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possible. She cleared her throat. "My lady . . . that is, Lillian ... if you wouldn't mind ... I should like to
know where the convenience is .. ."
"Oh, certainly. Shall I have a housemaid show you the way, or "
"No, thank you," Amelia said hastily.
After receiving Lillian's matter-of-fact instructions. Amelia excused herself from the parlor, leaving the
three of them to continue their tea.
The first room she had to find was the library, where the stereoscope card and the key belonged.
Recalling Beatrix's description of the main floor plan, Amelia hurried along the quiet hallway. She slowed
her pace as she saw a maid sweeping the carpet, and tried to look as if she knew where she was going.
The maid stopped sweeping and stood aside respectfully as she passed.
Rounding a corner, Amelia found an open door revealing a large library with upper and lower galleries.
Better
yet, it was empty. She rushed inside and saw a stereoscope on the massive library table. There was a
wooden box nearby, stuffed with cards just like the one in her pocket. Tucking the card in with the
others, she hurried out of the library, pausing only to insert the key into the empty lock case of the door.
Only one task left she had to find Lord Westcliff's private study and return the silver seal. The weight
of it bounced uncomfortably against her leg as she walked. Please don't let Lord Westcliff be there, she
thought desperately. Please let it be empty. Please don't let me be caught.
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Beatrix had said the study was close to the library, but the first door Amelia tried turned out to be the
music room. Spying another door across the hallway, she discovered a supplies closet filled with pails,
brooms, rags, and pots of wax and polish.
"Blast, blast, blast," she muttered, rushing to another open doorway.
It was a billiards room. And it was occupied by a half-dozen gentlemen involved in a game. Worse, one
of them was Christopher Frost. His handsome face was devoid of expression as his gaze met hers.
Amelia stopped, color flaring in her face. "Do excuse me," she murmured, and fled.
To her dismay, Christopher Frost moved as if to follow her. She was so intent on making her escape
that she didn't see someone cut in front of Frost, neatly blocking him.
"Miss Hathaway."
At the sound of a man's voice, Amelia whirled around. She expected to see Christopher Frost, but was
startled to find that Cam Rohan had followed her. "Sir."
Cam Rohan was in his shirtsleeves, and his collar was a
bit loose, as if he'd been tugging on it. His jet-black hair was casually disordered, as if he'd recently
dragged his fingers through the shining layers. Her heart quickened. She waited stiffly as he approached
her in fluid strides.
Lingering in the doorway, Christopher Frost gave them a last frowning glance before retreating into the
room.
Rohan reached Amelia and stopped with a nod of greeting. "Is there something I can help you with?" he
asked politely. "Have you lost your way?"
Abandoning caution in favor of expediency, Amelia seized a fold of his rolled-up sleeve. "Mr. Rohan, do
you know where Lord Westcliff 's study is?"
"Yes, of course."
"Show me."
Rohan looked at her with a quizzical smile. "Why?"
"There's no time to explain. Just take me there now. Please, let's hurry!"
Obligingly he led her across the hallway, two doors down, into a small rosewood-paneled room. A
gentleman's study. The only ornamentation was a row of rectangular stained-glass windows along one
wall. Here was where Marcus, Lord Westcliff, conducted most of his es-tate business.
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Rohan closed the door behind them.
Fumbling in her pocket, Amelia retrieved the heavy sil-ver seal. "Where does this go?"
"On the right side of his desk, near the inkwell," Rohan
said. "How did you come by it?"
"I'll explain later. I beg you, don't tell anyone." She went to place the silver seal on the desk. "I only hope
he didn't notice it was missing."
"Why would you want it in the first place?" Rohan asked idly. "Resorting to forgery, are we?"
"Forgery!" Amelia turned pale. A letter in Westcliff's name, sealed with his family emblem, would be a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]