“I might be able to get my hands on some of Blackwood’s books,” Jonny mumbled.
“What?” Tommy said, rounding on him. “How is that even possible?”
“Can’t say.”
“Is it going to put you in any danger?” Rhys asked.
“No more than usual,” Jonny said with a shrug, although that earned him more than one suspicious stare, but he didn’t seem bothered. “Can’t say more.”
“The stories you could tell,” Tommy said wistfully, wishing Jonny would one day share more but knowing it was likely in his best interest not to know.
“I have an idea,” Minnie said, and Tommy wished he could read her expression, but she was too far away.
“Am I going to like it?” he asked,
He laughed when she responded, “I’m not sure, Tommy. It’s hard to tell with you.”
“You’re a lot less fun now that you’re married,” Jonny said, and Tommy correctly recognized Minnie’s answering expression.
“I take offense,” shesaid, but Jonny shook his head.
“It’s not you, Minnie,” he said. “It’s this man. Now that he’s in?—”
Tommy started a coughing fit to stop Jonny from saying something stupid.
“What was that?” Emmaline prodded with a mischievous grin, reminding Tommy of how alike he and Emmaline were — they had, for a time, thought that something could be there, but they proved to be far too similar.
“Nothing,” Tommy said, changing the subject. “Minnie and Jonny will work on getting these ledgers, and then we will bring down Blackwood once and for all.”
“And in the meantime, we stay together,” Rhys said gruffly. “And stay safe.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Are you sure about this?” Tommy asked, eyeing Minnie warily as they stepped up to her parents’ front door.
“No,” she said before taking a deep breath. “But we don’t have another option besides breaking in once everyone is asleep.”
“I actually like that idea better,” he said, but she shook her head as her lips curled into a small smile.
“I’ll keep my parents distracted for a time, and you can slip into the study. My father keeps his ledgers in the top drawer of his desk.”
“I thinkIshould keep them distracted,” he said, and she gaped at him. They had been over this plan time and again. Why was he changing it now?
“It occurred to me that it would work better. I’ll speak to your father, and you can make an excuse to fetch things you forgot from your bedroom. Then you know exactly where to go to find the ledgers.”
“You’re right about that,” she said, not wanting to admit it, but it was true. Tommy’s spontaneity was one of the thingsshe enjoyed about him, and yet it was taking some time for her to keep up with his ever-changing thoughts.
The door swung open to reveal her parents’ very surprised butler awaiting them.
“Miss Draper,” he finally managed. “I— are you here?—”
“Mrs. Ward,” Minnie corrected, noticing Tommy’s responding grin out of the corner of her eye. “We’d like a word with my parents.”
“I’ll see if they are in.”
“Jameson,” she said firmly, fixing him with a stare. “You are well aware of whether they are in or not. The question is, do they want to see us?”
“You are correct, of course, Miss— Mrs. Ward,” he said, lowering his head in defeat. “Why don’t you wait in the front parlor?”
