Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

“ T here you are, I have been looking for you everywhere.” Rodger said as he peered around the door.

Luke was sitting at the pianoforte, and stopped playing as his brother walked into the room. There were several letters sat beside him, which he had intended to read until he had got distracted by the pianoforte.

“Why are you here?” Rodger asked.

“I needed to catch up on my correspondence.” Luke gestured to the scattered papers around him.

“By playing the pianoforte?”

Luke could not admit that he had started playing as a way to map more sounds onto music for Emily. A flush of colour crept through his cheeks as he thought of her. He felt a prickle of guilt spread through him.

Rodger noticed this, but misread the reason. “I should not have teased you brother, I know how seriously you take running the duchy.”

His brother’s faith in him stabbed like a knife in his chest. Luke stood up and straightened his clothes, tucking the letters into a pocket.

“You said you were looking for me?” Luke asked. Let us change the subject.

“Yes. I want to know your thoughts on something.” Rodger ran a hand through his hair, and Luke noticed an unspoken tension in his brother.

He seemed full of a giddy excitement, a restless energy. Luke tried to think of the last time he had seen Rodger like this. I think it was when he first discovered his love of philosophy. He felt as though someone had reached into his chest, and filled his blood with ice.

Mercifully, his tone was cool and disinterested, and did not seem to arouse his brother’s suspicions. “On what?”

“On a matter of the heart.” Rodger admitted, his cheeks flushing. “I know we do not usually speak of such matters, but well… You are the only person I can talk to. And I expect you know far more about women than I do.”

Luke laughed, hoping it did not sound bitter. “I doubt I know any more than you do. But I will do my best to advise you.”

“Thank you.” Rodger closed the door behind him, lowering his voice as he moved closer to Luke. “If a woman recommends you a novel, what do you think it means?”

Luke raised an eyebrow at him. “That she wishes you to read it?”

“But… Well what if it is… Well, it is rather a, erm… romantic book.” Rodger blushed furiously and looked away from him, tugging at the collar of his shirt.

Luke frowned. I suppose one could argue that the Mysteries of Udolpho is somewhat of a romantic book, but he has read it before. Unless, has she recommended something else? Had Emily been practicing outside of their lessons?

Pride filled him, mingling with some other, more unpleasant emotion. It is frustration, that is probably it. She has probably recommended something wholly improper and now my brother is in a tizzy over nought. “And you think perhaps she is suggesting that she might feel this way?”

Rodger ran a hand through his hair, chewing on his lip as he did so. “I am not sure. She has asked for a recommendation from me and well, I do not know what to say.”

“Why not?” Is it because she has not previously read your recommendations? I cannot tell you that she had a good reason. He tried to keep his tangle of emotions from his voice, taking a steadying breath and focusing on affecting cool disinterest.

“Well, if I thought she were romantically inclined, then I should choose a book that might suggest I was open to such inclinations.” Rodger flushed an even deeper shade of scarlet. “But if she was simply recommending something, then I should perhaps read no deeper meaning and share only a book I enjoy.”

“And propriety would of course mean you could not be so open about your affections.” And he would be unable to write to Emily . Luke’s guilt intensified.

She is supposed to be marrying your brother. And clearly he has developed feelings for her. Did she have feelings for him? Luke shook himself. The woman had already made clear that she intended to marry his brother, and it was unlikely that anything would have changed that.

Besides, he could not marry her. Not that he wanted to anyway. He did not want to marry anyone. He could not marry anyone. It is a shame second sons cannot inherit.

“Exactly.” Rodger wrung his hands. “I do not want to offend her by being overly presumptuous and well, there are other complications of course.”

“Such as?” Luke asked, frowning.

Rodger gave him a look, and Luke realised that he was talking about the fact that he still had not given him his consent to marry Emily. “Oh yes, right. Well, I doubt she would think you overly presumptuous. After all, you are here to get to know her after all. And if she has taken the time to make a recommendation that would suggest that she is also interested.”

“But-” Rodger began, but at that moment the door flung open and a breathless Lord Peter hurtled into the room.

