Page 86 of Lord of Fortune
Penn, his father, and Gideon stood as she made her way to her seat, and Penn held her chair while she situated herself at the table.
“Good morning,” Mother said with a warm smile. “I trust you slept well.”
“Fine, thank you,” Amelia said evenly. At this distance, Penn could see the faint streaks of purple beneath her eyes. She was a decent liar.
Thomas served as footman this morning, piling their plates from the sideboard with the items they chose from the offerings. When he was finished, they began to tuck in. It was Gideon who spoke first as he picked up his fork.
“I think I have a good plan for obtaining the book.”
All eyes turned to him. Penn was eager for something to take his mind off the bleak prospect of his future. “Let’s hear it.”
Gideon shot Penn an anxious glance. “Just bear with me while I lay it out. We know where the book is—at a house outside Glastonbury, which is where Foliot has an estate. I’d wager this house is on the estate. Foliot likes to keep his people close. I’ve stayed with him on several occasions.”
“That’s useful,” Penn said, suspecting where Gideon might be heading and not liking it one bit.
“The man in possession of the book—Thaddeus—we can distract him and steal the book—”
Penn dropped his utensils. “No.” Gideon had gone precisely where he’d feared. “She’s not doing that.”
“Who?” Penn’s father, seated at the end of the table to Penn’s right looked from Penn to Gideon and back to Penn again.
“Me,” Amelia said. She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin before continuing. “Thaddeus is my husband.” She paused, registering the exchanged look of surprise between Penn’s parents, but only briefly. “We weren’t married very long before he left me. I thought it was because of debt, but it seems he was tasked by the Camelot group to obtain the dagger—and anything else they might be able to learn—from my grandfather. When he wasn’t able to get anything, he left.”
She gave her attention to Gideon. “I’ll do it. Just tell me what I need to do.”
Penn angled toward her. “You can’t.”
She turned her head to look at him. “Why not? He’s my husband. I’m the best—perhaps the only—person to distract him while you and Kersey steal it.”
“She can take care of herself, Penn,” Gideon said. “She did shoot him after all.”
Penn blinked at her, surprised but then not. She had come close to doing the same to Egg. “You did?”
She nodded. “I actually wanted to hit him, not like when I missed Egg.”
Penn almost smiled. “We would need to scout the place—if it’s too large, this won’t work.”
“I propose we hire a hack in Glastonbury,” Gideon said. “I’ll pose as the coachman and deliver Mrs. Forrest to the house. While she distracts Mr. Forrest, Penn will sneak in and nab the book. When you have it, come to the coach, and we’ll signal for Mrs. Forrest to leave. She’ll come out to tell me—the coachman—I can leave, but in actuality, she’ll leave with me. And you. And the book.”
“Well, that sounds rather neat and tidy,” Father said. “I was going to offer to come along, but what role would I play?”
That earned him a reproachful stare from Mother.
“I think we can handle it,” Gideon said with a slight smile. “If Penn is in agreement. It seems as though Mrs. Forrest is up to the task.”
Amelia nodded. “I am.”
Penn had executed exercises such as this before, but never when it would endanger someone other than Egg. And never when it would endanger the woman he loved. Yes, he loved her. Beyond expectation. Beyond reason. He couldn’t put her at risk, even if shecouldtake care of herself.
He abruptly stood and looked down at Amelia. “May we take a walk, please?”
She blinked up at him, her green eyes brilliant in the morning sun streaming through the windows. Without answering, she rose, and he moved to pull her chair back for her.
He glanced at the table. “Please excuse us.”
Gideon looked up at him, but only briefly before going back to his breakfast. His parents, on the other hand, watched them depart the dining room.
Penn escorted her to the back of the house and into the morning room, through which they exited into the yard. He didn’t stop there, but motioned for her to walk with him toward the wood where he went to think.
“Are we going to your lean-to?” she asked, surprising him.
He stopped and turned toward her. “Yes. How do you know about that?”
“I went there yesterday after you left. It’s an excellent place to go for reflection and solitude. But I suspect we aren’t going there for either, so why don’t you say what you want to say right here?”
She was angry. He could feel the emotion rising off her in waves. Well, he was angry too. And scared and so frustrated at his lack of control, he could scream. They were still in view of the house—if anyone went to the morning room—and that wouldn’t do.
“Just please come with me?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she pursed her lips. “Fine, but I’m not changing my mind.”
