Page 32 of The Scholar's Key
“Mrs. MacNall,” he said, leaning in close. “Perhaps we could go somewhere more private?”
“You do not enjoy an audience?” she said with a laugh.
“I do not.”
“Very well,” she said with a shrug. “There are back rooms.”
Oh, dear. He needed access to her house.
“As it happens, I do not wish anyone to know of my actions here,” he said.
“We are discreet.”
“Be that as it may… I am courting a young woman and cannot have her aware of any other… encounters I may have.”
She paused for a moment in contemplation.
“Very well,” she said. “My house is not far. We can take our evening there.”
“Very good,” he said, although inside he was in turmoil.
For as pleased as he was that he would have the opportunity to look for the necklace, there was just one other problem – what Mrs. MacNall would expect him to do when he arrived.
CHAPTER12
Noah followed the woman into the house, unsure of what he had assumed but appreciative of the home within. Mrs. MacNall had rather exacting tastes, it appeared, and he couldn’t help but think that Percy would approve of the jewel tones that decorated the room, from the paper on the walls to the furniture to the sculptures and paintings that were obviously quite valuable.
“Your home is very fine indeed,” he said, not missing her smile at his comment.
“Thank you,” she said. “I am quite proud of it.”
Seeing his opportunity, he continued. “You are obviously a woman who appreciates fine things.”
“I do.”
“The last time I saw you, you were wearing a necklace that was most exquisite.”
“My rubies,” she said, her eyes turning on him sharply. “They received quite a bit of attention.”
“I can see why,” he said, hoping his words appeared calm and collected, even while his inward thoughts were muddled. “They must be very valuable. Did you buy them yourself?”
“I did not,” she said. “They were a gift.”
“From your protector.”
“Actually,” she said, “they were from another.”
“I see,” he said. “I apologize for my questions. It is simply that the woman I am courting also appreciates rubies and I know how much she would love such a piece of jewellery. I was hoping to buy her a similar piece.”
Mrs. MacNall sat back in her chair, resting her head on one hand as she stared at him. “She is a lucky woman. I received them from a… friend, but unfortunately, I cannot give his name. As I said, I am discreet. But he told me he bought it from a shop that specializes in such items.”
Noah had a feeling it was a shop of stolen goods, but he wasn’t about to say so.
“Would it be possible for me to see it again?” he asked. “The woman I am courting, she saw it as well, and she was quite interested.”
“She wouldn’t happen to be Lady Persephone Holloway, now would she?”
“Ah—y-yes, she is,” he said, realizing that he had walked himself into a lie. He only hoped that when Mrs. MacNall said she practiced discretion, she meant in all matters. For he wasn’t sure how Percy would accept a rumor that the two of them were near to betrothed.
