Ryce Penn ambled through Aubrey Park, expecting to meet Eleanor at every turn. He had said good morning to a dozen or more strangers, but there was still no sign of her until he caught sight of her sandy blond hair over the back of a park bench. With a twirl of his cane, he left the path and crossed over to her.

As he approached, his hindbrain perked up. Something was wrong. Penn relied on his instincts too much to ignore anything his hindbrain told him, so he slowed down and quieted his approach.

Lady Serrs’ whole body seemed pensive. She was leaning over a scrap of paper. Penn thought it had to be a letter, the contents of which were nearly killing her, but when he was close enough, he saw it was only a list of questions scribbled in a feminine hand. He managed to read a little before she sensed him.

Who benefits? Why did they wait?—the paper jerked away.

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“Mr. Penn”—even her voice was strained—“you’re back in your professor costume today.”

As the thief came around the bench and sat down beside her, Eleanor folded the paper so he couldn’t see the writing.

“Darling, are you all right?”

Eleanor’s mouth opened and closed at least twice before she managed to form words.

“I don’t know. Something occurred to me.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Her eyes fastened on him. “Do you mean that?”

“Of course I do.”

“You meant it when you said you’d be willing to be of service to me?”

“Every time I said it.”

“Mr. Penn, I have a favor to ask you, and…there’s no way I could repay you.”

He lifted his hat and bowed his head, “My hertis rote, it would be an honor to serve you.”

“I need information. I don’t know how to get it, or who to go to, and I don’t think it’ll be easy to get.”

“I can help.”

“And you might have to steal something for me.”

The thief rolled his hat over his forearm until it dropped onto his head. With a grin, he said, “You know, every day you become more and more charming.”