by Laura Landon
At last she nodded her agreement to send the bloke to the ends of the earth.
“I’ll make sure Jeremy Clatter knows that the same will happen to him if he hits his wife one more time,” Murk said.
“Do you think it will stop him?”
“We can hope,” Murk answered. “If not, he’ll go the same way as Yardie.”
Lily lifted her glass to her mouth and took another swallow of her brandy. A part of her wished she’d brought the bottle in here with her.
“You all right, Lily?”
Lily blinked several times. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said talking past the lump in her throat. She hated when it came to this, but Lily had learned a long time ago that some men had a mean streak in them that couldn’t be tamed. If left to continue too long, someone would die. And that someone would be an innocent wife or child. Lily had buried her best friend and her two children when the common law husband wouldn’t stop beating them. She swore then that she wouldn’t let another woman endure constant beatings by her husband if she could possibly force an end to it. Sending the men penniless across the sea was the best vengeance she’d come up with. And it worked.
“How about you?” she asked her friend.
Murk looked away. “My father was rich as Croesus, but he was just like Yardie. Nobody stopped him from beating my mother until one night she just stopped breathing. If there was any law in this godforsaken place, I might feel bad about playing judge and jury. But there isn’t. Each time I save a woman from being beaten to death, I know I’m doing something good.”
Lily cleared her throat, then reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a small bag of coins. “I won’t be able to tend to Hildie myself, so please see that she gets her share of this. Give her enough to get her and her children safely to Cornwall. She told me more than once she had a sister there who wanted her to come live with her, but she was afraid of leaving Yardie. She said he’d only come after her and life would be worse for them after that.” Lily placed the pouch in Murk’s palm. “With him halfway around the world, she’s safe to leave.”
Murk put the coins in his pocket, then placed his hand on Lily’s shoulder and gently squeezed. “Have you come to stay for a while? Or are you going to leave again?”
Lily shook her head. “I can’t stay. In fact, I’m not sure if or when I’ll be back, Murk. I only just discovered I have a brother and I don’t want to be separated from the family I’ve barely met.” She nodded toward the pocket where he’d stowed the coins. “There’s enough there for anything you run into in the next couple of weeks, in case I’m not back sooner.”
Murk smiled. He was the only person on earth with whom she’d shared her startling discovery that she had a brother.
“I don’t blame you. There’s not a soul on earth would want to live in the slums if they had a chance to leave.”
“Will you be all right if I don’t return?”
“Sure,” Murk said with a smile. “Some of the regulars tell me I’m here so much they think I own the place.”
“Don’t stay here, Murk,” Lily said. “You can leave, too. I’ll give you enough money to make a fresh start someplace far away from Whitechapel.” She laid a hand on his arm. “I wouldn’t have lived to spend a penny of it if you hadn’t been at my side these past years.”
Lily gave Murk enough time to indicate what he might want. Finally, he gave her an answer that wasn’t really an answer.
“Maybe we’ll talk someday.”
“Just let me know and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Lily gave her friend a hug, then walked to where Plunkett waited with the cart. She needed to get back to Goswell Road before Liam discovered she was gone. Then too, the cosmetic she’d applied would wear off if she stayed too long. Murk knew her identity, and Plunkett, her driver, but they were the only ones in Whitechapel who did.
As the costermonger’s cart made its way back to civilized London, Lily realized that each time she left, she was more loathe to return to Whitechapel. Especially now that she’d met her brother and his wife. Especially now that she felt she finally belonged somewhere.
BEHOLD THE THIEF by Laura Landon
Chapter Two
LILY HAD SCARCELY laid her head on the pillow when her maid appeared to signal the house was stirring. Startled, she cast a quick eye about her room to make certain she hadn’t left any pieces of her disguise lying about. The sooner she got into her own home, the easier it would be. She’d already hired a maid, cook, and butler. She’d saved them from the hell they were living in Whitechapel, gave them a month of freedom to do as they pleased, and then they would come to live with her. They knew her secrets and were pledged to keep them.
Worrying about exposing herself to her brother’s staff was a bit of an inconvenience. It got her morning off to a nervous start, but by the time she had breakfasted, her smile was well and truly back in place.
Now Lily felt a growing excitement as she watched out the carriage window. Liam and Millie were taking her on a surprise excursion to one of their favorite haunts. Broadmoore’s Treasures. The moment she had disclosed to them the arts education she’d received living in Paris for three years, they’d begun to speak coyly about a magnificent surprise they had in store for her.
The longer they traveled, the more excited she became. There was something about the word ‘treasures’ that caused a stirring to shift inside Lily’s breast.
“I’ll be thrilled if the Duchess of Somerset has sent more paintings since we were last in the shop,” Millie said. “I can’t wait for you to see her work. Somehow the duchess manages to make every landscape seem like the perfect place for a secret fairy rendezvous.”
“How intriguing,” Lily answered, then looked out the window when the carriage slowed. “Are we there?” she asked.
“We are,” Liam said, then stepped out of the carriage when a footman opened the door and lowered the step. Lily’s brother assisted his wife to the ground, then helped Lily, and wasted no time escorting them to the door and into the shop.
