Page 20 of Lord of Fortune
Andy sipped her tea and gave her sister a long-suffering look. “I do believe Amelia comprehends.” She turned her attention fully to Amelia. “Now, let us return to your dear grandfather. I was acquainted with him several years ago—before he stopped going out. I know of his antiquarian pursuits and his achievements. I wondered if you had perhaps inherited his interest?”
She didn’t think she had, but after her adventure to Burrington, her mind was changing. “Yes, I think I might have.” The words came out slowly, as if she’d just come to that realization. And perhaps she had.
Selina clapped her hands together. “Wonderful!”
Cassie sat forward in her chair and pushed her spectacles up her nose as she studied Amelia with keen interest. “Tell us what you’ve done.”
“Er, done?”
Cassie nodded. “What you’ve discovered or researched. We write papers and publish them under an alias. We could help you share what you’ve learned—that is our overarching purpose.”
“So they won’t know we’re women,” Selina clarified.
Certain she’d stepped into the deep end of a pond, Amelia tried to find a suitable answer. She settled on the truth. “I haven’t discovered or researched anything. I’ve only come upon this…interest recently. This week, in fact.”
Cassie’s brightness dimmed just a bit, and she inched back on her chair. “Oh.”
Andy rolled her eyes at her sister. “Don’t be like that. Amelia has come to us with an interest, and who better to guide her? I know you were hoping she might be able to share stories with you, but—”
“Well, I can share one story,” Amelia interjected before she could censor herself. Three pairs of eyes turned toward her expectantly. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said anything. Liking these women and wanting friends wasn’t the same as trust. She’d trusted too easily once, and it had buried her in trouble. “My grandfather discovered something extraordinary—it’s in the Ashmolean Museum.”
“The Heart of Llanllwch, yes,” Andy said. “We know all about that. It’s an astounding achievement. We wondered if he found anything else of note.”
Were they pursuing specific information? What if they were somehow linked to the Order? Except their women-only society and disdain for the general antiquary community seemed to infer that they were on their own. She couldn’t see an ancient organization like the one Penn had described as something they would be involved with. Still, she should be wary. Hadn’t Penn advised her to do just that?
Taking his advice grated, but she had to grudgingly admit he was right.
Andy’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness, you think we’re trying to ferret information from you. Please accept my deepest apology. We want nothing of the kind.”
“That’s not entirely true, sister,” Cassie said pertly. “We always want information. However, we want it for the sake of knowledge—nothing more.” Cassie smiled at Amelia, which softened her features.
Selina turned toward her on the settee. “We suspect your grandfather also found the dagger, which goes along with the heart. Are you familiar with the tale of Hilaria and Ranulf?”
“Quite.” Amelia relaxed slightly. “My grandfather did find the dagger, and I only recently went in search of where he’d hidden it. Unfortunately, someone else found it first and it was stolen.”
Three sharp intakes of breath filled the room, followed by a rather unladylike curse from Cassie. “Do you know who it was?” Cassie asked, her eyes narrowed in what seemed to be a mix of anger and determination.
Before Amelia could answer, Blessing returned to the doorway. “You’ve another visitor, the proxy for your missing member, I believe.”
Andy blinked. “Ah yes, I forgot.”
“Do you know who found and stole the dagger?” Selina pressed.
Amelia jumped at the opportunity to query them about Penn. “I wanted to ask you about this individual—the one who found the dagger. I suspect he’s a well-known individual in antiquarian circles.”
Blessing’s deep voice sounded from the doorway once more. “Mr. Pennard Bowen.”
Amelia turned her head and rose from the settee, aghast. “Him.”
