Today's Reading
She focused back on the stranger.
Observation was a vital characteristic of a good detective. Or at least that's what Detective Jack Miracle's book stated, and Grace had read it cover to cover three times.
However, the stranger didn't look villainous. But of course, she could reference several novels where very non-villainous-looking people turned out to be quite villainous indeed. Mr. Wickham to start. She shivered. Or Dr. Jekyll.
The stranger's hair lay much longer than most gentlemen she knew, and if the wind hadn't been blowing the soft brown curls, they'd likely make it to his shoulders. Perhaps he was a buccaneer. Or an artist. Weren't they known for having long hair?
He was clean-cut with dainty but strong-looking hands. His shoes were scuffed on the sides, but other than that, she couldn't figure out anything else worth noting. Her frown deepened. Detective Jack would be so disappointed in her.
Before she could muster up a good Sherlockian question, the man sent her a glance, the tiny hint of a grin poised at the corners of his lips. "I don't usually have such lovely accomplices on my adventures. Especially ones who dispatch innocent gondoliers with such efficiency."
Grace's bottom lip dropped at his accusation, and she sent a look back behind her. Thankfully, the poor gondolier was climbing to safety out of the canal. She couldn't say the same for her hat.
"I believe we both were at fault with the gondolier," she answered, sending another look to the crowd. They were closing in on Frederick. And the thief.
"You're an American?" He sent her a more pointed look from shoes to her hatless head. "Well"—he made a quick motion of the oar and doffed his hat—"we'll have to be properly introduced later." Then, before the gondola hit the canal wall, the man leaped from the boat and dashed into the crowd as swiftly and gracefully as an antelope.
Grace stared in awe in the direction the man had disappeared before rallying her wits, standing from the gondola, and, after a few attempts and the assistance of a passing Italian, climbing onto the street side. She'd never witnessed a man move with such agility before, except once, but that involved heated tongs and an angry cook.
Hitching up her skirt, she dashed in the direction of the stranger. The small crowd seemed to sense her pursuit because they slowly parted as she ran. It was fortunate the stranger was rather tall. He proved an easy target to follow.
A cry rang out just as Grace came to a clearing in the middle of a small, stone-paved courtyard. At the center lay the thief, with Frederick on top of him and the American stranger looming over both, his expression more confused than...well, whatever he should have been feeling about having his watch stolen. With a slight struggle, Frederick stood, bringing the man up with him and tugging Grace's purse from the thief's hand.
Frederick's gaze found hers on the edge of the crowd, noting her presence with a dip of his chin. Her smile quivered wide. She loved how he did that. Found her. Even when he was in the middle of wrangling a thief. It was a tremendously romantic thing to do.
"Let's find the authorities." Frederick pulled the man forward, but the American stranger rushed ahead, blocking Frederick's path.
"I'll take it from here, sir." He grabbed the thief by the arm, giving his head a sharp shake. "After all, there's no real harm done."
"No harm?" Frederick drew back and Grace moved to his side. "He's a thief."
"But not a very good one, if you ask me," the stranger said with a sigh and turned toward the thief, whose hair was much shorter and darker than the stranger's. "Why on earth did you steal the lady's purse, Paul? That wasn't a part of the game."
Frederick loosened his hold on the man and caught Grace's gaze, his expression reflecting the same surprise she felt.
The stranger knew the thief by name? Was he some popular thief like Fagin from Oliver Twist? Ruthless and rascally and hard-hearted. Or worse, like Sikes! She grimaced and shook her head, examining the man with his ready smile. Surely not. And then he tossed her a wink.
She narrowed her eyes. Well, maybe a little rascally.
...
