The Bride Thief

Mr. Straton stepped forward and performed a stiff bow. 'An honor to see you again, Lady Darvin.'

Color suffused Lady Darvin's pale cheeks, and she lowered her gaze to the ground. 'And you, Mr. Straton.'

'My condolences on the loss of your husband.'

'Thank you.'

Another awkward silence fell over the group, and Sammie wondered why Eric had not mentioned his brother- in-law's death or his sister's visit, to her.

Finally Eric spoke up. 'What brings you to the Briggeham home, Straton?'

'I wished to ask Miss Briggeham several more questions regarding her encounter with the Bride Thief.'

Sammie bit the inside of her cheek and prayed her feelings did not show. It would never do for Mr. Straton to suspect that she knew a great deal more than she would ever tell him.

'How did those leads you were following work out?' asked Eric.

'They proved useless. But I have received new information that appears most promising.'

Eric's brows rose. 'Indeed? Anything you can share?'

'One of the victims who was abducted last year wrote to her family. Her father brought me the letter this morning. In it she reassured her family that she was all right. She did not reveal her whereabouts other than to say she was living in America and had recently married. The most interesting information was that she traveled to America on passage and funds provided to her by the Bride Thief the night she was kidnapped.' Mr. Straton stroked his jaw. 'I must say I am relieved. This new evidence at least shows that the Bride Thief did not murder the girl.'

An impatient sound erupted from Sammie's lips. 'Good heavens, Mr. Straton. Surely you do not believe the Bride Thief harms the women he helps. He leaves behind a note explaining as much.'

He fixed a penetrating look on her. 'Yes, he does. But until this letter, there's been no trace of any of his victims. I've had no proof that any of them are actually still alive-except a handful of notes from a wanted criminal.'

She raised her chin a notch. 'I believe I am evidence, Mr. Straton. As you can plainly see, the Bride Thief did not harm me. In fact, he took every precaution with my safety.'

'Except for snatching you in the first place.'

Irritation snaked through her. She opened her mouth to argue further, but Eric broke in, saying, 'Surely you can use the woman's letter to locate her so she can be questioned.'

Sammie's gaze snapped to Eric, dismay filling her.

The magistrate's countenance hardened. 'I have already taken steps toward that end. The Bride Thief has escaped thus far, but he'll be caught soon. I'll comb the countryside until I find him.'

A barely audible, yet familiar sound, caught Sammie's attention, and she glanced toward Hubert. His face appeared unnaturally pale, and he stood ramrod straight and motionless-except for the rhythmic flexing of his fingers, which produced a muffled cracking noise. It was a habit he only indulged in when greatly distressed. Clearly the magistrate's words had agitated him, a feeling she fully shared.

'The countryside?' asked Eric. 'I would have thought a criminal like he would hide himself in London. There's literally thousands of buildings and alleyways in which to secret oneself. The scoundrel no doubt skulks about in the rookery or down by the docks.'

Sammie clamped her lips together to keep quiet, and prayed her disappointment and distress at Eric's words did not show. Why did he have to think of the Bride Thief as a criminal and make suggestions that might lead to the man's capture? While she longed to voice her opinion, she dared not utter another word as she feared she might say too much and make the situation worse.

'I previously believed the Bride Thief would be found in London myself,' Mr. Straton said, 'but I'm beginning to suspect that he's a country fellow. Someone with the financial means and connections to buy these women passage to another country and provide them with enough funds to establish a new life. By all descriptions, his mount-a magnificent all-black stallion-is worth a king's ransom, and despite the huge price on his head, no one has come forward claiming to board such an animal. That leads me to believe that he has his own stable.'

Eric stroked his chin and nodded slowly. 'An interesting theory.' A wry smile touched his lips. 'I do not envy you the job of poking into every stable in the English countryside.'

'I'm hoping that will not be necessary. Based on the locations where the majority of the kidnappings have occurred, I believe it's entirely possible that the brigand operates from somewhere in this general vicinity, most likely within a fifty-mile radius. With the aid of the evergrowing Bride Thief Posse, it shouldn't prove difficult to search the area.'

Sammie's stomach knotted. It sounded as if the hunt were indeed tightening. If only she could somehow warn the Bride Thief… but she couldn't break her promise to him. And of course he did not need her to tell him the dangers he faced. He already knew.

'I'm considering soliciting several volunteers to assist me personally in my scrutiny of the area,' Mr. Straton said, giving Eric a speculative look. 'Are you interested, Lord Wesley?'

'Glad to help in any way I can,' Eric said without hesitation. 'I have contacts at a number of stables in the area, and many between here and Brighton. I'd be happy to make inquiries for you.'

Sammie's heart plummeted. Eric was taking an active role in capturing the Bride Thief! Offering logical suggestions, the benefit of his contacts, and a willingness to volunteer. Thank goodness she'd never confided in him about her meetings with the Bride Thief.

Anguish and alarm gripped her, along with the realization that she'd made an awful mistake. How could she have fallen in love with a man whose beliefs were so opposite from her own? A man so willing to destroy the Bride Thief? And why, in spite of their divergent opinion on the matter of the Bride Thief, did she still love him? Because in every other way he's wonderful. He has never met the Bride Thief. He does not know him as you do. Perhaps if he did, he'd see him as a hero, too.

But one look at his set profile withered that hope.

Dear God, she'd never felt so torn in her life. The investigation surrounding her hero was tightening like a noose, with the man she loved assisting in the execution. An image of the Bride Thief approaching the gallows flashed in her mind, and foreboding trembled through her.

Hubert cleared his throat, yanking her attention back. 'If you will excuse me, I promised my father a game of chess and I'm already late.'

Everyone bid him good-bye, and he departed, walking at twice his normal speed toward the house. Sammie looked after him, filled with concern. He was clearly upset, and knowing he regarded the Bride Thief as a noble man fighting a just cause, he was obviously anxious to escape the conversation. She could hardly blame him. She longed to do so herself. But first she had several things to say to Eric.

She turned toward him… and discovered him staring at her with a concentration that stalled her breath in her lungs-that same white-hot intensity he'd focused on her as he'd explored her body. Instantly the memory of him, naked, fully aroused, kneeling between her splayed thighs flashed in her mind. Heat engulfed her as if she'd lit a match to her gown. She cast a surreptitious glance toward Lady Darvin and Mr. Straton and was relieved to note that they were busy admiring one of Mama's nearby rosebushes. Leaning as close to Eric as she dared, she whispered, 'I need to speak with you. Privately.'

Straightening, she suppressed a frustrated sigh. As much as she wished to converse with Eric immediately, hospitality dictated that she offer refreshments. She would simply have to draw Eric aside before he departed. 'Would you all like to come up to the house for some tea?'

'Thank you, Miss Briggeham,' Lady Darvin said, 'but I fear the exhaustion from my long journey has caught up with me. I believe I'll start for home, but I'd be happy to join you another day.' Concern immediately flared in her brother's eyes, and she laid her gloved hand on his sleeve. 'I'm fine. Just fatigued. I know the way back to Wesley Manor. Please enjoy your visit.' She turned back to Sammie. 'It was a pleasure to be reacquainted with you, Miss Briggeham, and to meet your brother.'

'Thank you, Lady Darvin. I shall look forward to seeing you again soon.'

Eric alternated a quick look between Sammie and his sister. 'I do not want you going home alone, Margaret.'

'I would be honored to escort Lady Darvin home in my curricle,' Mr. Straton interjected.

'That is not necessary,' Lady Darvin protested in a tight-sounding voice.

Eric smiled down at her. 'Perhaps not necessary, but it would relieve my mind to know you were escorted