Page 55 of The Scholar's Key
Her mother was staring at her from across the carriage, her expression incredulous as she stared at her now very soggy daughter. Percy had put herself to rights as best she could, though she was sorely missing her maid at the moment.
“It was an accident,” Percy said, smiling weakly, as she attempted to comb her fingers through her hair.
“An accident,” her mother repeated, clearly not believing her. “I do not know what to think sometimes, Persephone.”
“I keep your life interesting,” Percy said mischievously, and her mother did manage a slight laugh at that.
“That, you most certainly do,” she said, shaking her head. “Were you hiding from someone?”
“No,” Percy said quickly — perhaps a little too quickly.
“The Baths do draw all sorts of people,” her mother said. “Why, I even saw a known mistress there.”
“Did you now?” Percy said in a strangled voice. “How would you know the woman was a mistress?”
“Oh, Lord Chamberlain parades his Cyprian everywhere. It is so disrespectful to his wife.”
Percy would have thought having a mistress at all was disrespectful, but she kept her mouth closed.
“I heard,” her mother said, lowering her voice in a sure sign she was sharing gossip, even though there was no one else within the carriage to hear them, “that she dumped Chamberlain from her bed!”
“She did?” Percy asked, slightly interested now. Her mother was nodding enthusiastically.
“Yes. Something to do with him taking back a gift to give to another.”
“Interesting,” Percy said thoughtfully. So as much as their timing had seemed unfortunate, perhaps it had worked out in their favor, if it meant that Mrs. MacNall thought Lord Chamberlain had retrieved the necklace while he was in her chambers. She would have to tell Noah.
“Now, tell me,” her mother said, “what is bothering you?”
“Nothing,” Percy said, turning her face away, but her mother read her thoughts anyway.
“Persephone.”
“Very well,” she said with a sigh. “Elizabeth told me she is interested in Mr. Rowley. But only because of his connection to his brother and not because of who he is as a man.”
Her mother leaned forward, staring at her. “Have you spoken to him yet?”
“No.”
“You must,” she said, patting her knee. “You do not want to have any regrets, and Lord Lecher is becoming increasingly persistent that you and Lord Stephen should have a future together.”
“I know,” she said, leaning back against the squabs. “I am trying to sort this out, Mother, truly I am.”
“And you will,” her mother said, before chuckling slightly, lifting her hand to her mouth as though to stop the sound. “Although I am not sure you will catch any gentleman looking like that.”
“Mother!” Percy said, her mouth dropping open in astonishment, but then she couldn’t help herself – she began to laugh with her, and soon enough they were both laughing so hard they were unable to contain themselves – leading to a very astonished footman when he opened the carriage doors to the women once they arrived.
Percy knew she was lucky. Her mother believed in her to make the best decision for herself.
Now Percy just had to determine what that was.
* * *
Noah didn’t seePercy again for another week – not until the news of the letter he had received came to pass.
He had just returned home from his work when he received a card from the butler. One that had arrived during the day.
Ashford, Covington, and the new Lady Covington, Ashford’s sister, had arrived in Bath. And they were interested in seeing him – as well as Percy. They were so keen on following the next clue of this treasure hunt that they had not wanted to wait for them to travel to Castleton.
