Romance of a Robbery: Thieves of Desire Book 5, page 14
But for now, he just sat there like a ridiculous statue, never giving her any idea of what he was thinking.
When they pulled up in front of the museum, she was about ready to tell him exactly what she thought of this whole act, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of breaking before he did. So, instead, she let him continue to brood in silence and decided that if he wanted to act like this, he could keep company with himself.
She hopped out as best she could alone, her pride preventing her from waiting for him to help her down, and she slightly stumbled when she hit the cobblestones, although she quickly straightened and closed her eyes, praying that he hadn’t seen it.
“Pride quite literally goeth before the fall, eh?” he murmured in her ear as he walked by, and she really did reach out to smack him in the face, but she refrained. Perhaps if she did, it would show them to be a true married couple, for she knew that many ended up hating one another and then walked around in a love haze like Juliet and Xander did.
He held out his elbow toward her, and Annabelle looked up at him, hoping he understood, at least, that she had no wish to take it. He returned her stare, then inclined his head toward the building, silently telling her that people might be watching.
She sighed as she slipped her hand through his elbow, her traitorous body enjoying his closeness far more than she liked, and walked up the steps with him into the museum.
CHAPTER 20
Arie wasn’t sure what Annabelle wanted from him, but he was glad she was angry. For it reminded him of why he normally avoided any situation that required him to have to explain himself to another person.
He would worry about her later, however. For right now, there were much bigger stakes at play.
This time they were not led to the meeting room where they had last met with the Board of Trustees, but directly to the gallery which housed the Greek and Roman collections. There, they found that instead of the friendly, accepting Duke and Duchess of Breckenridge and Lord and Lady Merryweather, it was simply Mr. Morningstar and Ellis Burns. Arie could tell that the naturalist suspected something was off about them, and he knew that with a man like him the only way to prove himself was with facts.
After their greeting, Burns got right to it.
“Mr. Callas, the museum is greatly appreciative of your offer to donate your artifact. But we are beginning to wonder whether you are ever going to actually do such a thing.”
Arie clenched his jaw. “I need to be sure it’s in safe hands.”
“You have said as much. Over and over again. So here we are, in the room where your priceless artifact will be held,” he said, mockery thick in his tone. “We will answer any of your questions over the next few minutes. After that, you will leave us the piece.”
“Are we in a negotiation, Mr. Burns?” Arie said, trying to keep all malice out of his tone, “I have other options. There are many museums who fight for such a piece. And many who would pay me a good amount for it. I had hoped to donate it somewhere that I knew it would never be in danger, but if that is no longer an option, I will make money from it instead.”
“I’m sure that is not necessary,” Mr. Montgomery cut in, his face red and flustered.
“Why don’t we sit?” Annabelle asked, lifting her brows demurely, reminding Arie that he wasn’t alone in this. They followed her down to the small grouping of chairs that had been set out for visitors admiring the pieces.
“I am glad to see there is an attendant on this room,” Arie stated, looking outside the door. “Has there ever been a theft?”
“No, it is too difficult to get into the building, and there is the guard-house on the grounds,” Mr. Montgomery said, although he didn’t provide them the information they already knew, which was that there were not as many.
“Is the door locked when it is not open to the public?”
“It is.”
“Is it easy to pick?”
Burns bristled at that. “I would certainly hope not.”
“And the doors of the museum itself? How many are there?”
They already knew that as well, of course, but Arie was curious at just what they would tell him.
“The museum has, of course, multiple entrances but I can assure you that they are all locked.”
Many escape routes.
“Very good,” Arie said.
“Mr. Callas,” Montgomery said, leaning forward, “I appreciate you wanting the artifact to be in good hands, but I can assure you that the museum will keep it safe. We have never had a theft here.”
“Never?”
Montgomery’s cheeks turned slightly pink. “Besides the one time.”
“What happened then?”
Montgomery cleared his throat. “A dealer stole from our print collections. However, that was due to a friendship he acquired with our Under Librarian. I assure you, that will not happen again. The Trustees have made sure of it.”
Arie inclined his head as if to say his point had been made.
“I have brought the necklace with me today to show you.”
Their eyes lit up at that, with Montgomery giving Burns an I–told–you–so look that reminded Arie that it was Burns who had never trusted him.
“Before I give it to you, however,” Arie continued, “I would like there to be a special case created for it. I don’t want anyone to be able to touch it and disturb the finish of it.”
Burns frowned. “Perhaps. Now let’s see it.”
Arie reached into his pocket, pulling out the velvet bag where the necklace had remained since Annabelle had given it to him. Her eyes were wide as she watched him pull out the piece. He placed it on top of the bag and held it out for Montgomery and Burns to look at, though he kept it out of their reach.
“It’s stunning,” Montgomery said, his breath catching, and Arie noticed out of the corner of his eye that Annabelle hadn’t been able to hide her smile of triumph.
