Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance Read Free Page B

jemmy. The only problem she could foresee was the
possibility that Thorndale’s Valet would be waiting up for his master to return
home.  She would need to be careful.  After an hour walking the streets,
Felicity returned home with a baffled maid but at least Felicity’s head was
clear.  Her decision made, she made preparations for that night for she could
not delay too long. The sooner the better before her courage failed her and
more importantly, before Thorndale had time to dispose of his ill-gotten
spoils.
          Felicity
knew she could not venture into the streets alone at night in her skirts so she
would have to acquire some men’s clothing.  Richard was well over six foot and
his clothing would be far too big, besides which, he may just miss something. 
She decided to raid the wardrobe of her younger brother Harry.  He would not
miss anything as he was up at Oxford, and when he was not studying, he often
stayed with friends.  He was only 16 and his clothes would be a better fit. 
She chose a pair of nankeen breeches, a white linen shirt, a black kerseymere
Jacket, a pair of black leather gloves and a black silk scarf to cover her
face.  The breeches fit well as she and Harry were the same height and Harry
had not yet stopped growing. The jacket was a little large on the shoulders as
her little brother was looking to grow even broader than Richard but it would
have to do. As for the shoes, she would have to wear her own but hopefully no
one would notice them in the dark.
          Felicity
could not discount the possibility of encountering footpads but she would have
to take the risk. It was only a short journey but it would not hurt to take a
weapon for protection.  She took the small jewel encrusted pistol, which she
kept in her dresser and slipped it into the pocket of the jacket together with a
jemmy she would need to force the window. All that was now left to do was to
wait for night time to fall.  
          It was
well after midnight when the house settled and everyone was in bed.  Richard
had not yet arrived home but she was not concerned about that.  He would not be
due for another couple of hours and when he did, he would go straight to bed,
as was his custom.
           Felicity
donned the clothes she had acquired, crept down the stairs and was soon out on
to the front street. At least for the moment the rain had ceased. The atmosphere
felt eerie but that was because she had never been out on her own after
midnight before.  She made her way to Green Street without incident and it was
not long before she reached her destination.
            She
slipped through the Iron Gate and climbed down the stone steps to the basement
window.  Peering through the glass, she thanked God that the room was empty. 
All was quiet.  Felicity took the jemmy out of her pocket and got to work
prising open the window.  The catch gave way easily enough and she climbed
through the window with an easy grace, into what appeared to be a large kitchen. 
She crept stealthily across the kitchen and opened the door onto a dark
deserted landing.  She would have to be careful, as there was still the risk of
the valet being awake.  Felicity knew that she needed to be on the floor above
if she was to find the Marquis’s study.  The layout of the house was smaller
but not so different from her home in Upper Brook Street. 
          At last,
she was on the ground floor with rooms opening off from the hall.  She started
to open doors. The first door led to the dining room and the second door was
just a cupboard.  It was third time lucky as she opened a large oak door to
find herself in Thorndale’s study.  It was dark but she could not afford to
light a candle.  She would just have to make do with the dim glow of the light from
the moon shining through the window. She thanked god that she had a brief
reprieve from the heavy rainclouds. She began systematically to look through
the drawers and