Tricia sat in the library waiting for her sister. She’d thought it best to give her older sibling some time alone with their father. It was a lot to take in. Just a month ago, he’d been the picture of health. Before fever and a cough had racked his body. The doctors were sure it was consumption. The only question now was would he live. Tricia had grown more hopeful. He was going longer stretches without fever and he he’d even managed to take a few meals. Still, the change in him was dramatic.

Tabbie entered the room, tears glistening in her eyes. “How could his health have failed so quickly?”

Tricia shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s been…” She didn’t know how to put it in words.

Tabbie squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry if I was short earlier. I was worried about you. What if you were hurt? What if you were ruined?”

“I care not.” She waved her hand. “I’ll run your orphanages if I can’t marry.”

“Tricia!” Her sister’s sharp tone startled her. “How can you say that?”

Tricia blinked at her sister. “You applied yourself to avoiding marriage.”

“I know, but I was wrong. What I have with Luke, it’s worth more than anything in the world. To think of you not having that…”

“There is no guarantee I would ever find something like that.” Tricia shook her head, thinking that it would be impossible for her to find what her sister had. She knew she wasn’t a beauty and most men would not understand that she wanted to dedicate herself to more than just the home. “I like the idea of giving myself to charity. It has real meaning beyond planning parties and picking out dresses. I don’t want mother’s life.”

Tabbie shook her head. “All the same, you should leave yourself open to marriage. You never know what might happen.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Tricia clasped her hands in her lap, wishing to avoid an argument with her strong-willed sister. But she’d mostly made up her mind. She wouldn’t bother looking for the man who would allow her to continue what she already knew she loved.

“His Grace seems rather fond of you.” Tabbie gave her a sideways glance.

Tricia’s insides fluttered with hope but she pushed them away. Better not to hope wasn’t it? “I doubt that very much. He thinks I am a nuisance.” Her thoughts immediately went to their last carriage ride together and the feel of his parts poking into her. “But if he were, how would I know?”

Tabbie smiled. “He would hold your hand to comfort you, much like he did today. He would look at you with affection, help you when you needed it, if for example an errant cousin needed saving.”

Making a face at her sister, Tricia held up her hand. “Now you are just teasing me. He agreed to help me with Fenton within minutes of meeting me, and I know for certain he held no affection for me. He seemed rather put out.”

“But why, then, would he help you?”

“To make sure I left the docklands,” Tricia answered.

“But why not just escort you home?” Tabbie tapped her chin, it was a look Tricia knew well. Her sister was puzzling something out.

Grabbing her sister’s forearm, she wanted to impress upon Tabbie there was nothing to puzzle over. “He was afraid I would return.”

“But you weren’t his responsibility. Once he delivered you, what did it matter if you returned? Unless he cares for your wellbeing…”

“Tabbie, please. You are trying to paint Ryker’s feelings for me with Luke’s brush.”

“I’m not sure that I am.” Tabbie tapped her chin again and then stood slowly to ring the bell. When a servant appeared, she asked, “Could you please find my husband and have him join us?”

“Tabbie,” Tricia’s voice held a warning. She knew her sister. Once Tabbie started scheming it was difficult to change her course.

“I haven’t done anything,” Tabbie answered with far too much innocence.

Tricia stood as well. “Yet,” she grumbled. “But I know you.”

Luke entered the library. “How is your father?”

Tabbie’s mouth turned down. “He’s terrible,” she whispered. “But that is not what I want to discuss. You know His Grace. Can you speak with him? Find out what his intentions are? Technically, he’s been alone with Tricia—”

“Stop.” Tricia scurried across the room to stand next to her sister. “I know what you’re doing. You can’t help father so you are trying to secure my future.”

“That isn’t it—”

“Pish, it’s the same thing I did with Fenton. But I don’t need you to save me, Tabbie.” She turned to Luke, standing taller. Her sister was not going to force a match here. “Under no circumstances are you to demand he marry me.”

Luke gave her a wink. “I won’t have to. He’ll offer.”

“Stop saying that. He won’t.” Tricia had been alone with him. She knew he didn’t want to marry her. It was obvious to her and everyone else that took stock of her attributes. He was the most handsome man she’d ever met and she was barely pretty, not at all sophisticated. Besides, she wanted to dedicate herself to charity, didn’t she?

