Lost to Lady Scandal (Lady Knights Book 2) by Cara Maxwell

Author:Cara Maxwell [Maxwell, Cara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-06-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

1817

Present Day

Dominique arrived early, determined to spend the time on the Bramah lock that the duchess had installed two months before. She was not supposed to visit the various sanctuaries unless explicitly instructed or necessitated by a quest, but Jane had mentioned it in passing. Ever since, the challenge had lain waiting in the recesses of Dominique’s mind.

It was rumored to be unpickable.

She intended to prove that wrong.

Though she would be proving it to no one but herself and her fellow Lady Knights. She would never be able to come forward publicly and claim the prize associated with the challenge. A replica of this very lock sat in the window of the Bramah Company, waiting for some enterprising genius to pick it open.

Dominique pulled the leather roll of picks from the deep pocket of her gown and stroked it with almost loving reference. She’d collected the picks slowly over the last three years, even commissioning a few to her exact specifications. She knew the idiosyncrasies of every one. Sinking to her knees, she leaned in to consider the infamous lock.

She did not need the prize or the recognition.

But she would pick it nonetheless.

“We do not have time for that.”

Dominique rocked back on her heels, blinking rapidly. Red had approached on near-silent feet. Deep as she’d been in the lock, she hadn’t heard a single creak or footfall.

“How long have you been at it?” Red asked, laughter in her voice.

Dominique found her leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the landing. The Lady Knights owned the entire building, though only one flat was actively used. Which meant Dominique had felt relatively safe, sitting there alone immersed in her task. Foolish, to relax her guard.

“What time is it?” Dominique did not bother to disguise the subtle irritation in her voice as she slid the three picks she’d been manipulating back into place in her roll.

“Four o’clock,” Red said, studying her nails.

Disappointment and surprise caught Dominique in their twin traps. “Two hours.”

Red chuckled mercilessly. “And still you have not managed it? Has the master lockpick finally met her match?”

Dominique ignored her friend’s teasing. “The duchess will be here soon.”

Reaching into her other pocket, she retrieved the key to the flat and let herself and Red through the door. The hiss and click of the key in the lock mocked her with even more veracity than her fellow lady knight.

“I’m surprised Jane is not already here,” Red said, glancing around the one-room flat—as if the most skilled lady knight might appear from the very shadows themselves.

“Unless she entered through a window, I think I would have noticed her arrival,” Dominique commented, already moving to the hearth to start a fire for tea.

“Jane always has some new trick,” Red murmured, going for the sideboard instead. She poured herself a glass of wine, then held the bottle up to Dominique in question.

Dominique shook her head, but Red did pour a second glass. For the duchess. Or for Jacquetta, on the small chance she’d already completed her quest with Grayson Thane.

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