Page 12 of The Scholar's Key
As much as he knew Percy was equally upset about the necklace, Noah ascertained she seemed to be genuine about her intention.
Mrs. Compton had called for tea at the same time that Percy’s mother finally joined them, and they had a pleasant enough visit, despite it being marred by the beginning. When the investigator Mrs. Compton had sent for arrived, Noah, Lady Percy, and her mother stood and made their farewells.
“I do hope we can meet again while you are all in Bath under more favorable circumstances,” Mrs. Compton said.
“Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help,” Lady Percy said, and they stopped at the bottom of the outside steps. She paused as though she wanted to say something, but Noah knew they couldn’t speak freely of the treasure hunt in front of her mother.
“Perhaps we shall see you again, Mr. Rowley,” Percy said, intention in her eyes that he knew likely meant she was eager to try to solve this mystery, for he was aware she would have no other reason to seek him out.
He nodded and murmured his farewell, but as he walked away, it was with a weight in his chest, for he knew that they had likely come to the end of their quest.
Which also meant an end to his reason to spend time with Lady Percy – a fact which, he hated to admit, was the worst part of it all.
CHAPTER5
“Oh, Noah, I cannot wait for you to see the Assembly Rooms. Have you ever been? Perhaps to a concert in the lower rooms? But the upper rooms… oh, the upper rooms where these fancy dress balls are held are beautiful. And you never know who you might see there. Why, once Admiral Nelson was present! I tried to speak with him, but you can imagine the crush…”
Noah’s aunt continued to chatter away the entire carriage ride toward Bath’s Assembly Rooms. He shifted uncomfortably, the squabs squeaking with the change of his weight overtop.
The truth was, he would prefer to be just about anywhere else right now than going to socialize with Bath’s highest society.
Well, almost anywhere.
He wondered if Lady Percy was going to be there and then pushed the thought from his head. This was going to be a long stay here in Bath if he was going to be looking for her everywhere he went.
“I cannot wait to introduce the brother of an earl to all of them!”
“I’d prefer you didn’t,” he heard himself saying, stopping his aunt mid-soliloquy.
“Didn’t what?”
“Introduce me as such. Your nephew, Noah Rowley, is perfectly fine.”
“But—” Her eyes were wide, as though she was incredulous that he would not want all to know of his family’s connections.
“I believe Noah would just like to be known for who he is and not for who his father was or his brotheris. Is that not right, son?” his uncle softly interjected, and Noah nodded gratefully.
“That is exactly right.”
“Well…” his aunt said, and Noah felt a twinge of guilt for having deflated her excitement.
“You can tell them of the work that Noah is doing,” Uncle Albert said, and that somewhat brightened her spirits, although she was not nearly as excited as she had been before.
By the time they arrived, the fancy dress ball was already well underway, and as they started up the stairs, Noah was immediately surrounded by the overwhelming floral perfumes and smoke that clung to the fabrics of their wearers. It was a plethora of pastels, interspersed with the dark wear of most of the gentlemen and the brightness of a few dandies.
Noah had worn as indiscreet garments as possible, hoping to blend in with everyone around him. He adjusted his spectacles after he was shoved from one side, sighing as he wished the person would know of his ire, although he wasn’t about to say anything.
He stepped through the doorway, and upon seeing the large room in front of him, he was, at least, able to appreciate just why his aunt was so eager to show him the place. The ballroom was wide and open, the musicians playing from a balcony above him. He looked up to see them behind the railing, backdropped by the light blue ceiling with its white crown moulding that reminded him of the sky on a sunny day, interspersed by fluffy white clouds. Chandeliers hung down from the ceiling, lighting the room and dazzling all who stood below them.
He wondered how any woman could ever compete with its grandeur.
But then he saw her and knew that there would always be one who could do so.
To Noah, it seemed like the crowd before him parted like the Red Sea to provide him a tunnel through which to see her. Lady Persephone, resplendent in a pale pink gown, her dark brown hair high on her head above it, was speaking animatedly in front of two women he guessed were her family members by the way they leaned in and interacted with one another, although he couldn’t know for certain.
Lady Percy flung back her head and laughed at something one of them said, and he loved how she was able to give herself over to emotion without worry about what anyone might think of her.
He hated the part of himself that wishedhewas the one who was making her laugh.
