Page 42 of Highland Spy

Despite the ale consumed, they’d all been guarded in their speech. No names were mentioned.

Ariana stretched her arm in front of her in an attempt to read the name and could make out nothing.

Her fingers tensed on the parchment.

She could take it. Read it later.

Surely then the man would know she’d stolen from him and would be on the lookout for her.

But then, she was disguised.

She folded it quickly, before her guilt got the better of her. The heavy parchment crackled in her hands. She shoved it into her bodice.

The man would no doubt pay the price for the missing document. She winced at the thought and almost pulled it from her bodice once more.

But she did not.

This was her first mission and she would not fail.

She opened the window wider and the mid-May night air rushed in with its usual frigid chill and lifted several sheets of paper from the desk. They scattered across the floor in haphazard piles.

Perfect.

It all looked very natural, just as the missing page would.

Or so she hoped.

Then, before the sleeping man could possibly have a chance to wake, Ariana slipped into the hall.

The paper against her breast was stiff, and the corners bit into her tender flesh, as if punishing her for her misdeed.

She pushed aside the weight of her own guilt and made her way down the empty corridor toward the stairs. A quick glance over the railing confirmed Cuthbert’s friends still occupied the table.

An oath she’d heard Sylvi once say burned hot in her throat.

Surely they would question why Ariana returned without their friend.

Something warm covered her mouth and nose and a solid wall of a body stood at her back.

Ariana’s heart leapt to life, thundering in her chest.

She’d been caught.

• • •

It was obvious Connor had surprised Ariana.

He kept his hand over her mouth to keep her from crying out. The last thing they needed was more attention.

Her body tightened and something sharp jabbed into his ribs, so hard and fast it caught his breath. He relaxed his hand and Ariana spun around, knife in hand.

He’d underestimated how well she’d done in her training.

Connor held his arms up in surrender despite the pain in his ribs where her hit had landed.

Recognition passed over her face and she relaxed her stance. He held a finger to his lips before she could say anything.

Relief washed the tension from his muscles.