The squire’s daughter stood and put away the washcloth and basin of water. Then she walked over to her vanity and lit another candle, which allowed Liam to see her more clearly.
She was dressed in a lump of a gown. Pink ruffles cascaded down the high-necked bodice, obscuring most of her chest and waist, the style lost somewhere between childish and matronly. It wasn’t the type of dress most young ladies her age would wear. Not that Liam had seen many fancy ladies, but he knew enough to recognize the oddity on a pretty young woman like her. He’d never noticed her in the village before. But then, he wasn’t in the habit of frequenting the places the squire’s daughter might go.
“I’m Cora, by the way. Cora McLeod.” She marched over and held out her hand.
Liam stared at it, then at her. What did she expect him to do? Shake her hand like two men who’d just struck a deal? Or worse, kiss her hand like they were being introduced in some ballroom? This time, the humor of the situation got the better of him, and his shoulders began to shake with laughter.
Cora tilted her head, watching him curiously. “What’s so funny?”
Liam rose from the side of her bed, still laughing. He walked to the wall and leaned against it. “You,” he finally said with a grin. “You are very funny, Cora McLeod.”
Her face fell and she turned away. “Yes, well... I’ve been told that a time or two.” She smoothed the skirt of her gown.
Liam suddenly felt the need to explain. He didn’t want her to be upset. “I don’t mean to offend. It’s just that I climbed the wall of your house in the middle of the night, broke into your bedroom, and you don’t seem at all bothered.”
She turned back, brightening. “Well, I’m not afraid of you. You don’t seem like a bad person. Are you?”
He chuckled, tipping his head back to gaze at the ceiling. “If I were, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“No, I suppose not,” she mused. “But you’re very big and tall. And you must be incredibly strong to climb up the side of the house. So even if you were planning to do something bad, I wouldn’t stand much of a chance against you, would I? Therefore, you might as well tell me the truth. Are you planning to do something bad?”
Liam’s gaze fell to her lush mouth, then back up to her wide, inquiring eyes. “What do you mean by ‘bad’?”
“Well...” Cora hesitated, wringing her hands in front of her. “Nanny says wicked men try to take advantage of young ladies and do their worst.”
His lips quirked up at one corner. “Which would be?”
She swallowed visibly. “I suppose you might try to...kiss me?” Her cheeks flushed with color and she looked scandalized, just for mentioning it.
He laughed again. She was truly an innocent if she believed that’s the worst a man could do. “You have my word that I did not come here to kiss you.”
“Good.” Cora smiled in relief. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Liam wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Usually the ladies fell at his feet, but it was late, and he was off his game. He shifted on his feet, grateful that the cut on his heel hadn’t been deep. Cora’s bandage was tight and efficient. Walking—or running, if necessary—would be easy enough, if it came to that. He hoped it wouldn’t.
“Have you come to rob me, then?” Cora asked with wide-eyed interest.
Liam considered lying, but what other reason could he have? “I don’t suppose you’d believe me if I told you I was doing a routine check of the house’s window latches?”
She shook her head, blond curls tumbling over her shoulders.
“I was setting traps for rats?” he offered hopefully.
Her eyes sparkled with humor and she shook her head again.
Liam wrinkled his brow. “Sleepwalking?”
“Up the side of a stone wall?” Cora giggled. “Sorry. I may not get out into the world much, but I am a good reader. I’ve read Robin Hood. I know what thieves do.”
“Then I’m afraid you’ve caught me.” Liam bowed and gave her his most charming smile. The one he used with ladies when he needed to get out of a sticky situation. “I am a thief, but I also wanted to see inside your great house.” He lowered his voice in a conspiratorial whisper. “Please don’t tell.”
She sighed. “To be honest, this is the most interesting thing that’s happened to me in ages. Life around here is frightfully dull.” She lowered her voice. “Your secret is safe with me, er... What is your name?”
He should lie. He knew it, but for some reason he didn’t want to. “I’d rather not say.”
“Oh.” She blinked in surprise. “Yes, of course. It wouldn’t be wise for a thief to reveal his name after being caught mid-robbery.”
“No.” This time, Liam’s smile was genuine. She was such an intriguing bundle of contradictions. With the dress and the golden curls, she looked like a fragile porcelain doll—like she’d crack at the first sign of trouble. But she wasn’t that way at all. This woman had spirit. He liked it.
“Shall I take you on a tour of the house, then?” Cora asked. “It’s terribly drafty and old, but there’s a library downstairs. I can show you the great book of seashells.”
For the first time since he climbed through her window, Liam thought about the squire’s legendary jewels. He glanced around her bedroom, noting the washbasin, a painted silk screen in the corner and the vanity table. There was a large fireplace on one end of the room, but nothing that looked particularly grand or fine. No jewelry boxes or objects of great value. If the squire did keep jewels in the house, Cora’s room wasn’t the place.
“Yes,” Liam said smoothly, pushing off the wall. “But what about the servants? Won’t they talk if they find you wandering the halls with a stranger in the middle of the night?”
Cora lifted the candle beside her bed. “No one’s going to hear a thing. Most of the servants have taken time off, and Nanny’s half-deaf, anyway. There’s Cook, but he drinks too much. The house could burn down around him and he probably wouldn’t notice.”
Liam’s gut tightened at her mention of the house burning. She had no idea how close she’d come to the truth about what Boyd and the twins were planning to do. Liam felt more determined than ever to find the jewels and save Cora’s home.
“As long as we’re quiet, no one will discover our secret adventure.” Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement, and her rosebud mouth curved into a mischievous smile.
It was impossible not to smile back. “All right, then, Captain Cora. Show me your great house.”