Caroline, still in a state of supreme shock, felt her heart drop to her toes. She didn’t need to look over her shoulder to know that Lonsdale had exited the carriage and followed her. An aura of retribution enveloped her, claiming goosebumps on her flesh.
Kate, who had skidded to a halt, cleared her throat. “Who is this?”
“I am the man whose watch Miss. Harwood stole,” Lonsdale said in mocking tone, sending another round of goosebumps over her skin.
Kate’s eyes widened to saucers. “Blasphemous! Our Caroline will never do something as criminal as steal a watch!”
“Caroline,” the low voice murmured behind her. “A lovely name.”
She shut her eyes in defeat.
“Hunt was right,” Lonsdale went on to say in that deep, dangerously provocative voice, sending a bout of shivers down her spine, “We will only discover the truth if we follow the little thief.”
“I’m rarely ever wrong.”
Caroline whirled in horror to find Mr. Hunt striding from the shadows. His sharp eyes missed nothing, shifting from her to Kate. “I suspect we did not find the watch on Miss. Harwood because she already passed it along before she left the ballroom.”
Caroline blocked their view her sister with a single step. Her mind spun at how to take charge of the situation and deal with these two men. Lonsdale was the most unmanageable. Where Mr. Hunt could be thought of as steady as a rock, the viscount could only be a mountain.
A stubborn, unmovable one.
No doubt that he’d position his posterior on her drawing room couch until she coughed up the truth—not matter how long it took.
“Kate has nothing to do with this,” she said, lifting her chin.
Mr. Hunt raised a brow. “I am willing to discuss the matter here instead of the office, if you will tell us the truth this time.”
“Marvelous idea, Hunt.” Lonsdale smiled at Caroline, “Shall we, Miss Harwood?”
Caroline shot a glare at Lonsdale before grabbing Kate’s arm and ushering her into their house, the men following in their wake.
“Where is Clair?” Caroline whispered to Kate.
“She fell asleep in the Library.”
Caroline nodded and headed directly to the small parlor they rarely ever used. Only a few chairs and a table decorated the room, and a slight musty scent stubbornly clung to the air. She didn’t care. She waved a hand for them to take a seat as she went to draw the curtains, allowing soft morning light to fall into the room.
She settled in next to Kate.
“You wasted a good deal of our time, Miss Harwood.” Mr. Hunt got directly to the point. His eyes trailed to Kate. “You had an accomplice.”
“Kate Harwood,” Kate introduced before Caroline had the chance to respond.
Lonsdale’s brows shot up. “Another daughter of Digby? And the Clair you mentioned earlier, also another sibling?”
Caroline nodded. “Clair is the youngest.”
“What is her part in the theft?” Hunt asked.
“Clair is only eleven,” Kate snapped. “She had no part tonight. In fact, she advised us against doing this. Called us idiotic and foolish.”
“A sensible girl,” Lonsdale drawled.
“Yet she was privy to your dealings?” Hunt said.
“We don’t keep secrets from each other,” Caroline said.
Hunt didn’t press, just said, “It’s time for the truth, Miss Harwood.”