“But I have business to discuss with him. Honestly, I might know something of his thief. I received a missive from Coventry involving something similar. It might be coincidence but it’s information I will pass on to His Grace. I’ll go see him this afternoon and make no demands but perhaps ask a few pointed questions?”

Tricia reluctantly nodded and Tabbie clapped with delight. If Luke could help with his thief, she wouldn’t feel so guilty about imposing upon him. If he was interested in courting her, it would give her time to decide how she felt about it. Because she had no intention of marrying.

But her insides betrayed her as they danced with excitement.

* * *

“I’ve looked over your list of missing items. Jewelry, fine liquors, and even a few missives from the crown. They have one thing in common, they are goods easily sold for profit.” Mr. Hart gave him a meaningful glance across his desk.

“Easily?” Ryker gave him a look of disbelief.

“If you operate in the right circles.” Mr. Hart nodded his affirmation. “I only know one man who could make such goods disappear. The Marquess of Highwater.”

Ryker assessed the man across the table from him. Mr. Hart had every reason to tell him the truth but something didn’t sit right. Even a marquess could be felled by a duke and certainly the Prince Regent. “You think he’d steal from me?”

Mr. Hart sighed. “I don’t think knowingly. But…” His eyes drifted away before returning to Ryker’s. “You share the same solicitor.”

A growl rumbled deep within his chest. “Mr. Winters. My father’s solicitor.” Ryker closed his eyes. He’d thought he’d seen the man the night before last when he’d been in the docklands investigating the thefts. “I saw him. The first night I was at the docks.”

Mr. Hart nodded. “And the man gambles. A great deal, actually. He could be selling the goods to the marquess—”

A knock at the door interrupted the rest of his thought. “Yes?” Ryker barked. As a general rule, he didn’t like interruptions. With one notable exception, of course. Tricia. She had done nothing but interrupt and yet, he found that he liked it with her.

His butler opened the door. “The Earl of Sussex is here to see you, sir. He claims that it is urgent.”

Ryker swore under his breath. He knew Sussex would be visiting in short order but he’d hoped to deal with the issue of the thief first. “Send him in.”

The butler nodded and Mr. Hart rose. “Should I step outside, Your Grace?”

“Yes, thank you.” Ryker stood from his chair, taking a deep breath to clear his mind. “This shouldn’t take long.”

With a nod, Mr. Hart stepped out as Sussex came in.

“Sussex,” Ryker nodded.

“Your Grace,” Sussex returned.

“You needn’t be so formal. Landon will do fine. We’re to be family, after all.” Ryker returned to his seat, and gestured for Sussex to do the same.

“Well that was rather simpler than I had anticipated.” Sussex took the chair Mr. Hart had just vacated.

“Truth be told, I’d made up my mind to pursue a match before I saw you this morning.” Ryker folded his hands preparing for the negotiation about to happen. With Tricia’s father ill and her brother still quite young, it didn’t surprise him that her brother-in-law had been sent to see to the details.

Sussex nodded. “I assumed as much, after seeing the way you looked at her today.”

Ryker started in surprise. How had he looked at her? This wasn’t a love match. He had simply deemed her to have the necessary attributes in a wife. And he considered it an asset that they could forgo courting through a series of painful social commitments. Of course, the attraction he felt was also pleasantly unexpected. “I don’t know what you mean.”

But Sussex only winked. “I am married to her sister, remember? They are difficult women to resist.”

Ryker frowned deeper. That wasn’t what was happening here. “It isn’t a matter of being unable to resist. I find her to be the type of lady who would make an admirable duchess.”

Both of Luke’s eyebrows rose then. “A duchess should sneak out at night and travel unattended to the worst sections of London?” He leaned forward then. “Tabbie has a certain affection for abandoning the rules and I must confess I find her unrestrained side rather…exhilarating.”

Ryker nearly choked. “Sussex, that is rather more information than I needed.”

But the other man’s eyes danced with merriment. “Tricia has more restraint than her sister, which will likely suit you well but there is a wild streak that I am sure you noticed, and will likely enjoy, as her husband.”