Lily took a few steps into the showroom, then stopped and looked around. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart shifted in her breast. She could scarcely believe what she was seeing.
Along three wide aisles were rows of glass cabinets, each with shelves covered in vibrant velvet. Lily stepped to the closest cabinet. Arranged cleverly on its purple velvet were unique crystal pieces—mostly vases, decanters, glassware, and candelabra. Each piece caught the sun that filtered through double-high windows that fronted the shop, inviting eyes to linger, and hands to reach out in awe to touch such perfection.
When Lily reached the end of the aisle, she stepped to the right to move along the second row of curios whose shelves were covered richly in lush burgundy velvet. Her critical eye was captivated by an abundance of hand-crafted metal pieces bearing intricate engravings. Lily recognized some of the etched images and knew the pieces had come from China. Just beyond them were charming groups of ivory objects, all carved from the tusks of elephants.
She touched the glass with her gloved fingers as her eyes took in the ornate engravings, each inspiring deeper admiration for the gifted Chinese artisans.
“Did I overstate what you’d find here?” Liam asked, standing beside her.
Lily clutched her hand to her breast. “I think it’s impossible to exaggerate such artistry. It’s a remarkable display.” She turned to her brother. “Someone has impeccable taste to have gathered and arranged them all so perfectly.”
“I knew you’d feel that way.”
“Did you know that inside that large curio over there is a Ming vase that must date from the fourteenth century? I tell you, Liam, it’s priceless.”
When they reached the end of the aisle, Lily turned to the third aisle. A collection of objects from all over the world rested on deep gold velvet-lined shelves. There were ladies’ fans from China and India, serving trays painted with scenes from the Orient, and exquisite Florentine g
lass.
Midway down the aisle, Lily’s gaze came to rest on a porcelain vase. She moved to the object as if she were being pushed toward it. When she reached the vase, she recognized it for the rare piece it was. The finder’s fee alone for a treasure like this explained the two vigilant doormen who she clearly understood were guarding the place.
Lily’s fingers hovered reverently on the protective glass as she studied the jar’s artwork.
“Do you know what this is?” Lily asked Liam. She was unable to take her gaze from its gleaming surface.
“That would be a vase, sister.”
Lily looked up and smiled, tickled by his humorous drawl.
“No, silly. It’s not just a vase. It’s a Joseon porcelain vase.” At Liam’s blank look she continued. “The Joseon Dynasty, brother. The family that has ruled Korea since 1392. They make this type of white porcelain that no one as yet has been able to duplicate.”
“The lady has a superlative knowledge of Korean porcelain, Liam,” a stranger said from behind them. “Is this the first Joseon porcelain you’ve seen, or are you familiar with the few that are in circulation?”
“This is the first I’ve actually seen,” Lily said, then turned to face the person who’d asked her the question. “I’ve only seen pictographs of—”
Lily found herself staring at a pair of broad shoulders set above the man’s admirably lean hips and waist. With difficulty she forced her gaze to remain fixed on his ascot, denying her eyes the opportunity to drink in the true proportion of the man.
He wore a perfectly tailored narrow-pinstripe gray tailcoat with a rich silver brocade waistcoat. Although his clothes were of the highest quality, that wasn’t what drew her attention. She lifted her gaze and found herself looking into a face whose manly grace defied description. He wore his deep, rich brown hair a little longer than most men dared. His high cheekbones and chiseled jaw gave him a strength she couldn’t deny. His complexion was naturally bronzed, his lips full, and his eyes such a mesmerizing shade of blue they would certainly challenge the finest artist to replicate their hue.
He was more handsome than any man had a right to be, and Lily knew if he smiled again, her legs would turn to pudding.
“Lily,” Liam said. “Allow me to present Mr. Jackson Broadmoore. Jack, my sister, Lily McGregor.”
“Miss McGregor,” the man greeted.
She covered a shiver with her own greeting which came out in a far more sultry tone than she intended. “Mr. Broadmoore. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine.” He bent smoothly over her hand and tilted his head in the most charming way so that he gave the impression he’d never taken his eyes off her own. “It’s not every day someone walks into Broadmoore’s Treasures and recognizes a vase from the Joseon Dynasty.”
And then he smiled and Lily had to reach out to support herself. She anchored her hand against a glass-topped display case until she could regain her poise.
His smile exposed a row of perfect white teeth framed on either side of his mouth by two matching creases. It was the kind of smile that melted hearts and stole away a maiden’s breath.
“I have a fondness for all forms of art,” Lily admitted, forcing her words to form even though the breath trembled beneath them.
“Then I look forward to showing you my gallery.”
“I’ve heard much about it.”
“Please, come with me.”
“I’ll let you take Lily to the gallery,” Liam said. “I must find my wife before she discovers more items than I can afford to buy,” Liam said. “We’ll join you shortly.”
“You know where to find us,” Jack said, then extended his arm for Lily to take.
Lily placed her hand atop his arm and tried to ignore the currents that traveled along her limbs. No man had ever affected her like Jack Broadmoore did. What was wrong with her?