“It is,” he acknowledged.
“Can it be verified?” Burns asked.
“If you do not believe me,” Arie allowed the annoyance he felt for Burns into his tone as he said the words, “you are free to do as you please with it once I have donated it.”
“I would far prefer to confirm its authenticity first.”
“What difference is it to you? It is not as though you are actually purchasing it.”
“And what difference is it to you if you are not receiving money?” Burns countered.
“I believe, since I am the one holding the piece, it is in my power to choose. I do not want my time wasted. Now,” he continued before Burns could say anything else, “my wife and I would be very interested in holding an event to celebrate the donation. Perhaps an unveiling?”
“Well, we will have to determine if we have a budget for such a thing,” Montgomery began slowly, but Arie cut him off.
“We will donate part of it. My wife and I have been very blessed in recent years, and we would be pleased to see some of our money go to a good cause.”
“What is it you said you did again, Mr. Callas?” Burns asked, raising an eyebrow, his distrust obvious.
“I am in importing and exporting, and have invested in shipping.”
“I see. And your family, Mrs. Callas?”
Arie looked at Annabelle, waiting for her and hoping that she would have enough intelligence to tell a convincing story, and she did. Apparently, she determined that the best course of action was to tell the truth.
“My father is a blacksmith in the country and my mother a seamstress.”
“How quaint,” Burns said with a fabricated smile. “How long have the two of you been married?”
“Our personal lives have nothing to do with the donation,” Arie responded, a growl in his voice, but Annabelle laid a hand on his arm.
“I am sure Mr. Burns is just curious, as we must seem like we are still in the new stages of love, do we not?” she asked, her grin impish and Arie realized she was flirting again. “We have been married only a year now and did so quickly upon meeting.”
“So you are, how do I put it… still getting to know one another?” Burns asked, a flash in his eyes, and Arie realized something then – Burns knew. Arie had no idea how the bloody man would have guessed that they weren’t actually married, but somehow, he had stumbled across the truth. Arie changed tactics. What was most important now was to convince the man that their greatest secret was their unwed status.
“I could not imagine my life without her,” he said, reaching out an arm and placing it around Annabelle’s shoulders, drawing her in close.
As he did so, he used his other hand to wrap the fake jewel in the velvet bag once more.
“Now, if that will be all gentlemen, please let me know how quickly we can arrange the unveiling.”
Montgomery rubbed his bald head in uncertainty.
“Do you not wish for us to keep it for now?”
“Oh, no,” Arie said with a slow, grim grin spreading across his face. “I have another idea. One that will be… sensational.”
Burns narrowed his eyes while Montgomery leaned forward in his seat.
“What is it?” Montgomery asked, nearly breathlessly.
“My wife will arrive,” Arie said, pausing for dramatic effect, “wearing it.”
* * *
Annabelle didn’t like this. She didn’t like it at all.
She wasn’t able to say exactly why, but there was something about this entire meeting that had her on edge. Perhaps it was the fact that Arie was obviously displeased with her for a reason that she was not aware of. Perhaps it was because Mr. Burns was looking at both of them with an all–knowing smile that had her convinced he knew more than he was saying. Or perhaps it was Mr. Montgomery’s eagerness to include a jewel that she had created in a priceless collection.
She couldn’t say, but all she knew was that they needed to get out of there, and they needed to get out of there now.
They had just stepped out of the door when Mr. Burns called her back.
“Mrs. Callas, do you have one more moment?”
Annabelle looked up at Arie, whose brows had furrowed in displeasure. He opened his mouth, and she knew he was going to deny the man, but she placed her hand on his arm.
“It’s fine,” she whispered. “We don’t want to raise any suspicion.”
He nodded briefly before she took the few steps back into the room, concerned when Mr. Montgomery continued past to meet with Arie in the hall.
“Mrs. Callas, I am so intrigued,” Mr. Burns said. “Tell me, did your parents have any concerns with you marrying a man new to England?”
Annabelle’s cheeks flamed.
“My parents are unlike most and have always just wanted me to be happy,” she said, which was the truth, although she had no idea why it was any of Mr. Burns’ concern. She was starting to believe that Arie was right and they had much to worry about the man.
“I meant no offense,” he said, obviously trying to be affable and Annabelle realized how much she actually preferred Arie’s straightforward nature, as cutting as he could be sometimes. “I simply wanted to ensure that you are comfortable with donating a piece to the museum that could fetch you a great deal of money were you to sell it.”
Annabelle held her head high. “My husband and I have no need to sell the piece, Mr. Burns, although I thank you for your concern.”
“Because your husband has made such a fortune in imports and exports?”
“Yes,” Annabelle said, her smile brittle. “That is correct.”
“It is interesting, however,” he said, rubbing his thumb and forefinger against his chin as though deep in thought, although it was obviously a calculated move, “that when I asked about him, no one in the industry had ever heard of him.”
