“Which is why we’ll sneak inside in broad daylight,” Tommy said. “Long before supper time. The club will be empty.”
“Of gentlemen,” Philippa acknowledged. “What about maids or other staff?”
Graham held up a journal. “I’ve annotated timetables for each employee. Staff has a holiday on Sundays until late afternoon, so the butler has been guarding his ale at the pub instead.”
Jacob gestured at a shelf across the room. “Tommy has sketched extensive maps of the area.”
“Marjorie completed her decoy forgeries,” Elizabeth added. “We need little more than half an hour to break in, make the switch, and walk out.”
“Not forgeries,” Marjorie said. “Decorative replicas.”
“It sounds as though you have a plan for everything,” Philippa said. Of course they did. They were Wynchesters.
“It’s ten o’clock,” Elizabeth said.
“On Sunday morning,” Graham added meaningfully.
Philippa’s mind felt giddy. They meant to strike at this precise moment.
“I want to see the new manuscript before Philippa takes it home.” Marjorie turned toward the door.
Jacob gathered his hedgehogs to his chest and pushed to his feet. “Hear that little noise they’re making? It’s mealtime.”
“I’ll help feed them,” Elizabeth said.
“Wait,” Philippa stammered. “Aren’t you going to break into the Electi Society?”
“We all help in our own way, depending on our specific talents,” Chloe explained. “Marjorie is wonderful at creating forgeries, but awful at sneaking about undetected. Being part of a family doesn’t mean everyone does everything. It means everyone does their part.”
Graham lifted the journal. “Such as your comprehensive list of the few remaining collectors in England still in possession of a Northrup manuscript. That allowed us to act swiftly.”
He was trying to say… When Tommy had dressed as Great-Aunt Wynchester to bring her the Cambridge volume, she hadn’t been trying toexcludePhilippa. Tommy wouldn’t have known where to beginwithouther. Philippa had already played her part. Tommy was just doing hers.
The Wynchesters hadn’t merely invited her today. She was part of the plan. They’d gone as far as to create a ruse to abduct her and bring her into the heart of the operation. They had used her information, had forged a replica based on her manuscript.
Her chest filled with joy. She was not a useless, passive bystander. She was a part of the team.
Philippa made a rueful expression at Tommy. “I apologize again for how I reacted when you stole the Cambridge manuscript. Is this your way of telling me I’ve done my bit and should leave the rest to the experts?”
“No,” Tommy said. “It’s our way of telling you that you’re as much a part of this as we are. You can be as involved—or not—as you please.”
“I can gowithyou?” Philippa squealed in excitement. She immediately sobered. “I want to be included more than anything, but I’ve no idea what I’m doing. Aren’t you afraid I’ll make a hash of things?”
“Iam,” said Graham. “Tommy believes you’re worth the risk.”
Tommy’s eyes held Philippa’s. “We were all new and inexperienced once. If you want in, then you’re in. The decision is yours.”
“I’m in,” Philippa said to Tommy. “If you want me.”
She held her breath. Tommy’s dark gaze did not waver.
“Oh, she wants you.” Graham lifted his newspaper. “Be ready in an hour.”
Philippa’s cheeks flushed. It had not escaped her notice that the Wynchester siblings appeared to be playing matchmaker. They clearly knew and accepted Tommy as she was. And Philippa, too. But now was not the time to ruminate on such things. She had to be ready—whatever that entailed—within the hour.
Chloe lifted the kitten. “Tiglet and I will make haste to the orphanage. I’ll give him back to you when you return.”
Philippa gave him a final rub between the ears. “The charity outing is real?”
