Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

“ H ere it is!” Emily called excitedly as she found the next clue.

The little slip of paper was in a bottle tied to one of the low branches of a nearby tree. There was also a small, untouched coin purse beneath it. Natalie looked up from under the bush and ran over to her.

“And it looks as though we are the first here.” Emily emptied the coin purse into their own pouch and then grabbed the clue.

“Excellent!” she exclaimed gesturing to Emily. “Well, go on. Read it.”

Taking a deep breath, Emily opened the bottle and tipped the little scroll into her hand. You can do this. She repeated the words over and over.

“What does it say?” Natalie asked excitedly.

“Without fingers, I point, without arms, I strike, without feet, I run. What am I?” I did it. She felt a surge of excitement. And read the sentence again, unable to keep the grin from her face.

“I do not understand.” Natalie frowned at the paper. “What does it mean?”

“I have no idea.” Emily admitted, realising she had not actually taken in a word she had read.

“Then why are you so happy?” Natalie asked, laughter and confusion on her face.

“Because it is a beautiful day and I am with you.” Emily replied. Because I can read. Because I am reading. “Without fingers, I point, without arms, I strike, without feet, I run. What am I?”

The answer struck her a moment later, only adding to her excitement. “It is a clock!”

“But there are so many clocks. It could be any of them!” Natalie exclaimed.

“That is true. But let us think about this strategically. I doubt they would put it in any of the clocks that are fragile and old—after all, the children are playing too.” Emily closed her eyes, trying to think of all of the clocks in the castle and any that might be significant to Rose or Alexander.

“That is true.” Natalie said and then clapped her hands together. “Oh! I know! There is a grandfather clock that Arthur broke three years ago that we have never fixed. I am sure that is where the next clue is.”

“Then let us go.” Emily looped an arm through Natalie’s indicating that the younger woman should lead the way.

Natalie glanced over her shoulder. “Do you think Peter and the Duke are ahead of us or behind us?”

Emily shrugged. “I have no idea, but I do not plan on waiting a moment longer.”

“If we use the servant’s entrance, we can take a shortcut through the secret passage behind the portrait of grandfather.” Natalie pulled Emily in the direction of the servants quarters.

Emily frowned at her friend. How is it that I am always learning something new about the castle, no matter how many times I have visited? “How many passages does the castle have?”

“Many.” Natalie replied. “I rather like it, and Alexander insists it keeps us all safer.”

As they hurtled into the kitchen, they found themselves face to face with Luke and Peter. Peter grinned at them while Luke’s blue eyes found Emily’s.

“You two snails have finally caught up, have you?” Peter folded his arms across his chest, a satisfied grin on his face.

Natalie retorted. “We thought we’d give you a sporting chance.”

“A likely story.” Her twin rolled his eyes.

“Well, we cannot damage your egos too much.” Emily said sweetly.

Luke moved towards her, his voice low and full of humour. “How very considerate of you.”

“We try.” Emily did not take a step back, instead allowing him to close the distance between him.

“Well, such consideration should not be without reward.” Luke said, mischief dancing in his eyes.

The hairs on the back of Emily’s neck stood on end and she canted her head towards him, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

“Just that you look like you could use some light refreshments.” Luke grinned and that was when Emily noticed the scones in his and Peter's hands.

“You would not dare!” She took a step away from him, her voice a disgruntled hit...

“Oh wouldn't I?” Luke flung the scone at her at the same time that Peter released his.

Emily let out a shriek and dove out of the way, colliding with Natalie as she did. They fell in a tangle of limbs, scones crushed between them and beneath them. The sound of Luke and Peter’s laughter echoed through the kitchen.

Out of the corner of her eye, Emily saw a maid let out a dejected sigh before handing over something that looked like a small coin to the chef. Clearly they are used to such tom foolery.

“We will make you pay for this.” Natalie growled as she helped Emily to her feet.

“You’ll have to catch us first!” Luke called as he and Peter ran from the room.

Natalie turned to Emily, a mix of irritation and amusement on her face. “I expected this kind of behaviour from Peter; he is the high king of idiocy. But I am surprised at Duke Warren. I did not know he had it in him. It is quite refreshing if I'm honest.”

“Yes, it is rather.” Emily agreed, dusting off scone crumbs and straightening out her skirts.

Natalie extracted crumbs from her hair as they left the kitchen, following the men. “Perhaps he just needed someone like my brother to help him lighten up. He seems to be rather enjoying himself.”

“He does. I think the for all that he appears straight laced, there is a far softer and more relaxed side to him. After all, he inherited his duchy very young and we both know what kind of pressure that entails.” Emily pointed out as they climbed the stairs.

“That is true.” Natalie agreed. “There may be hope for you after all.”

Emily stopped climbing the stairs, her heart suddenly thundering in her chest. “What do you mean?”

Natalie turned to her, a confused look on her face as she said, “Well, I assume you are still intent on joining his family?”

“What?” Emily’s confusion deepened and an unbidden panic spread through her. Is she suggesting that I wish to marry the Duke? Does it seem as if I do?

“You are trying to marry his brother, Lord Baine.” Natalie’s smile wavered as her frown deepened.

“Oh, yes right. Lord Baine.” Emily rubbed her neck, a heaviness settling over her.

“That is after all why they are both here.” Natalie continued to frown at her.

“Yes, I suppose it is true.” She swallowed and shook her head, tugging at the collar of her dress. “We should make haste, I for one, do not want to part with five guineas.”

“Nor do I. But more than that, Peter will be absolutely unbearable if they win the wager.” Natalie shuddered.

“Indeed he will.” Emily agreed.

As they approached the next location, there was no sign of either Luke or Peter. Emily told herself that the stab of disappointment she felt was simply because they would have to work harder to catch them now.

