Page 39 of The Scholar's Key
“And I told you that I would do this myself,” he hissed back.
“It will be much easier together.”
“But—”
“I’m here now, so what difference does it make?” she asked, and he sighed, lifting his hat and running a hand through his hair.
“The difference is that if we are caught, there will be consequences. Ones that I do not even want to think of. I could extricate myself from the situation fairly easily, but what excuse would you have for being here?”
Percy bit her lip, worry finally creeping in.
“You have to make sure you are not found here,” he said fiercely. “I’ll take the blame if we are to be discovered.”
“I do not need you to protect me,” she said firmly. “I came here of my own accord. Now, boost me up and I’ll see if I can fit through the window. I am rather curious as to how you thought to lift yourself high enough to open it alone.”
She could tell she had him there, as he let out a grunt before he cupped his hands together for her foot, allowing her to step up and reach the window. She wished she was wearing breeches as she reached the top, letting out a groan of her own as she pushed the window up, relieved to find it unlocked.
“It seems our Mrs. MacNall is not as cautious as she should be,” Percy murmured before sliding through, finding herself in a bedroom.
“Interesting,” Noah said, surprising her from behind. He was light on his feet.
“What is?”
“This is not the bedroom I saw before.”
“Is it not?”
“Do you suppose she lives with someone?” he asked, clearly as surprised as she, only Percy had an idea of the reason.
“Perhaps one is her own and the other is for… entertainment. I could understand the desire for a space that is hers and hers alone.”
“Oh,” he said, clearly shocked enough to stop his forward momentum, and she had to put a finger in his back to push him forward.
“On we go,” she said. “Do you know which room it is in?”
“Yes.”
“Lead the way.”
It wasn’t far, of course, the house not being overly large, and after they ensured that no one was home, Noah led them toward the room where had had seen the necklace, finding it darker than the rest of the house with only the smallest of embers burning in the grate.
Percy watched him enter.
“Do you think you can find it alone?”
“Yes. I came here alone, did I not?”
She ignored his barb, even though it was laced with humor, before she stepped forward. “I will keep watch. Keep your ears as vigilant as your eyes. We cannot be caught.”
In the quiet darkness, she moved through the house to the front window, sinking low to keep watch in front. She could only hope that Mrs. MacNall wouldn’t have reason to try any other entrance, that this was the most likely scenario.
Her heart was beating fast as she sat, which she knew was not only from the suspense of waiting but also from the very idea of what would happen if she was caught in this situation. Not only was she out, unchaperoned, in the middle of the night, but she had trespassed in a courtesan’s house, accompanied by a young man. Even if he was the most scholarly and chivalrous man she had ever met, they would both face grave consequences for their actions.
Unless they managed to escape without being discovered.
“Noah?” she hissed. “Are you done?”
“I’ve found the key,” he replied, his voice soft. “Now I just have to see where it fits.”
