Chapter 75

Lyra’s POV

I arrived home earlier than usual, well before Alistair’s expected return, carrying the small shopping bags I’d picked up on the way back. As soon as I stepped inside, one of the maids appeared at the top of the foyer stairs. Without pausing, I handed her the items—silk handkerchiefs, a new leather-bound journal, and a set of Westleigh teas—and instructed her to arrange them neatly in the guest room. She curtsied and retreated, leaving me alone with the quiet of the house.

Determined to learn more about Alistair’s past, I slipped down the corridor to his study. The door was slightly ajar, so I nudged it open and stepped inside. The room was warm and lined with mahogany shelves overloaded with dusty tomes, leather portfolios, and stacks of loose paper. Light filtered in from a tall, narrow window, illuminating particles of dust that danced in the air. I closed the door gently behind me, not wanting to alert anyone to my investigation.

I began rifli