Page 94 of Lord of Fortune
Unless it wasn’t there. Which was why this plan had been launched in the first place. In the event Penn couldn’t find it, she’d have to flush it out.
She wanted to be sure to give him enough time. “How did you become involved with the Camelot group?”
“It was before we met. I was in Bath, and I met the man in charge of the group. He presented me with an offer I was loath to refuse.” He gave her a sad look. “I’m sorry to say it involved you. As you surmised, he wanted me to marry you so that we could get close to your grandfather and his secrets. I insisted courtship would be enough, but Foliot—Camelot’s leader—said I would need longer than that to gain your grandfather’s trust.” Thaddeus sipped more gin, then gave a hollow laugh. “Turns out no amount of time would have earned me that. Gardiner despised me.”
“Yes, he was quite pleased when you left.” She saw no reason to lie. “So your objective was merely to learn his secrets?”
“Specifically to find the dagger—we knew he probably had it. We just didn’t know where. Took a while, but the group got it in the end.”
“Where is it?” She couldn’t keep herself from asking. If it was here, she’d take it if she could.
He gave her a coy look and then laughed. “You want that dagger, don’t you, my sweet? Unfortunately, I don’t have it, but perhaps I can get it for you.” He set his gin down on the table again, then tapped his finger against his lip. “There would be a price.”
Her gut clenched as she imagined any number of prices she’d be forced to pay—all of them lurid and revolting. “What would that be?”
“Well, I already expect you’ve come back to resume your place as my wife. But that won’t suffice. Foliot will never relinquish the dagger, not without gaining the heart. He needs both items, you see. Rather, he needs something that’s on both items. Once he has that, I imagine he won’t care if you take the dagger back.”
This was excellent information. She wondered if Penn could hear it. “I would be most grateful. I miss my grandfather very much, and having his most prized possession would be a balm for my grief.”
“Did you by chance bring the heart?”
She picked up the reticule, which had been perched on her lap, and jangled the contents. Curling her lips into a saucy smile, she said, “I did.”
His gaze glowed with appreciation. “How cunning of you.”
He leapt up suddenly, surprising her, and snatched the reticule from her grasp. “Now, we just need the book to go with this, and I can take it to Foliot.” Nervous energy fairly pulsed from him, but he paused to stare intently into her eyes. “Thank you. You’ve saved me quite a bit of trouble. Come, we’ll take it straightaway. His house isn’t far—just a mile south.” He clutched the reticule and started walking toward the back room.
No! He was going to get the book. He couldn’t do that!
She jumped from the settee and grabbed his elbow. “Where—”
He howled in pain and swung around with a vicious glare. “Careful! That’s where you shot me.” He rolled up the sleeve of his shirt to expose a thick white bandage.
She winced. “I’m so sorry.”
He grunted in response, then turned back toward the room where Penn was searching. Why hadn’t he found the damn thing yet? This was moments away from utter disaster. She had to warn him.
“Are you going into that room to fetch the book?” she asked rather loudly.
He paused, then pivoted to face her, his expression confused. “Yes,” he said slowly. “But I’ve just remembered that it’s in here.” He rolled his eyes, then tapped his finger against his temple. “Mind’s a little befuddled from the laudanum the physician gave me for the pain.”
Laudanumandgin. It was a wonder he was still conscious.
He went to a desk in the corner near the front window. His gaze strayed to the window facing the drive. Shooting her a glance, he asked, “Is that your chaise?”
“Yes.”
“Why is it still here?”
She was ready for that question too. “I wasn’t sure if you’d allow me to stay. I did shoot you, after all.”
He turned from the window and gave her a seductive look. “It seems we both have things to repent for. I shall look forward to it.”
Thankfully, he turned his attention to the desk, because Amelia wasn’t able to entirely suppress the shudder that racked her frame.
He set the reticule down on top of the desk and opened the top drawer. Then he withdrew a book bound in white leather.
Amelia didn’t have to ask what it was. “The White Book of Hergest.” For a moment, all her apprehension and tension evaporated. This was what her grandfather wanted to find. The key to everything.
