Page 129 of The Perks of Loving a Wallflower

Today, the ladies were helping with the library project. Damaris, with her newfound fame, recruited more wealthy matrons than Philippa had dreamed possible. Chloe penned pamphlets. The rest of the reading circle used Tommy’s maps to explore the communities in pairs, approaching successful local businesses as possible sponsors. Many offered up a spare corner to use for the library itself, either out of goodwill or in hope that some of the additional traffic would become future customers.

Philippa and her friends were changing lives in their beautiful bluestocking way. It was lovely to be part of it as Tommy.

Great-Aunt Wynchester would be proud.

Cat-free for the moment, Tommy made her way back to her maps. But she had scarcely reentered the sitting room when Graham leapt up from his armchair, sending notes and newspapers flying.

“Did Jacob misplace another scorpion?” she asked in alarm.

“What? No. That is, I’ve no idea, and it’s the least of my concerns.”

“You’re not concerned about loose scorpions?”

“Not when there’s an adventure to be had.” Graham’s golden-brown eyes smoldered with satisfaction. “I found it.”

Tommy frowned. “You found the smugglers?”

“I found the clue.” He ripped a large piece from the paper. “The parcel is a woman.”

Tommy stopped walking. “Someone is smuggling awoman?”

“Someonewassmuggling a woman,” Graham corrected. “The package has gone missing.”

“Someonemisplaceda woman?”

Graham yanked on his top hat. “AndI’mgoing to find her.”