    “How fortunate that you warned him,” Violet said. “But the assassin will surely try again.”
    “Auntie, he’s fine. My dream did come true, but with a much better result than I had foreseen. Inspector Dunbar is alive, for the moment his life is not in danger, and he is no longer our responsibility.”
    “Sophie, I don’t know how you can say that. Yesterday you were worried sick about him. Today, you seem quite callous.”
    Sophie stared down at her teacup and did not reply. Dunbar’s words of last night echoed back to her.
    I will
uncover everything there
is
to Know about you and every member of your family
.
    Dunbar would surely arrest Auntie if he caught her taking anything. Even if he wasn’t that cruel, was he discreet? Auntie might not have money, but she had an impeccable reputation. Eccentricity