Page 56 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

Regina groaned when it proved to be another useless combination.

Jonathan set the quill aside, brow furrowed. “He may have used a phrase only he and your mother knew. Perhaps a pet name?”

“Maybe Aunt Beatrice would know,” Evangeline said, her gaze on the faded leather binding. But their great-aunt was in London. Maybe Regina was right. This was impossible.

Before she could think of a different tack, shouts rose from the courtyard. It sounded like Leda, and Evangeline didn’t need to speak Greek to know she was arguing with someone.

Jonathan dropped the quill. “What in the world is going on?”

Evangeline and Regina rushed to the window. “It’s Leda and her beau,” Evangeline said.

The maid stood in the center of the courtyard, her hands balled into fists. Her face was dark with fury, her small frame trembling while her betrothed screamed at her.

Regina turned from the window. “We should intervene.”

Jonathan was already at the door. Regina and Evangeline followed him from the room, hurrying down the back staircase.

By the time they reached the courtyard, Jonathan was stepping between the couple. His fluent Greek was just that to Evangeline—Greek—but she understood from his stern tone that he was in command.

“Dóse!”

Leda’s beau hesitated, his gaze flicking between Jonathan and Leda, whose warm brown eyes brimmed with tears. Slowly, he held out his fist.

“Ánoixe,” Jonathan snapped.

He opened his hand, revealing a bracelet. Sunlight flashed off a delicate silver charm, and Evangeline gasped.

Jonathan snatched it from him. “Thief.”

The young man shrank away.

Next, he spoke to Leda, his voice low but unyielding. She burst into tears and ran toward the kitchens where Lord Dominic’s cook would likely comfort her.

Jonathan fired questions at Leda’s beau; he answered in a sullen tone. Eventually, Jonathan dismissed him, and he slunk from the courtyard like a dog with his tail tucked.

“What did he say?” Evangeline asked.

Jonathan sighed, turning back toward her. “He is stealing to support the resistance. The maid was trying to stop him. I’ll have a word with Dom.”

“Poor Leda. I hate that he has put her in danger.”

“The whole household could be in danger,” Regina said softly.

“He won’t be back, and Leda won’t be allowed out of sight for a while.”

When he placed the bracelet gently in Evangeline’s palm, a knot formed in her throat.

This delicate piece of jewelry was the only keepsake she had from her mother. She should have left it in London, where it would be safe, but whimsy had driven her to bring it on their journey. It was as if a small piece of Mama could see all the places she had longed to visit when she was alive.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Her sister reached for the bracelet. “Here, let me help you.”

As she held it up, the silver angel wings charm glittered in the sunlight.

She stilled, and Regina’s eyes widened.

“Isabelle’s angels,” Evangeline said.