“Oh good! There you are!” he exclaimed.

“Here we are indeed.” Luke glanced at his brother who looked just as nonplussed as he was. “Is there any reason you are so out of breath?”

“I did not want you to miss it.” Lord Peter clutched his side, still breathing heavily.

“To miss what?” Luke asked.

“The treasure hunt of course!” Lord Peter gestured in the direction he had come from.

“The treasure hunt?” he frowned.

“Yes! Rose has just announced it, she has asked that everyone meet in the entrance hall. You’ll join in, won’t you?” Lord Peter gave him an imploring look, reminding him of when Rodger had been younger and had been desperate for Luke to spend time with him.

He smiled at him. “It seems as though I have very little choice in the matter.”

“Excellent, follow me.” Lord Peter turned and walked towards the door.

“We will be right behind you.” Luke called after him, before turning to Rodger and saying, “Perhaps we can speak on this later, Brother. Though, I feel that you might as well be bold. After all, she has clearly made an effort to connect with you. No doubt she would welcome confirmation of your own sentiment.”

“If you are sure.” Rodger bit his bottom lip.

Luke added. “Nothing improper mind you. You can always recommend a book, and give her leave to ask you if you mean anything by it.”

“That is an excellent idea. Thank you, brother!” Rodger nodded.

“Come on! Or you are going to miss it.” Lord Peter called.

“We should make haste, I suspect Lord Peter will be furious if we do not.” Rodger indicated the retreating back of the teenager.

They began to follow in his footsteps. “Probably.”

They hurried after the teenager, emerging into a rather crowded entrance hall. He scanned the crowd, and caught sight of Emily standing with Lady Natalie, Lady Marie, Duchess Caden and Lord Peter.

Lady Marie turned around and waved to them. Rodger waved back and made his way towards the group, with Luke following close behind. As they approached the group, Duchess Emberly held up her hands while her husband whistled a loud, sharp note.

Silence fell at once and everyone turned their attention to the pair of them.

“Thank you all for being here.” Duchess Emberly beamed at the assembled crowd. “As you know, we have had some guests with us and as they will soon be leaving, we though it would be an excellent time to have a treasure hunt.”

Luke felt his heart sink. They would be leaving in a few days. He tried not to look at Emily, aware that Rodger seemed to be whispering behind him. He is probably talking to her.

“Now, this treasure hunt will be done in teams of two or three. And each team will have to work through the clues together to find the treasure.” The Duchess held up a slip of paper.

At this, Luke glanced at Emily. Her face was blank, but he noticed a tension in her shoulders. She is afraid. She will need to read to compete .

“With each clue, you will find coins. The winner of the treasure hunt will be the team who has the most coins when the treasure hunt ends.” Duchess Emberly held up a pouch and jingled it. “We will ring the bells once when you have only half an hour remaining. And ring them again to let you know that the hunt is ended.”

“Once you hear the bells, you must return here and we will count your coins. Your first clue is in that box. As are your treasure collecting pouches. And no, Arthur, you cannot steal all the pouches.” Duke Emberly pointed to a box by the door as he gave his son a knowing look.

The young man flushed and looked slightly crestfallen as others around him laughed. Duke Emberly clapped his son on the back affectionately. “As many of you know, we encourage ruthlessness and underhanded tactics, but only after the official start of the games.”

“But not violence.” Duchess Emberly pointed to two of the younger children who were arguing already. “And that includes biting. Anyone who bites another contestant will be disqualified.”

The children hung their heads. “What about tickling?”

“Tickling is permitted. And of course, you may steal another team’s coins.” Duke Emberly continued. “And to the winner, go the spoils. Get into teams, and when we say go, the hunt will begin.”

Lady Natalie asked excitedly. “Emily, why don’t you team up with me?”

“Duke Warren, will you be on my team?” Lord Peter asked.

“Be careful your Grace, my brother is rather competitive.” Lady Natalie warned.

“You are a fine one to talk! You are just as competitive as I am.” Lord Peter shot back at his twin.

