Intrigued, he grabbed it and pulled it out. Yes, it was indeed a lace-edged handkerchief and it was embroidered, too. Lots of flowers. Somebody had spent some time on it. But the centerpiece of the design was a word that made Jake grin.

Mother.

—

Anna didn’t have classes on Wednesday morning, so Jake snuck out the back door of the building, and when he was certain he wasn’t being followed, he made a beeline for Anna’s house. He really needed to speak to Lizzie, but he didn’t dare approach her directly because she might have been being watched. Anna could be his go-between, though.

A maid answered the door and she seemed delighted when Jake asked if Anna was home. Why did everybody always have the wrong idea about his feelings for Anna? And more important, her feelings for him?

A few minutes later, the maid showed him into the parlor and then Anna came breezing in. Plainly, she hadn’t been expecting company. She was wearing some dreary old dress and her hair was coming out of its pins. She had a big smile for him, though.

“Jake, what brings you here on this beautiful morning?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the handkerchief. “I found this in my pocket this morning.”

She took it and examined the workmanship, but plainly, she did not understand the significance. “This hardly seems like your style.”

“I guess Lizzie isn’t keeping you updated about what’s going on,” he said.

“No, sadly. She doesn’t want Madame Ophelia to think we’re in cahoots.”

“Even though you are.”

“So sit down and tell me everything,” she said, pushing an errant lock of hair out of her eyes and making her way over to a love seat.

He sat down beside her and told her what he knew.

“Oh, Jake, you are making a specialty out of romancing helpless females,” she teased.

“It’s not a specialty,” he protested. “And they certainly aren’t helpless.”

“I suppose you’re right . . . about them not being helpless, at least. Your last victim was little more than a con artist, and this girl actually is one.”

“Thank you. I’m glad someone appreciates my work.”

Anna rolled her eyes. “Why did you feel it was necessary to romance her at all, though?”

He shrugged. “Just a little incentive for her to pay me extra attention. They have lots of marks. I wanted to stand out.”

“Oh, Jake, you’d stand out anyway.”

He smiled modestly.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure what I should do,” he said. “That depends on what Lizzie has planned.”

“I thought you knew. Weren’t you the one who came up with the idea in the first place?”

“Yes, but she hasn’t let me know when she wants to do it.”

“I feel certain she will.”