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Authors: Maureen Lang
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moved to relieve some of the nervous energy building inside her, but she had been left without a trace of strength. Her hand smoothed a small wrinkle on her gown, a gown made of the finest black silk money could buy.
Purchased with money stolen from someone else.
Something in her throat stabbed at her painfully—gall, anger. Shame.
But just as instantly, another moment of realization exploded inside her. So much made sense now. No wonder she’d always lusted after what she should not have—not material things, but things outside the rules, freedom to do as she pleased. No wonder she’d had to stuff aside every rebellious thought, eke out the perfect behavior expected of her. Rebellion was in her blood! She was more her father’s daughter than her mother’s, after all.
“How exactly did he get that money, then? What kind of ‘marks,’ as you call them?” Were people suffering because of her? Had he stolen from others who’d had to do without just so she could live a pampered life?
“I don’t think he would’ve wanted you to know details, Meggie. Just know that he had a reason to keep his life separate—and a secret—from you.”
Meg shook her head. “I need to know, Miss Kane. I need to know who he stole from, if he left anyone in desperate circumstances—because of me!”
“Oh! No! No, no, Meggie, not at all. Your father was the kindest, most generous man I’ve ever known. He was more apt to give to someone in need than take, believe me!”
“I’m sure whoever he stole from wouldn’t think so highly of him.”
“He only outsmarted people who could well afford to lose. He’s never even had a warrant out for his arrest, he was so careful.”
Another realization. “Is that why he refused to be seen at any of my concerts?” Meg whispered. “Because he cheated some of the same families I went to school with? Is that why he chose that school—because of the many marks connected to it?”
“Never intentionally, my dear. He wouldn’t have wanted it to touch you in any way. There was only one family from your school he might have risked targeting, but he never had the opportunity.”
“Which family was that?”
“It doesn’t matter, does it? I hardly remember, anyway. The fact is your father loved you. Surely you believe that now?”
Meg sighed. “I don’t know what to believe. I might have thought him an incompetent father, but at least I thought him an honest one.” That uncertain sigh was chased by a gasp. “You do know what this means, don’t you? If I thought I had few marital options before, they’ve narrowed all the more with what you say. What sort of future have I, except one my father forbade me to have? And, oh! If only I’d known all these years what a liability I’ve been to Madame Marisse’s. A whisper of this could mean the end of the school’s reputation. And it would be my fault!”
She stood, anger fueling her now, and stared at her father’s body. “No! Not mine. It would all be your fault! How could you?”
7
The path to the scaffold can be approached from many angles. General poaching, pickpocketing, impersonation of another with the sole purpose of stealing his pension are just a few crimes that, along with murder itself, demand the death penalty.
An Informal Look at the Penal Codes of London and New England
Ian set his gaze on Brewster. Upon Brewster’s arrival, there had been a gradual but noticeable shift, as if by unspoken request the men took literal sides on the porch. One half was filled with men who sided with Brewster, the other with men behind Ian himself.
He wondered if anyone else noticed that those who sided with Ian were the ones he knew still possessed a heart.
“Skipjack never had a part in the venture I’m planning,” Ian began.
“Then perhaps you ought to run the plans by me,” Brewster said, “if Skipjack didn’t have an eye on them.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” The words rippled in the silence from one
Purchased with money stolen from someone else.
Something in her throat stabbed at her painfully—gall, anger. Shame.
But just as instantly, another moment of realization exploded inside her. So much made sense now. No wonder she’d always lusted after what she should not have—not material things, but things outside the rules, freedom to do as she pleased. No wonder she’d had to stuff aside every rebellious thought, eke out the perfect behavior expected of her. Rebellion was in her blood! She was more her father’s daughter than her mother’s, after all.
“How exactly did he get that money, then? What kind of ‘marks,’ as you call them?” Were people suffering because of her? Had he stolen from others who’d had to do without just so she could live a pampered life?
“I don’t think he would’ve wanted you to know details, Meggie. Just know that he had a reason to keep his life separate—and a secret—from you.”
Meg shook her head. “I need to know, Miss Kane. I need to know who he stole from, if he left anyone in desperate circumstances—because of me!”
“Oh! No! No, no, Meggie, not at all. Your father was the kindest, most generous man I’ve ever known. He was more apt to give to someone in need than take, believe me!”
“I’m sure whoever he stole from wouldn’t think so highly of him.”
“He only outsmarted people who could well afford to lose. He’s never even had a warrant out for his arrest, he was so careful.”
Another realization. “Is that why he refused to be seen at any of my concerts?” Meg whispered. “Because he cheated some of the same families I went to school with? Is that why he chose that school—because of the many marks connected to it?”
“Never intentionally, my dear. He wouldn’t have wanted it to touch you in any way. There was only one family from your school he might have risked targeting, but he never had the opportunity.”
“Which family was that?”
“It doesn’t matter, does it? I hardly remember, anyway. The fact is your father loved you. Surely you believe that now?”
Meg sighed. “I don’t know what to believe. I might have thought him an incompetent father, but at least I thought him an honest one.” That uncertain sigh was chased by a gasp. “You do know what this means, don’t you? If I thought I had few marital options before, they’ve narrowed all the more with what you say. What sort of future have I, except one my father forbade me to have? And, oh! If only I’d known all these years what a liability I’ve been to Madame Marisse’s. A whisper of this could mean the end of the school’s reputation. And it would be my fault!”
She stood, anger fueling her now, and stared at her father’s body. “No! Not mine. It would all be your fault! How could you?”
7
The path to the scaffold can be approached from many angles. General poaching, pickpocketing, impersonation of another with the sole purpose of stealing his pension are just a few crimes that, along with murder itself, demand the death penalty.
An Informal Look at the Penal Codes of London and New England
Ian set his gaze on Brewster. Upon Brewster’s arrival, there had been a gradual but noticeable shift, as if by unspoken request the men took literal sides on the porch. One half was filled with men who sided with Brewster, the other with men behind Ian himself.
He wondered if anyone else noticed that those who sided with Ian were the ones he knew still possessed a heart.
“Skipjack never had a part in the venture I’m planning,” Ian began.
“Then perhaps you ought to run the plans by me,” Brewster said, “if Skipjack didn’t have an eye on them.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” The words rippled in the silence from one
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