Together, they walked to a room on the other side of the showroom and Jack stopped to open a door nicely framed by mauve drapery tied back with corded taupe tassels.
Lily stepped through the wide doorway and stopped short. “Oh, my,” she said on a whispered sigh. Her breath caught as she slowly turned in a circle to focus on the paintings displayed on every wall in the room. “These are remarkable. Simply remarkable.”
“I had a feeling you would like them.”
“How could anyone not like them? They’re exquisite.” She stopped to focus on Jack Broadmoore, even though a voice inside her head warned her not to. The minute her gaze locked with his, her heart pounded inside her breast and her breathing stuttered. “Uh, were…” She paused to swallow past the lump lodged in her throat. “Were…um…are these all the work of the Duchess of Somerset?”
Lily chastised herself for her schoolgirl blush. She was the one who usually reduced men to blithering fools, not the other way around.
“Yes, indeed. She has a superb talent for landscapes, don’t you think?”
“I can see why her work sells so rapidly. They catch your eye and refuse to let you look away.”
“Yes, they do, don’t they?”
Lily stepped closer to the painting in front of her and studied the woodland scene. Then, she stepped to the next painting and studied it, as well. They were so cleverly done that she could practically see fairy figures darting from bush to bush. Even from painting to painting. And yet, on closer examination, there was no trace of anything at all in either painting that might have suggested elven creatures.
While she was lost in the paintings, Liam and Millie entered the room. Jack moved away from her to greet Millie, giving Lily the chance to calm her nerves. But before she’d steadied herself, he was back at her side.
“I meant to ask where you acquired your knowledge of Korean porcelain, Miss McGregor.”
Lily hesitated. He wasn’t being nosy, or challenging her skills at assessing fine art. If he had, her first impression of the man would have quite easily shattered. But it was a sense of esteem that infused his words, and she felt the honor he was extending.
“From art books, mostly. From visiting museums. Three years living in Paris. I was truly surrounded by art and the people who knew it best. I envy those who have a talent to paint or create art of any kind because I am severely lacking in that area. I can only appreciate what other talented artists create.”
She was babbling, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“That applies to me, as well,” Broadmoore said, following her as she moved to the next painting. “I remember the first time I saw one of the Duchess of Somerset’s paintings. There was something about the scene and the colors that made me realize the person who’d painted it had a rare talent indeed.”
“I’m glad you became aware of her talent,” Lily said. “Someone less knowledgeable might have allowed that talent to go unnoticed.”
Lily lifted her gaze, even though she’d warned herself not to, and found him looking at her. The expression on his face exhibited a warmth and a depth of understanding that reached far inside her breast and enveloped her heart. And then he smiled.
Lily wasn’t prepared for her reaction to that smile. She wasn’t prepared for the connection she felt to him. She wasn’t prepared to combat the emotions that tumbled within her.
She turned her attention back to the paintings while she struggled to get her emotions under control. She was certain her cheeks were a deep shade of red and was convinced the expression on her face showed a hint of the embarrassment she felt.
Lily sent immense waves of gratitude toward her brother when he stepped in to fill the awkward pause.
“Have you begun your auctions yet, Jack?” Liam asked.
“Yes. I’ve held two so far. I intend to have one the first Monday of every month for a while.”
“That means your next auction will be this coming Monday.”
“Yes.”
“How has the attendance been?”
Lily noted the smile on Jack’s face.
“Far beyond my wi
ldest imagination,” he admitted. “I’ve had to limit the number of items for sale in order to keep the auctions from lasting too long.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I want to allow each patron ample time to study each piece and then circulate back to increase their silent bid if they wish. Too many pieces and they won’t have time to take it all in.”
“Surely you don’t risk auctioning these treasures!” Lily exclaimed.
From the expression on Mr. Broadmoore’s face and the glimmer in his eyes, she knew she’d jumped to an erroneous conclusion.
“No, no, not on these. Fixed prices are marked on everything in the showrooms you’ve just seen.” He threw his hands wide to take in the aisles she’d just now traversed and the gallery in which they stood. “The silent auction is a new venture of mine. I conceived the idea after several customers asked if I would consider selling objects of theirs on consignment.”
“Consignment?”
“Yes. The patrons who wished to sell their own items wanted it done discreetly, of course. They didn’t want to pawn them because they feared they wouldn’t get a fair price. Nor did they want to sell them on a long consignment if for some reason they needed funds quickly. That’s when I came up with the idea of the silent auction. The patrons who needed immediate cash fairly leaped at the opportunity.”
“What a novel idea,” Lily exclaimed. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have something they’ve tired of.”
“The first two auctions went over very well.”
“Are women welcome to attend your auctions?”
“But of course,” Jack said with a broad smile. “Not only do women make up half of the customers who shop at Broadmoore’s Treasures, but they also make up half of the crowd who come to bid.”
“I imagine they would,” Lily said. “They would be seen merely as patrons and would therefore never suffer the embarrassment of a public sale. Clever! And…” she glanced at the proprietor, “kind.” The more she learned about Jack Broadmoore, the more she liked the man.