Once Crow stepped out of the baron’s room, he turned around to close the door behind him. He let it click shut quietly out of habit, even though he knew Fischbach wouldn’t wake up to the sound. Judging by how hard he’d hit the other man’s head against that bedpost, he had a feeling Adam wasn’t going to wake again until the morning. It was just as well. By then, the others would have had a chance to wake up as well, and hopefully word would begin to spread that the missing jewelry had turned up right where it belonged.

He turned back around to find Penelope and discovered he didn’t have to go very far. By the time he’d closed the baron’s bedchamber door, she had already covered most of the distance between them. He raised a brow when she asked him if everything was okay. Apparently, his scuffle with Fischbach hadn’t been as quiet as he’d thought. He just hoped it hadn’t been loud enough to wake any of the nobleman’s sleeping neighbors, since he still needed to get back to his own room without getting caught.

“Just a baron who got a little too cocky for his own good,” the viceroy answered with a shrug. He glanced over his shoulder, offhandedly making sure they were still alone before he explained himself a little better: “I was going to put the rings on his dresser, and while I had my back turned, he came at me with a paperweight.” He shook his head at the ridiculousness of what had happened. “I don’t know if he was already awake or if he’s just a very light sleeper. Either way, he’s out cold now.”

He grinned at her proudly and held up his hands, which were now bare of the jewelry that had adorned them earlier, “Everything is back where it’s supposed to be. All that’s left is for us to get back to our own rooms and play dumb if anyone questions us in the morning.” He casted another furtive glance over his shoulder before wrapping his arms around her and pressing one more kiss to her lips. “I’m going to head back through the window,” he smiled at her affectionately when he pulled back. “I love you, Penelope, and I’ll see you tomorrow”