A sudden image of her on his lap, pressed against him, her eyes hooded and her lips pouty. Luke was undoubtedly right. His mind wandered further. He’d seen her delicate curves in her frocks and pelisses. What might she look like without them? Sussex was a terrible influence. “You must have been quite the rake.”

Luke chuckled. “I was. But a certain little red-haired minx has reformed me completely. Can’t deny her a thing.”

Red-haired minx. That about summed it up. “And you find marriage to suit you?”

“It more than suits me. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“Thank you, Sussex.” Ryker nodded. “Provided Tricia is amenable, I will sign an agreement and, if you agree, get a special license post haste. I am hoping we can work out some of the particulars in a few days’ time, I have another matter that is rather pressing.”

“Your thief,” Sussex said.

“Yes.” Ryker had nearly forgotten that some of the details had woven into Tricia’s accounting of her time by the docks.

“That is the primary reason for my visit, actually.”

“Primary,” Ryker had to admit that surprised him.

Luke chuckled. “A man does not hold a woman’s hand in front of her family unless he intends to wed her.”

Ryker had to admit, he liked Sussex. There was a jovial easiness about him that he himself sometimes lacked. Tricia also had a warmth about her that made him feel less…stoic. “Fair point. What do you know about my thief?”

“I know almost nothing about your thief. But tomorrow night we are to attend a masquerade ball. I wouldn’t normally socialize at such a time, except for a very dear friend requested my presence. It seems the Marquess of Highwater uses such events to hold private auctions for goods he wishes to sell.”

Ryker stood and Luke started in surprise. “My apologies for frightening you. Would you mind if I brought my detective back in. I think we could help each other.”

“Of course,” Luke nodded. “Your man is discreet?”

“Yes, of course, but let me ask the need for discretion before I invite him into the conversation.”

“My friend is the Earl of Coventry. We are in a sort of guild together. The very one that will help Fenton. At any rate, there is another earl who appears to be caught up in dealings with Highwater. Coventry has sussed this out so that we might help our brother.”

“Understood, thank you for confiding in me. Mr. Hart need not know any of those details. But perhaps I could attend with you? If it is a masquerade, I need not announce myself. Very few in society know who I am.”

Luke nodded. “Excellent idea. Tricia will be thrilled, I am sure.”

Tricia, of course he would also be attending with Tricia. He didn’t like the thought, actually. Not that he minded being with her. She made the thought of a ball considerably less painful. But he didn’t want her mixed up in this business any more than she already had been.

Bloody hell, he was getting protective of her and they weren’t even married. Actually, now that he considered it, he’d been protective of her from the very first moment he’d seen her standing there, bravely trying to show a man a miniature as he leered salaciously. She had been innocent and brave and he’d stopped pursuing his query in order to protect her. “Will your countess be there as well?”

“Of course, Tabbie will have to chaperone her while you and I conduct our other affairs.” Luke grimaced for the first time and Ryker got a glimpse of the man who wasn’t so carefree. “We’ll have to find a dress that hides the baby.”

Ryker nodded, relaxing slightly. Tabbie, as Tricia and Sussex called her, was a woman who could handle herself. He was sure of it.

“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to speak with Tricia about our marriage before you tell her of my intentions.” He hesitated, wondering how Luke might react to the next tidbit. “She fancies that she will dedicate herself to charitable causes rather than wedlock. I thought I might assure her that I will fund any projects she may wish to undertake as part of our marriage. It seems rather important to her.”

Luke gave him a broad grin. “Marvelous idea. I did the same with Tabbie, as you are aware. They are women of high intellect and ambition to match. It suits them to have pursuits outside of marriage but that isn’t something every man would understand.”

Ryker gave a curt nod. “Her wanting to help society is the least of my concerns.” He couldn’t explain that his growing attachment was far more alarming. His own parents hadn’t experienced anything close to love and they viewed him with the same detachment. He was used to it, comfortable even. These feelings were unexpected and not entirely welcome.

Sussex eyes twinkled with merriment as he leaned forward in his chair. “You’ll grow to absolutely love her mischievous tendencies.”

That was exactly what he was afraid of. Ryker crossed the room to call Mr. Hart back in.