Page 54 of The Forsaken

“To remove something from its natural resting place,” Andromena said. Had it never been unearthed, she’d never be put in the position of betraying her uncle; hers was undoubtedly a selfish thought.

“One might argue there are far more benefits in doing so.”

Andromena blinked gently. “Hmm?”

“From those artifacts, we learn about past civilizations and hist—”

“Will you stop defending him!” she exploded. “It doesn’t belong to him. Or, it shouldn’t. What right does he or any other English gentleman have to a Greek masterpiece? None. The methods used to create the piece are ones Mr. Storr, Master Rundell, Mr. Rundell, and Mr. Bridge cannot even replicate. Why should it not be returned to the people of Greece?

An awkward silence blanketed the room.

“You are passionate about the topic,” Edgar said.

Since she committed herself to thieving, she had put a lot of thought into many things she never considered before. Then she realized…

Embarrassment heated her face. “You’re making fun of me.”

“No.” Edgar grimaced. “Not this time.”

His kneeling at her feet gave her the control she desperately craved. When tears pricked her eyes, she quickly turned her face away, knowing how much he hated her crying.

“Don’t you have staff to interview?” she asked thickly.

“I’ve spoken to several. They urged me to question the footmen in this hall and servants who tend this room.”

“There aren’t any servants…” She went cold.

My God, did the staff know? Surely…

Edgar turned the pages of her sketch book. “These are quite good.”

“…These are quite good, Andy, dear…now run along and draw some more…”

“Thank you,” she muttered.

The longer he examined her renderings, the more evident it became that he had no intention of abandoning his study and rushing off. Which meant she had to sit. Because she couldn’t very well stand here over him, while he remained on his knees; that would only lend further awkwardness to all of this.

Feeling exposed and vulnerable, she gave thanks when he cast a sober look up.

Finally!

Only, he didn’t leave. He stayed. His intense gaze shifted from the drawing to the honeybee pendant and back again.

His stone-cold face did not move, but a note of awe rang through what he said. “I have not seen anyone else capture shadows like this.”

Her heart blossomed.

He ruined it in his next breath. “These should be studied by Oxford scholars and used in museums.”

Now she knew he was joking.

Andromena laughed. She couldn’t even be mad at him; finding the idea of her quick rendering entering the world’s most illustrious institutions utterly preposterous—as if being a woman didn’t already bar her from those venerable halls, let alone merit acceptance for her little sketches among the antiquities community.

Edgar’s countenance remained solemn.

Andromena frowned. “They’re just drawings. Doodles.” She reached for her drawing pad.

He retained his grip.