Page 114 of Rules for Ruin

Her suspicions were confirmed when Parker gestured in that direction. “This way, miss.”

Effie followed him. She sensed he was looking at her again, still trying to puzzle out why she seemed so familiar. “Is Lady Compton at home?” she asked.

“Her ladyship is presently attending to callers in the drawing room,” he said.

“Yes, of course. These must be her receiving hours.” Effie hesitated. “And Lord Compton? Is he at liberty?”

“His lordship is in Westminster. He is expected back any moment.”

Effie’s pulse quickened. If that was true, there was little time to spare. “Pity I’ll miss him.”

“Indeed.” Parker led Effie down the corridor to the door of a small coatroom that had been converted for the purpose. “You will find all you require inside, miss.”

Effie stopped beside him, still refraining from making eye contact. “You needn’t wait on me,” she said. “I shall show myself out when I’m finished.”

Parker didn’t question her. Any servant worth his salt was aware that it was as indelicate for a lady to be seen entering a water closet as it was for her to be seen leaving one.

“Very good, miss.” Parker quickly departed, presumably off to inform the music teacher that his pupil would be joining him shortly.

Effie exhaled the breath she’d been holding. She waited, hand on the door of the washroom for a full twenty seconds, wary of one of the servants seeing her. But there appeared to be none about. Lord Compton was away, Lady Compton was engaged in the drawing room, Miss Compton would be occupied in the music room, and the servants would be kept busy ushering up any callers.

This was Effie’s moment.

Slipping down the hall, she made for the library. She quietly opened one of the double doors. An excuse for her presence hovered on the tip of her tongue should she find anyone inside. But there was no one. No servants, no shadows, and no ravening wolves waiting to pounce. The large book-lined room was bright and empty, smelling of pipe smoke and lemon polish.

Silently closing the door behind her, Effie went to the shelf where Miss Corvus’s books were displayed. She extracted the first one, turning to the page where she’d seen Miss Corvus’s message.

It was still there.

Relief coursed through her. She had feared Compton might have made good on his threat to expunge it. But no. As ever, his attachment to valuable things superseded all other concerns.

Effie prayed it would be his undoing.

Acting swiftly, she opened her reticule and removed the wad of twine. She’d never secured an item as large as a book to her crinoline before, but given the circumference of her poplin skirts, she was confident it was possible.

Raising her petticoats and crinoline, she tucked the book beneath and used the twine to tie it to the underside of the wire cage frame. It wasn’t a heavy tome, but heavy enough to exert an unfortunate pull. Not ideal, admittedly; however, it would do until Effie could get to Brook Street.

She dropped her skirts back into place, giving them a shake to test whether the book wobbled.

It didn’t.

Effie was heartened by the discovery. She adjusted the remaining books on the shelf to better disguise the first book’s absence. With luck, Compton wouldn’t immediately discover it was gone. By that time, the book would be safe in Miss Corvus’s hands.

All that remained was for Effie to slip out of the library and exit the house without drawing any attention to herself. Snapping the drawstring closure of her reticule shut, she turned to leave.

Parker stood at the door. “Can I help you, miss?”

Effie froze where she stood. Her stomach dropped. Good heavens. How long had he been there? Had he observed her taking the book?

It was bad enough that he’d seen her at all. She’d wanted no link between herself and the library today. No chance of anyone connecting her with the room when the book was later discovered missing.

Looking at the cruel set to Parker’s mouth and the sinister intent darkening his brow, she briefly considered abandoning her plan. But it was too late. The book was already in her possession. She had no choice but to proceed.

“Not at all, sir.” Pasting on a smile, she crossed the library. “I was merely admiring his lordship’s collection.”

Parker remained where he stood, all but barring the door.

Effie didn’t wait for him to move. She pressed toward him, her enormous skirts going before her, forcing him to back out of her way. “I have a great fondness for books, as Miss Compton can attest.”