Page 66 of The Scholar's Key
“And then my mother interrupted and informed him that I was betrothed to Lord Stephen.”
Cassandra blinked. “You are betrothed to Lord Stephen?”
“No,” Percy said but then winced. “Not entirely. Not yet.”
“Oh dear,” Cassandra said with a sigh. “I think you need a brandy. And then you need to figure out just what you are going to do with your life.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that,” Percy said, but she accepted the drink and finished it with a flourish.
“There is something else I should tell you,” Cassandra said, her expression uneasy, and Percy had a feeling that there was more to it than her usual stomach upset.
“What is it?”
“We visited my Aunt Eve a couple of days ago.”
“How is she doing? She is an intriguing woman. I quite enjoyed her.”
“She is,” Cassandra said with a large smile before it fell. “Her necklace was stolen again.”
“What?” Percy gasped.
“She has no idea how,” Cassandra said, waving her hands in the air. “She said she put it back in its case and hid the key elsewhere. Yet somehow, it was stolen, without any harm to the case.”
“Noah was right,” Percy murmured.
“What do you mean?”
“He said that it was important we determine how the necklace was stolen in the first place. Meanwhile, I was simply happy that we had been able to return it.”
“At least you were able to solve the clue.”
“Yes, but the necklace meant so much to your aunt,” Percy said. “I hate to think that she no longer has it.”
Cassandra patted her knee. “Well, hopefully in time we will find it.”
“Did anyone else know where the key was?”
“Not that Aunt Eve was aware.”
“Well, I am sorry, Cassandra. I will keep my eye out. And,” a slight hope filled her chest at the thought of having a reason to see Noah again, “perhaps I can speak to Noah about asking the woman who had it before if she has seen it again.”
“Perhaps,” Cassandra said, obviously forcing a smile for Percy’s sake. “Or you could just tell him what you’d like to speak about.”
Percy groaned. “You know me too well.”
“Not too well,” Cassandra said with a smile. “Perhaps just well enough.”
* * *
There wasnothing left for Noah in Bath.
He had researched as much as he could and had made copies and notes for what appeared to be most important. He had found the necklace and solved the clue. And he had learned that Percy was going to marry another.
He didn’t know why it had come as such a surprise. He had always known that he could not be the man for her.
She was a woman who enjoyed life, took risks, and yearned for excitement and adventure. He was boring, staid, and would rather see the world through books than see it himself firsthand.
Even so, somehow, learning that she was already promised to be married while she spent the night with him felt like taking a punch to the gut.
