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Chapter 1

London, England, 1818

As a thief-taker, Jasper Bond had been consulted in a number of unusual locations, but today was the first in a church Some of his clients were at home in the rookeries his crew haunted Others were most comfortable in the palace This particular prospective client appeared to be one of strong faith since he’d designated St George’s as the location of their assignation Jasper suspected it was considered a "safe" place, which told hi an individual of dubious morality That suited him fine He would probably be paid well and kept at a distance: his favorite sort of coe, Jasper paused to better appreciate the impressive portico and Corinthian colu flowed outward fro, a lovely contrast to the frustrated shouts of coachmen and the clatter of horses’ hooves behind hiloved palle’s-head top With hat in hand, he waved his driver away

Today’s appointed by Mr Thomas Lynd, a man who shared Jasper’s trade and confidence for many reasons, not the least of which was his mentorship of Jasper in the profession Jasper would never presume to call himself a moral man, but he did function under the code of ethics Lynd had taught him--help those in actual need of it He did not extort protection oods with one hand in order to charge for their return with the other He simply found as lost and protected those anted security, which begged the question of why Lynd was passing on this post With such siood as the other

Because Jasper had an inordinate fondness for puzzles and ued by Lynd’s h This, despite the location being one that necessitated his handling the inquiry personally, which was soh trusted ereater personal plans

Mounting the steps, he entered St George’s and paused to absorb the wave of ht side was the raised canopied pulpit; on the left, the bi-level reading desk The many box peere empty of the faithful Only the choir occupied the space, their voices raised in musical praise

Jasper withdrew his pocket watch and checked the time It was directly on the hour In his profession, he found it highly useful to be a slave to punctuality He allery for his appoint, he paused His gaze was drawn to and held by wild tufts of white hair defying gravity One hopelessly overworked black ribbon failed to ta but a messy, lopsided queue As he watched, the unfortunate owner of the horrendous coiffure reached up and scratched it into further disarray

So fascinated was Jasper with the ister the petite form beside its owner Once he did, however, his interest was snared In complete opposition to her colossy tresses of a reddish-blond hue so rare it was arresting They were the only two people in the gallery, yet neither had the tense expectation inherent in those ere awaiting an individual or event Instead they were singularly focused on the choir below

Where was the individual he was scheduled toshe was the object of perusal, the woaze She was attractive Not in the exceptionally re all the same Deep blue eyes stared at hih cheekbones When she bit her lower lip, she displayed neat white teeth, and when her lips pursed, she revealed a tiny di face rather than beautiful, and notable for her seeht of hiht delay "I did not hear you approach"

One could bla for that However, the truth of it was that he walked silently He’d learned the skill long ago It had saved his life then and continued to do so in recent years

Standing, she moved toward him with a deterers below ended their hy a sudden silence into which she said, "I am Eliza Martin"

Her voice surprised him Soft as a suered, stirring his iination to travel in directions it shouldn’t

He shifted his cane to his other hand and accepted her greeting "Miss Martin"

"I appreciate your courtesy inwith me However, you are exactly what I feared you would be"

"Oh?" Taken aback by her direct approach, he found hiued "In ay?"

"In every way, sir I contacted Mr Lynd because we require a certain type of individual I regret the need to say you are not he"

"Would you object to my request for elaboration?"

"The points are too numerous," she pronounced

"Nevertheless, a man in my position seeks predictability in others but fears it in himself Since you state I am the epitome of what you did not want, I feel Iof the criteria upon which you based your judgment"