Ah, there was nothing to be done about it. She could savor this moment, but there could be nothing more than a passing glimpse of what might be. She’d come to this place to find a path to Laurel, not to indulge a thoroughly decadent hunger.
Johanna swallowed against a pang of longing that had nothing to do with food. Squaring her shoulders, she schooled her features to a perfectly proper mask.
“My, I must say that is a relief. There I thought you’d be inclined to have your way with me all the while your uncle is roaming the halls with his bagpipes.”
“If ye’d like, Uncle Archie could play a melody to set the mood.” He grinned, a sly, knowing tilt of that delicious mouth. “I’d suggest a rousing battle march.”
She refused to indulge his bold remark with a smile. Instead, she forced a bland tone. “Indeed.”
He cocked his head as his grin widened. Arrogant to the bone, that one. Of course, he’d seen through her act. There was nothing to be done about it. But she had to keep her focus squarely on what mattered—saving Laurel.
“Come along, then.” He took an errant curl between his fingers and gently tucked it behind her ear. “Let’s see what we can learn about this book that Cranston prizes.”
Chapter Twenty
Johanna had always believed the expression heart in one’s throat to be precisely that, an expression. But as she observed Serena MacMasters apply some awful-smelling chemical to an inner page of Mrs. Shelley’s masterpiece, she felt as if her heart might somehow manage to leave its home within her chest.
The walls of the bookshelf-lined room Serena used as a study closed in on Johanna. Her breath tightened. Her fingernails dug into her palms as she resisted the urge to snatch the book out of Serena’s hands. But still, a small, anguished cry made it past her lips.
“No,” she said. “You’ll ruin it.”
Serena tilted her head, regarding Johanna rather like one would expect one to react if a pet had actually begun to chat. Her emerald eyes narrowed, and her long mane of brown hair swished over her shoulder. Giving a little humph, she returned her attention to the volume.
“You will destroy the book.” Johanna mustered a stronger tone. “You’ll—”
“I will do no such thing.” Even as Serena clipped the words between her teeth, she held up the book to the light, examining it.
“You have damaged it.” The words came out strong and angry as Johanna abandoned her attempt to hide her distress.
Once again, Serena cocked her head. This time, she gave it a little shake. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken. You see, you can’t destroy something that had no real value to begin with.”
“You can’t be serious. That book is quite rare.” The words tasted like vinegar on Johanna’s tongue.
Connor turned to his sister. “What are ye saying?”
“Really, Connor, ye’re not usually so easily taken in.” Serena MacMasters placed the tome in his waiting hands. Pressing two fingers to her forehead, she etched little invisible circles over the arch of her brow. “Ye never paid attention to the lectures, did ye? Always so eager to get on to weapons training.”
“It’s a first edition. Rare and—” Johanna protested.
“It’s a fraud.”
The pronouncement rushed over her like a rogue wave crashing over a cliff. “Surely you’re mistaken. Perhaps you’ve made a miscalculation.”
The stern set of Serena’s mouth softened, as if she’d read the stricken look in Johanna’s eyes and experienced a pang of empathy. “This book is a forgery, Miss Templeton. A clever one, I’ll give you that. But it is not genuine.”
Connor examined the volume. “Ye’re sure of that?”
Serena nodded. “Whoever is behind this reproduction was quite skilled. An artisan, really. But this is not a first edition, and the inscription is freshly inked.”
“Damn.” Connor placed the book on the table. “So this is worthless? Someone has sent the lass on a fool’s errand.”
“Not necessarily.” Serena flipped the leather-bound tome open to a seemingly random page. “I suspect this book is a means to an end.”
Connor plowed a hand through his dark strands. “Ye believe there’s a code?”
“It is the most logical conclusion.” Dipping a swab in another vial of liquid, this one not quite as pungent as the first, Serena swiped the tip over the text. “Well, that doesn’t help my case, does it?” she murmured as the liquid did nothing but dampen the printed page.
“What is that you’re applying? I was assured you would not damage this book.” Johanna clasped her hands into a loose knot to keep from tearing the volume from Serena’s slender fingers.
Serena’s delicate brows arched, and she shook her head. “This will not inflict any permanent blemish. None that a fool who’d believe this book was real would be able to detect, in any case.”
“A fool…” The words trailed off Johanna’s lips, like a whisper. Serena MacMasters was every bit as arrogant as her brother. Johanna bit back her response. For the time being, she needed the young woman’s assistance.
“I wouldnae expect ye to know the difference. Ye haven’t had the specialized training to make such a judgment.” She shifted her brother a glance. “But others should know better.”