“I suppose,” Annabelle said slowly, her smile cemented onto her face now, “it depends on who you ask.”
“I suppose,” he said. “I also went around to your house the other day. I was in the neighbourhood and stopped by on a whim.”
“Did you now?”
“I did. It was interesting, I was told you were not in residence at the time.”
“How unfortunate.”
“Yes. The maid seemed quite perplexed, but one of the other occupants of the home – Mrs. Hondros, I believe the maid called her? Said you were due to return later that afternoon.”
“A cousin of my husband’s and his wife are staying with us for a time,” Annabelle said, hoping that her response would appease him even as her heart was beating rapidly at her accumulating lies. “I will have to invite you another time.”
“I look forward to it,” he said, his smile as fabricated as hers. “Well, in that case, it seems that I shall see you very soon, Mrs. Callas. I can hardly wait to see the necklace around your neck.”
His gaze flitted down to her collarbones in a stare that had her shivering, and it was all she could do to nod her head slightly at him before turning around and fleeing onto the safety of Arie’s arm.
A place she never thought would feel like home.
CHAPTER 21
“He knows.”
Annabelle was pacing up and down the library in front of Arie’s desk. She had been rather contemplative on their return, but once they arrived, she had followed him into the library. “How does he know?”
“I am unsure how his suspicions began,” Arie said. “During the middle of the meeting, however, it became quite clear that he is aware something is amiss, I’m just not sure how much he knows.”
Annabelle shook her head. “He didn’t threaten me, but he’s going to do something, Arie. I can feel it.”
He nodded.
Annabelle sat there, staring at him.
“What else?” he asked.
“Nothing. I just thought…”
“You thought what?”
“What did you think of the way I covered?”
“Well, it didn’t convince him, but nothing would as he obviously knows the truth. You did what you could.”
She blinked, and he realized she was waiting for more. Finally, he sighed.
“Annabelle, you are going to have to tell me what you want from me, for I do not know what is going through your mind.”
“I suppose… I just wanted to hear that you thought I did well,” she said, a pink blush stealing up her cheeks. “That sounds rather ridiculous when I hear it aloud, but Arie, I am not sure that you appreciate what I’m doing for you.”
A surge of annoyance rose in his chest. “You are doing what I will pay you to do, Annabelle. Yes, you are doing a fine job and you were the correct choice for the role. If you’re looking for additional praise, then you are going to come up empty.”
He could see her take one breath, and then another, but Arie refused to be affected by her unease. She had to understand that this was who he was, and he wasn’t going to change.
“Maybe I should—”
“No. Don’t do anything. I’ll take care of it.”
“Arie,” she said, slowly, carefully. “You do not have to do this alone. In fact, you have chosen not to.”
“You are doing what I need you to do, Annabelle,” he said. “And then after it’s done, you will be gone, remember?”
Suddenly her eyes widened. “Is that what is bothering you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re upset because I suggested we continue our… well, our relationship only until we are finished with this scheme?”
That was exactly what was bothering him, but there was no scenario in which he would ever admit it. “Of course not,” he said with a snort.
“Very well, then,” she said, although Arie didn’t miss how her lips turned up at the corners into a smug grin. She finally settled down into one of the chairs in the corner. Arie had made sure there were pencils and a sketchpad there for her as she never seemed to sit still unless she was creating. Otherwise, she was a ball of nervous energy. She didn’t even seem to realize what she was doing as she took the sketchpad in her lap and brought the pencil to it, making wide strokes on the paper. Arie always longed to see what she was doing, but he would never ask, for it would belie his interest.
Sometimes, she didn’t even look at the paper as she sketched, but stared off into the distance, her fingers moving of their own accord.
A thought must have suddenly struck her, for her head snapped up to him. “You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”
Arie shifted in his seat. He hadn’t entirely determined what he was going to do with Mr. Burns. To actually threaten him, as he normally would, would also be admitting to his identity. Burns didn’t seem like a man who he could bribe, for his main goal in life appeared to be the accumulation of knowledge.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“I have an idea.”
Arie took a deep breath in and out. He hadn’t asked for her ideas. He never asked for ideas. But, for once, he had none of his own, so he decided to hear her out.
“Fine, Annabelle,” he said, although he tried to make it clear that he was doing her a favor by listening. “What is your idea?”
“Well,” she said, pushing herself up and out of the chair. “We only need to make sure that he doesn’t publicly question our story until after the celebration of our donation, correct?”
“Correct,” he said. “After that, all will know that we are frauds.”
“For they will have the article evaluated.”
“They will not have it evaluated,” Arie said gruffly, “for they are not going to have it.”
“They’re not?”
“No!” he exclaimed. “It might not be a priceless Greek antique, but it is still a valuable piece of jewellery.” Made even more valuable because she had created it.
“I suppose,” she said. “I thought it would be easier if they didn’t have reason to search for it but… very well. What will you do with it?”