“Competition would imply you might win, which you will not.” Lady Natlie laughed.

“They are utterly ruthless.” Lady Marie sighed.

“Good, because so am I.” Luke grinned at Lord Peter.

“I am not. I fear I would only slow you down.” Rodger grimaced.

It was true, Rodger hated competition. Luke was about to suggest that he could still join them, when Duchess Caden said, “You can join me and Marie.”

The relief on his brother’s face was obvious, and Luke tried to ignore the relief he himself felt. He would be miserable if he was forced to be ruthless. And even if he had joined Emily and Natalie, he would have felt like a burden. He was only relieved for his brother. That was it.

Emily murmured to Natalie. “Perhaps we should join Duke Warren and Lord Peter?”

Luke turned to her, understanding what she was trying to say. Before he could reply, Lady Natalie exclaimed, “Don’t be silly, we can’t have a team of four!”

“I know that you do not want to be stuck with the simple twin, Emily.” Lord Peter gave her a conspiratorial wink. “You could simply join us and abandon the dullard.”

Lady Natalie rounded on her brother. “She probably just feels sorry that Duke Warren will be stuck with a dolt like you.”

“Oh, just wait. We are going to win and then you will have to eat your words.” Lord Peter growled.

“You are going to eat your words.” His twin retorted.

Taking advantage of their distraction, Luke caught Emily’s eye, and glancing around to make sure no one was watching he moved close to her and whispered, “you can do this.”

“I am not ready.” She whispered back, so quietly he had to read her lips to understand her.

“You are ready. Just remember to take your time. Breathe.” Luke murmured. “You have already come so far in such a short time.”

“But what if I cannot do this?”

“There is nothing you cannot do.” Luke answered and stepped away.

He gave Emily a nod, and she nodded back. He noticed the set of her shoulders, the fear in her eyes but also the determination. He felt a surge of admiration, followed quickly by guilt.

Why do I feel guilty? Of course I admire her bravery, it is only natural to admire someone who is so capable. “We are friends.” Luke muttered to himself. “That is all.”

“Pardon?” Lord Peter asked.

“Nothing.” Luke grinned. “Now, Lord Peter. Perhaps we should give the women a sporting chance.”

“Oh, do not worry, your Grace. We do not need your charity.” Emily said, linking an arm through Lady Natalie’s. “I only thought to spare Lord Peter the frustration of being tied to a stick in the mud like you.”

Luke laughed. “I shall show you exactly what kind of stick in the mud I am when Lord Peter and I emerge the victors.”

Lord Peter let out a delighted whoop.

“Why not make it interesting?” Emily asked.

“And what do you suggest?” Luke raised his eyebrow at her.

“A wager.” Lady Natalie suggested.

“Very well. Five guineas?” Luke held up the sum in his hand.

“Done.” Emily and Lady Natalie each held out their hands to shake.

Lord Peter did so, and so did Luke, liking the surprise that bloomed on Emily’s face.

“You are going to regret ever challenging us.” Lord Peter stuck his tongue out at his twin.

“I think it is you who will regret challenging us.” Lady Natalie retorted.

Luke held up a hand. “Come now, we are all gentle folk.”

“Oh, your Grace, I fear you are very much mistaken.” Emily laughed.

He felt his heart somersault in his chest. “What do you mean?”

“Go!” yelled Duke and Duchess Emberly.

They had all been working their way towards the box with the clues and pouches. Emily and Natalie were just ahead of Luke and Lord Peter.

As soon as the games began, the two women exchanged a look, grabbed a pouch and clue for themselves and then upended the box with the pouches onto the floor, hurling a few far from the door to add to the chaos.

“Surely that is cheating!” Peter yelled at Duke Emberly who was laughing.

“They did not keep more than one for themselves, Peter.” He grinned at his brother.

“It seems the game is on.” Luke grinned.

Emily gave him a wicked grin. “To the victor.”

Luke found himself laughing as she raced away and he and Peter began to wrestle the crowd for their own pouch and clue.