She paused in the hallway, the surprise sound making her heart thump faster. Who could be at the door this late?
She glanced down the hall, waiting for Papa to emerge. Under no circumstances would he want her answering the door at this hour.
But he didn’t come, and neither did Mama. They must not have heard it.
Norah approached the door, tentatively laying her fingers on the knob. The knock came again, and praying she wasn’t making a terrible mistake, she opened it just far enough to peer through the crack into the night.
Stuart stood on the other side, his dark blond hair tousled even more than normal. The light from the lamp Norah held caught his eyes, revealing a slightly wild look.
“Stuart,” Norah whispered, and glancing down the empty hallway, she stepped outside so as not to alarm her parents. “It’s late. Why are you here?”
“I had to see you.” His voice was frayed at the edges. He looked her over, and seemingly satisfied, he shoved his hands into his trousers pockets. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. I didn’t realize the time.”
Norah set the lamp down. “Did something happen?”
He gave a sharp laugh. “I’d planned to ask you the same.”
“What do you mean? All is well here. Aside from the perfectly awful supper I endured with Mr. Maddox, that is.” She shuddered at the thought of him.
Stuart studied her a moment. “He didn’t . . . He wasn’t impolite?”
“Not particularly. But I hope never to have to spend another moment in his presence. There’s simply something . . . wrong about him.”
Stuart looked relieved, letting out a breath and turning his head to look down the street.
Warmth bloomed inside Norah’s heart. He’d worried over her. She bit back a smile. “I am glad you came. I was bursting with the desire to tell you what I learned.”
His eyes found her again, and he looked much more relaxed than he had when he arrived. He took his hands from his pockets and leaned one on the iron railing. “Mr. Maddox shared something of interest?”
She nodded. “Indeed. First, I proved him to be a liar. After he told me how full of sorrow he was that he couldn’t stop Jeremy from trying to rob that train, I spun a tale about a necklace Jeremy had requested from me to give to Mr. Maddox for his sweetheart. I told him I hoped he received it, and he told me he had. I could hardly believe it! He must be hiding more about that night.”
Stuart watched her with an expression of proud disbelief. “Did he reveal anything else?”
“Nothing of particular usefulness. He spent most of the conversation asking me about Charles and his work at Guelph’s.”
Stuart stood up straight. “That’s interesting. I just came from that saloon we found Maddox in front of last night. I thought I could talk with his associates, see what they might have to say.” He added that part quickly, as if he felt he needed to explain his presence in a saloon. “They were also very interested in Guelph’s, as one fellow had just started work there. I mentioned they might also find work at Joliet’s, and they were more curious about the accounts we held than in the requirements of the position.”
Norah scrunched up her forehead as a chilly breeze sent her skirts rustling. “You don’t suppose . . .” She trailed off, not entirely certain if she was piecing together facts that didn’t exist.
“That they’re planning something involving Guelph’s,” Stuart finished for her. “And the mines. They were very interested in the mines. And knowing those men, it’s not something good.”
Norah chewed her lip. “You don’t suppose this all has something to do with Jeremy and the robbery?”
“The thought crossed my mind, although I don’t know how or why. Perhaps they’re simply planning another robbery.”
A terrible thought occurred to Norah. No, she couldn’t do that again. Just the idea of it made her feel ill. But . . . it might give them the answers they needed. “I’ll spend more time with Mr. Maddox,” she forced herself to say.
Stuart’s face turned to stone. “No. Absolutely not. I . . . I would never ask you to do that.”
“You don’t need to,” Norah replied, slightly chagrined. “I thought of the idea myself, and I’m quite capable of making my own decisions.”
He shook his head. “It’s too dangerous.”
“It’s the only way we can discover more. He likes me. I can get him to tell me something useful.” She could, if her face didn’t betray precisely how she felt about it.
“Norah.” Stuart’s hand clamped around her wrist. “I can’t—I won’t let you endanger yourself. I—” He paused and swallowed. “Jeremy would never forgive me if I allowed it.”
Jeremywouldn’t forgive him? Norah’s annoyance slipped away as she realized this had nothing to do with Jeremy or the danger involved.
