Page 101 of The Bachelor Spy
And since those werefamilyjewels, it only made her more skilled to find more.
“Even so,” Frederick continued, “I haven’t been in those tunnels in years. Do you recall the entrance?”
“Wherever it was, your father had them sealed up and locked.” Lady Moriah narrowed her eyes at him. “Why would you need to know about the entrance?”
“Because someone believes the jewels are hidden there, and we mean to find them before he can.”
A dry laugh escaped the woman. “The jewels?There?” She shook her head. “I cannot imagine anyone risking their life to place anything of value in those death traps.”
Frederick’s hand tightened on Grace’s. “The entrance, Mother. Please.”
Lady Moriah was silent for a long moment, clearly warring with herself. Finally, she released a frustrated sigh of resignation. “The main entrance is in the chapel floor. There’s an old iron gate hidden beneath an altar stone marked with some sort of symbol. A crown, if I recall correctly. Your father had it locked, but …” She paused. “But he kept the key. Sentimental fool. Couldn’t quite bring himself to throw it away entirely.”
“Where is the key?” Grace asked, leaning forward.
“In the garden house.” Lady Moriah’s words came reluctantly. “In an old wooden box, mixed in with all the other refuse from decades past, I’d imagine. Your father put it there, said if anyone truly needed access, the key should exist.” Her eyes fixed on Frederick. “He never told you?”
“No,” Frederick said quietly. “But that’s no surprise. I was never one of his favorite people. Nor yours.”
Something shifted in Lady Moriah’s expression. “Perhaps the jewels will resurface.” She looked away, tapping her fingers atop her cane. “It would be good protection for future generations.” Her gaze flicked to Grace’s stomach and away again.
“It would certainly be a welcome find,” Frederick said, standing and bringing Grace up with him. “But with Grace’s ingenuity and my hard work, I hope that in time—with or without any jewels—we can secure Havensbrooke for future generations.”
“Time?” Lady Moriah nodded slowly, bringing herself to standing. “Yes. I suppose that’s all any of us have now.”
Grace stepped forward, gently touching the woman’s hand. “And hope, if you would allow it.”
The woman turned away, but not before Grace noticed the tiniest fracture in her demeanor—a crack in the walls she’d built so high.
Perhaps, given time and prayer, she could still be reached.
But for now? They needed to return to the house and stop a would-be thief.
And perhaps assist in bringing down some spies too.
Every chance to slip into Rivers’ room appeared thwarted.
On a regular day, as Evie Montgomery had come to learn, Rivers usually attended patients in the morning. But for some reason—whether devised or not—she’d been given leave that morning to address “personal matters.”
Which, unfortunately, put quite the bend in Evie’s plans.
Luckily, upon one of her rounds cleaning the servants’ quarters, she’d learned Rivers would be assisting with supper service to the patients—which provided a window for her and Blake to investigate her room.
Their plan was simple: Blake would keep watch while Evie investigated Rivers’ room for physical evidence.
A maid caught in a nurse’s room would raise fewer questions than a “wounded” soldier, certainly.
And physical evidence was vital. Not just for confirmation, but for justification if their next steps became less favorable than desired. If they could get their hands on intelligence before it left Havensbrooke, it would prove the traitor and might save hundreds—if not thousands—of lives.
In that, Evie would find some penance.
Some way to atone for failing to catch her brother’s subterfuge. For allowing good men and women to die because she’d been blind.
She carried a large stack of linens as cover, glancing over her shoulder to find Blake watching from the other end of the corridor. He’d disappear in a moment but remain near enough to keep watch.
A smile teased for release.
They’d had a connection since the first time they’d sparred in training. Something about him—the inner light he carried despite the darkest of assignments—never failed to touch her. Change her.
