The year is 1806. Bastard-born jewel thief David Lambert has few rules in his personal life. Never bed the staff, never more than once with the same man, and never, ever, kiss. Attending an aristocratic party and relieving some of the wealthy of their possessions should be easy, but in the space of a weekend, one by one all his rules are shattered by a footman with a secret.<br><br>Jeremy Naylor thought he had found the man of his dreams, the one man who might understand him. Someone passionate, handsome, and respectable. But in one shocking moment his world is destroyed, and he is forced to run for his life.<br><br>Flung together to escape the hangman’s noose, the passion between David and Jeremy burns fiercely. But Jeremy yearns for respectability, and David refuses to admit what lies in his heart. Will they find a way together, or will their differences lead them to the very brink of disaster and the shadow of the gallows?

Thief of Hearts

“Thought these might come in useful,” she said.


David could have kissed her. He took them and selected a likely candidate and slid it into the shackle. It took a few tries, but the rusty mechanism ground eventually and the lock sprang open. He managed to free both legs.


Jeremy’s legs and ankles were rubbed and raw. He pulled out the salve Jo had given him and slathered it around the wounds as gently as he could, and then wrapped both in linen before pulling on clean stockings.


“Here,” he said, pulling out the workman’s clothes for Jeremy and between the three of them they got him changed. Jeremy pulled the cap low over his face in the same way David had done. He was a little unsteady on his feet. Jo grabbed him and held him up and sent him a worried glance over Jeremy’s head.


“I’m fine, I’m fine, just a little dizzy,” Jeremy said.


Chapter 70