Page 23 of Lord of Fortune
“I think I have a copy of that already,” Amelia said slowly, drawing every head in the room to turn toward her. “And a second edition—with the woodcut illustrations.”
Andy sat forward in her chair, her gaze keen with interest. “What else is in your library?”
“A variety of things. I’d be happy to have you come look at it some time. If that’s what you…do in this…club.”
Andy gave her a warm smile. “We most certainly do, and we’d be delighted. Now, no one need give up their rare books on account of the blasted Order. Penn, do you think it was them?”
“It seems likely. Unfortunately, I can’t ask Septon because he’s traveling at present.” Penn had arrived at Septon House late yesterday to find that he wasn’t at home. It was frustrating not to be able to ask him about the dagger and Jonathan Gardiner, yet convenient since Penn would be able to search for information without Septon peering over his shoulder. He planned to do just that later, but first he’d wanted to come to this meeting on the off chance they might know of a Mrs. Amelia Forrest or at least Jonathan Gardiner. Instead, he’d been far luckier and found her here in the flesh.
“Septon?” All three of the members of the Society said his name in near unison.
“Heisa member of the Order! I knew it.” Cassie’s voice was triumphant as she shared satisfied looks with her sister and Selina.
Penn held up his hand. “Let us pause a moment. How much do you know about the Order?”
“Only what Cate told us in a letter,” Andy said.
“She sent you something inwritingabout them?” He swallowed a curse. He’d talk to his sister when she was back from her wedding trip to Cornwall.
“Don’t be angry with her. She wanted to warn us about this secret group. She didn’t confirm Septon’s membership, but you just did. We have long suspected there was more to him than simply a passion for antiquities. Since you opened the door, you may as well tell us what you know.”
“I’d intended to.” He explained the group to them, detailing what he’d laid out to Amelia the day before.
“Knights of the bloody Round Table,” Selina muttered. She pinned Penn with a skeptical stare. “Cate has persuaded Andy and Cassie that these Thirteen Treasures are real, but I’m not certain I believe that.” She waved her hand. “I know about the heart in the museum, but it can’t possibly be used to make someone fall in love.”
“I thought that once too, but they are real—everything about them is real.” He looked at each member of the Society before continuing. “This is what my sister wanted me to share with you. She found Dyrnwyn.”
“Of course she did.” Cassie’s tone rang with pride once more, but this time for her friend.
“And is the sword magical?” Andy seemed to hold her breath.
Penn was sorry Cate wasn’t here in person, but she’d been adamant that he tell them. She hadn’t wanted to make them wait. “Cate said it burst into blue flame when our cousin picked it up.”
“Kersey?” Cassie asked sharply. “Doesn’t that mean he’s a descendant of one of the knights?”
“Of Gareth, yes.”
“How extraordinary,” Andy breathed, sitting back in her chair, her expression turning contemplative.
“Cate saw this?” Selina asked.
Penn nodded. “And you trust her as much as I do.”
“Perhaps more,” Selina said softly.
Penn smiled as he gave her a pointed stare. “That, I’m afraid, is impossible.” The bond he shared with his sister, despite the fact that they shared no blood, was unique and unbreakable.
Selina inclined her head. “So the heart may actually provoke someone into falling in love?”
Penn looked sideways at Amelia, expecting to find her watching him. He wasn’t disappointed. She wanted to know if he would tell them he suspected the heart in the museum was a fake. He wouldn’t. Not until he found the real one and could prove it. “Yes, it likely does do that.”
“Which means the dagger would prevent the spell from working,” Cassie said. She looked at Amelia. “Why would your grandfather put the heart in the Ashmolean but hide the dagger?
“That is a question I can’t answer, unfortunately.” The note of disappointment in Amelia’s voice pulled at Penn. He knew what it was like to have questions that you could never answer. Questions that ate at you and kept you up at night.
“What a shame.” Selina peered around Penn at Amelia with a comforting gaze.
“What about the person he wrote that letter to?” Andy asked. “Would he—or she—know more about your grandfather’s intentions or thought processes?”
