Caleb stayed in the shadows as he approached the window of Lord Hungerton’s study. Simone had provided him withinstructions on the specific window, assuring him that it would be left unlocked.
He knew that Simone would rather work alone, particularly when it came to investigating her father. However, he felt compelled to help her. He was all too aware of the toll it took on a person to investigate one’s own father. It was a path that no one wanted to go down. At least not a sane person.
As he approached the window, he saw that no light came from within. The room was enveloped in darkness. He went to open the window and was met with no resistance. Just as he had expected. Simone had done as she had promised.
He climbed in the window and saw a shadowed figure sitting in the chair.
Simone’s voice broke through the silence. “It is about time you arrived.”
“It isn’t even midnight,” Caleb defended.
Rising, Simone closed the distance between them and said, “My father went out earlier and hasn’t returned. We must be extra diligent.”
The moonlight hit Simone’s face, lighting up her eyes, which now gleamed brighter than any star in the night sky. He wondered if she even knew how truly captivating she was. Perhaps what made her so beautiful was not her appearance, but her courage, and the audacity to believe that there was good in people.
Simone arched an eyebrow. “Why are you staring at me?”
“Was I?” he asked, clearing his throat. “I was distracted by something.”
Not looking impressed, she said, “That is foolish. Spies are not supposed to be distracted by anyone- or anything.”
Caleb couldn’t agree more with Simone. Spies had to rise above temptations, especially ones that they were assigned to work with. “Where shall we start looking?”
Simone gestured towards the large desk that sat back inthe square room. “I thought the desk would be a good place to start since my father spends much of his time there.”
“I concur,” Caleb said as he moved closer to the desk.
Simone reached for one of the drawers and slid it out. “It isn’t locked,” she said. “Either my father has nothing to hide or…”
“He is overly cocky that no one will come looking,” Caleb said, finishing her thought.
With a tip of her head, she responded, “Precisely.”
Caleb smirked. “Great minds think alike.”
“In this instance, but we do not usually see eye to eye,” Simone remarked as she started rifling through the files.
Caleb wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he assumed he would know it when he found it. He started browsing through the papers on the desk until he saw a piece of paper that looked like a contract of some sort. He picked it up and held it towards the moonlight.
Simone glanced over at him. “What do you have?”
“This contract is for the sale of the Earlshall estate,” he read. “Does that mean anything to you?”
Simone’s voice grew hesitant. “That was my grandmother’s estate in Scotland,” she revealed. “It boasted the most magnificent castle.”
“It lists your name as the seller,” Caleb revealed.
“That can’t be right,” Simone said as she held her hand out. “My grandmother left the estate to my mother, which rightfully became my father’s.”
“Then why is your name on the contract?” Caleb pressed.
Simone looked up from the paper. “I don’t know, but I intend to ask my father.”
The sound of a door closing in the distance drew their attention and it was followed by a pair of men’s voices.
Placing the contract down onto the desk, Simone’s eyes roamed the room as she said, “I think the voices are getting closer. We need to hide.”
Caleb’s eyes darted to the one place that was big enough to conceal both of them. The drapes. He gently reached for Simone’s arm and led her towards the window.
