Page 15 of Lord of Fortune
Chapter 3
Typically up atdawn or shortly after, Penn was surprised to be jolted awake by the sound of movement in the hallway. He’d intended to be waiting downstairs when Mrs. Forrest descended for breakfast, assuming she planned to have breakfast before departing. He wanted to know the results of her deliberations and whether she would agree to give him access to her grandfather’s things.
Penn leapt from the bed and hurriedly washed and dressed. Egg was oblivious to Penn’s actions—and noise—but then he’d imbibed enough last night to ensure he slept until mid-morning at least.
Rushing down the stairs, Penn came upon Mrs. Forrest seated at the table in the common room. Her green eyes flashed with surprise as they met his.
“Good morning, Mrs. Forrest,” he greeted, placing his hand on the chair opposite hers. “Do you mind if I join you for breakfast?”
“I suppose not.” Her tone was tinged with regret, and he suspected she’d been hoping they wouldn’t cross paths this morning. But then if that had been her intent, why not leave immediately? Again he wondered where she lived. Perhaps she needed sustenance before embarking on a long journey.
He sat down and offered her a pleasant smile. “Do you have a full day of travel ahead?”
She narrowed her eyes briefly but was prevented from answering by the arrival of the innkeeper with a plate of ham, eggs, and some rather scorched toast. Her expression softened into a smile as she looked up at Mr. Tarleton. Penn was unaccountably jealous of the man.
“Thank you. The toast is perfect.”
She liked burned toast?
The innkeeper turned a cheerful grin toward Penn. “Can I get you something, Mr. Bowen?”
“The same as Mrs. Forrest, although if you could toast the bread just a bit less, that would be lovely.”
“Of course.” Mr. Tarleton inclined his head and took himself off.
Mrs. Forrest tucked into her meal without giving Penn a second thought. Perhaps she was in a hurry after all.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Penn doubted she would, but he had to try. She might think their association was finished, but he was convinced to the contrary. Her grandfather had possessed knowledge of the heart and dagger—even if his artifacts were fake—and Penn meant to obtain it.
She glanced over at him. “No, I didn’t.”
Penn let out a frustrated breath. “Mrs. Forrest, we can help each other.”
She swallowed a bite of eggs and pierced him with a dark stare. “How can you help me?”
“Your grandfather’s letter, remember?” Since it seemed that wasn’t enough to entice her, Penn pressed forward. “In my field of work, I research, I dig, I find answers. I will help you determine what your grandfather was doing with this fake heart and dagger.” He knew that troubled her.
She gritted her teeth. “They aren’t fake.”
He relaxed back in his chair, confident he’d found a way in. “If you are so confident, don’t you want me around so that you can crow that you were right all along?”
She stared at him a moment, her features relaxing—not in the way they’d done with Tarleton, but they lost a bit of their animosity. “I know what you’re trying to do.”
“Find answers.”
She leaned forward, her gaze glued to his. “And if you find therealheart”—the disbelief in her tone was palpable—“what will you do with it?”
“Put it in the museum, of course.”
“Where the heart my grandfather found currently resides. You’ll discredit him.”
Penn stifled a scowl. She’d managed that rather neatly. “I will do my best to ensure your grandfather retainssomecredit for the entire affair.” Penn had no idea what that would be, but he was certain the man would somehow help them, even from beyond the grave. He’d known enough to find a fake heart and a fake dagger, and the fact that he’d put one in a museum and kept the other hidden was a mystery begging to be solved.
And Penn couldn’t resist a mystery.
Playing his trump card, Penn removed a piece of parchment from his coat. “Allow me to prove to you that I’m earnest in discovering the truth—whatever it may be.” He unfolded the paper and laid it flat on the table before sliding it over to her.
Her eyes rounded briefly before she snatched up the paper. Now her features betrayed the most vulnerability she’d ever displayed. She held the parchment lovingly, her lips parting as she scanned the letter.
