Page 22 of Lord of Fortune
“Perhaps you wouldn’t mind starting at the beginning,” Andy said, looking between Amelia and Penn.
“Certainly,” Penn began.
Cassie flashed him a perturbed glare. “Let Amelia speak first.”
Penn briefly dropped his gaze to the floor. “Of course.” He turned to face her, wondering what she’d already told them.
She kept her gaze fixed on the sisters. “I went in search of the dagger my grandfather hid. Before he died, he asked me to find it. Unfortunately, he gave me an imprecise location. I looked for a few days but found nothing until I happened upon Mr. Bowen afterhe’dfound it.”
Cassie pinned her shrewd gaze on him. “And how didyoufind it?”
“I hadprecisedirections. Provided by Mr. Gardiner—Mrs. Forrest’s grandfather.”
“You had more information than his relative?” Cassie asked incredulously. “That hardly seems fair.”
“It seems my grandfather drafted a letter several years ago to a friend of his at Oxford. Since then, his health declined so much that I daresay he may not have remembered the dagger’s location. In hindsight, it’s a good thing he sent that letter.”
Penn was a bit startled by her attitude—and impressed. He’d taken her to be in possession of good sense, and he was pleased to see this verified. He gave her an encouraging smile even though she wasn’t looking at him.
“So you were able to go right to the dagger?” Andy asked. At his answering nod, she continued, “Then it was stolen.”
Penn leaned closer to Amelia and spoke in low tones. “Are we disclosing the entire story, including the bit where you tried to shoot Egg’s ear off?”
She turned toward him then, and the brilliant green of her eyes made his breath catch. There was a fire in the depths, and the word the stone had always brought to his mind simmered there now:passion.
“I suppose we must,” she murmured before turning her attention to the women. “In my search for the dagger, I happened upon Mr. Bowen and his assistant, Egg. I tried to recover my grandfather’s property.”
“Don’t leave out the part about being dressed in men’s clothing,” Penn offered.
She gave him a droll look. “I was confident you’d mention it.”
Selina laughed. “How splendid. You simplymustjoin our Society.” She looked over at the sisters. “Assuming you both agree.”
“I do,” Andy said, her eyes glowing with mirth. “How did you try to recover the property?”
“With my pistols,” Amelia said. “Unfortunately, they didn’t take me seriously, and I was forced to shoot at Egg.”
“She barely missed him.” Penn held up his hands to show a scant few inches between them. “But she did make it up to us by tending our wounds. It happens that Mrs. Forrest is a skilled nurse in addition to her other…talents.” He felt he’d just barely uncovered what those might be and longed to peel back the layers of the secretive lady.
“Amazing,” Andy said. “She should be a member, don’t you think?” She turned to her sister.
“Since she says she’s interested in continuing her grandfather’s pursuits, I would agree.” Cassie seemed far less enthusiastic than the others, but that was merely her demeanor. Penn had known these women for several years, since they’d invited his younger sister Cate to join their ranks. They were smart, curious, devoted to antiquities, and fiercely loyal. On occasion, he’d wished he could be a member too. They were a far less stuffy and self-important organization than the London Natural Society of Antiquities, of which hewasa member. What he wasn’t a member of—and neither were any of these ladies, as far as he knew—was the Order of the Round Table.
Penn picked up the thread of their tale. “Before we could resolve the issue of the dagger’s ownership, we were accosted by brigands. Four men of varying…er, charm.”
Amelia turned her head sharply, and he heard her swift intake of breath. “Not one of them possessed an ounce ofthat.”
“You are correct. I misspoke. I only meant to relay that at least one seemed of a higher class than the others.”
“Have you any idea who they were?” Selina asked.
“The Order,” Cassie spat. “I’d stake my copy of Caxton’s first edition of theCanterbury Tales.”
Penn let out a low whistle. “That’s quite a wager. My father doesn’t even have a first edition.”
Cassie’s generous mouth spread into a smug smile. “I know.”
It was hard not to laugh at Cassie’s reaction. She did pride herself on her small but spectacular collection of rare books and antiquities, as well she should.
