Page 30 of The Scholar's Key
“I hadn’t realized you had gone out,” she said, not one to be outright inquisitive, but clearly curious as to where Percy had been. Knowing that it would likely get back to her mother through the servants, anyway, Percy decided the best thing to do was to be honest – to an extent.
“I went to visit a friend,” she said, hoping her mother wouldn’t ask any further questions.
“Oh?”
“I went to see how Mr. Rowley was getting on. He doesn’t know anyone in Bath besides his family, and he does not make friends easily.”
“I see. That is… kind of you.”
“Yes, well I promised Lord Ashford and Cassandra that I would check in on him, and I told him that we would invite him, along with his aunt and uncle, to dinner. If that is all right with you?”
Her mother’s eyebrows rose, but she didn’t comment besides to say, “Of course. Shall we make it tomorrow?”
Tomorrow. After he visited Mrs. MacNall’s club. She supposed she should want to know if he was successful in his quest to find the necklace but wasn’t certain that she wanted to know the rest of it.
Which, she realized, was where the source of her anger came from. She was annoyed that he was now taking all they had developed together and was going to use it with another woman.
But there was nothing she could do about it.
Except wait and question herself as to just why she cared so much.
* * *
Noah hadn’t even beenable to enjoy dinner with his aunt and uncle, so worried was he about the evening to come. There were so many potential downfalls. He could fail to interest Mrs. MacNall, fail to be invited back to her house, fail to find the necklace, fail to leave with it.
Of course, the actions necessary for each step terrified him just as much as any other, but at least he wouldn’t have any witnesses. Namely, Percy.
He stood in front of the Queen’s Hand, shifting back and forth from one foot to the other. He had never been the type of man to frequent such establishments, but only someone who knew him would question his presence there.
He took a breath of courage and pushed open the door, immediately overwhelmed by the smoke and darkness that washed over him. He paused for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the light, before slowly shuffling inside. He received a few cursory looks, but no one seemed particularly interested in him or what he was doing there.
Most of the patrons seemed of a similar ilk to him – wealthy enough to afford the latest fashions, and, likely, at least a night with one of the women who decorated the room. This was no low-class brothel, for the women were dressed in fabrics as fine as those worn by any lady of theton, only these gowns were richer, more vibrant, and required much less imagination as to just what was hidden underneath.
He spotted Mrs. MacNall across the room, her dark hair artfully arranged beneath an exquisite hat that he knew would not have been cheaply made. He was too far away to determine whether or not she wore the necklace, but he began to weave his way across the room toward her. The sooner he accomplished his goal here, the better.
“Well, you are a fresh face.”
He hadn’t progressed far when another woman stepped into his path. Her hair was dark, reminding him of Percy, except that he did not react to this woman, whereas when he thought of Percy, his feelings went in all kinds of directions – none of which he was particularly happy about.
“I am new to Bath,” he said, stepping to the side to try to avoid the woman, but she was not to be deterred.
“Then you must be interested in making new friends,” she practically purred.
“I have quite a few friends already, as it happens,” he said, “although I thank you for your interest.”
He couldn’t help but be polite, for it was not this woman’s fault for assuming that he might be interested in something more than a few passing comments.
She smiled tersely but allowed him to continue, and he kept his head down as he began to walk toward the back of the room and Mrs. MacNall.
He stopped, however, when another familiar face caught his eye. Lord Stephen. He knew he should keep walking, that wasting time with him would not help this situation, but ire began to build in him. So this man was pursuing Percy and yet had no issue in frequenting such an establishment and paying beautiful women to fall over his lap. He knew that it was a common occurrence, that it should have no bearing upon him, and yet, he couldn’t help the frustration that washed over him when he considered that this man was lucky enough to have an opportunity with such a woman and yet was willing to risk squandering it.
For if he knew Percy – and he liked to think that he was becoming more familiar with her – she would not take kindly to such actions if she learned of them. Although, she had not appeared to be particularly pleased with him the other night either.
“Lord Stephen,” he grunted, standing over the man as he smoked a cheroot in one hand and fondled a woman’s bosom with the other. “I would not have expected to see you here.”
“Mr. Rowan, is it?” Lord Stephen said lazily, a gleam in his eye telling Noah that he knew exactly what his true name was.
“Rowley,” he said through gritted teeth.