She saw the clue in the body of the grandfather clock and picked it up. Predictably the coins had all been grabbed. She unfurled the scroll and read aloud, “I am both soft and sharp, I hold the truth of the family’s heart, red, yellow, pink but not blue, I am now three but used to be two.”

Emily felt the thrill of excitement again. Her voice was confident and she did not stumble. I can do this. She read the clue again, in part because she wanted to prove she could do it, and in part to try and understand the words.

“Soft and sharp?” Natalie frowned at the clue.

“Family’s heart.” Emily repeated.

“Paper? That is soft but can still cut you.”

“But it is only ever one colour, and I do not know that it fits this part about family’s heart.” Emily frowned. “Heart… Red…”

“Roses!” they exclaimed at the same time.

“It must be the rose bush they planted together!” Emily exclaimed excitedly as she pocketed the clue.

“This way.” Natalie tore off down the hall and Emily followed close behind her.

You can do anything you set your mind to. Luke’s voice seemed to fill her mind as she felt the clues in her pocket. When he had first been partnered with Peter all she could do was panic.

She tried to imagine Luke’s face when she told him how well she had done. If I keep the clues, I can read them for him. Will he be proud? A warmth spread through her as she imagined him looking at her, pride in his eyes.

“Emily! Come on, we need to hurry!” Natalie’s voice jerked Emily back to the present and she gave a little start.

“Sorry!” she called back as she raced after her friend.

Over the next few hours they dashed from clue to clue, and Emily’s excitement and pride only grew. She kept each clue wanting to remember how far she had come.

“You know, with how much you enjoy the treasure hunt, it is a wonder that you have so rarely joined in with them.” Natalie pointed out as they searched the orangery for a clue. “Why have you not joined in before?”

Emily took a deep breath, willing her hammering heart to slow down. “I would have paired with Jane, and she is not very competitive. When we are on such a team, we are almost guaranteed to fight.”

It was not entirely untrue. She would have partnered with Jane, because Jane would have quite happily read the clues, and then they would have fought.

“You could have chosen another partner.” Natalie pointed out.

“Perhaps.” But they would have wondered why I never read the clues. Emily shrugged. “In the early days, everyone had set teams. You were younger then, it is only really recently that we have become such good friends.”

“I suppose that is true.” Natalie gave grinned at her. “So what you are saying is you just needed the right teammate.”

“And that is you.” Emily embraced Natalie. “Now, enough of me flattering your sensibilities. We need to find the next clue.”

“Aha!” Natalie procured a small pouch and a slip of paper hidden in some of the roots of an orange tree.

As she emptied the coins into their own purse, Emily took the slip of paper and unfolded it.

“Half my answer lies in what I am. The other half in where I hide.” Emily read. Rose definitely wrote this one. “When one person has me, I am safe. When I am shared, I cease to exist. For all your toil and trouble, I hide in a place, where there is no need for flame nor fire to bubble.”

“Well the first part is easy, that is a secret.” Natalie said, pointing to the first few lines of the clue.

“Which means that we are looking for a secret something or other.” Emily agreed. “Something that bubbles.”

“Perhaps a kettle?”

“That would need a fire.”

“Oh, yes. A brook?”

“But that is more babbling.”

“They may be taking poetic license.”

“Do you know of a secret brook?”

“Not a secret brook, more like a place we used to keep secrets.” Natalie flushed slightly. “We would write our secret wishes in a bottle and release them into the brook.”

“That could be it.” Emily frowned and remembered something she had found on one of her early visits to the castle. “There is a spring in the forest, Rose used to call it a secret spring because of how hard it was to find the entrance.”

“I think I know which one you are talking about.” Natalie frowned. “Which one should we choose?”

The bells rang out. There was only an hour left.

“Perhaps we should split up?” Emily suggested. “We can each check the location and then perhaps we can meet at the maze and move on to the next clue.”

“Who should take the pouch?” Natalie asked.

“Why don’t you take it?” Emily handed Natalie the bag. “That way if I am delayed, you can still get to the entrance hall.”

“You do have further to go, it is true. But we should still aim to meet at the maze.” Natalie said.

“Of course.” Emily embraced Natalie. “I am sure we will see each other soon.”

They headed off in different directions, Natalie running towards the brook while Emily made her way towards the forest. The trees were thick, and the ground uneven.

“Running will probably get my ankle twisted.” Emily muttered to herself as she began to wind her way through the trees.

The air was cool beneath the canopy of leaves, and there was a soft crunch of leaves underfoot as she picked her way towards the spring.

“Now, was it a left turn or a right turn at the tree that looks like a grumpy old man?” Emily frowned at the tree in front of her.

“Lord Peter says it is a right turn.” A voice sounded from behind her, full of quiet amusement.

Emily jumped, clutching a hand to her chest as she whirled around to face him. “Did no one teach you not to terrify young ladies in forests?”

Luke grinned at her. “I see no young ladies. Just a woman.”

“Oh haha.” Emily bent down , scooped up a handful of leaves and threw them at him. “I think it is only fair you give me a gold coin.”

Luke darted out of the way, but not quickly enough. Leaves covered him, and he blew one off his shoulder. Even with leaves covering him he is handsome.

What is wrong with me?

“Whatever for?” Luke folded his arms across his chest.

“For scaring me of course!” Emily laughed.

“I was simply giving you helpful advice. If anything, you owe me a coin.” Luke held out a hand expectantly.

“Well you are out of luck, I can only offer you clues. Natalie has our coin purse.” She replied, and then reached a hand towards him, plucking a leaf from his hair. “And now you definitely owe me a coin, for I have saved you from looking a fool.”

“I should point out that I would only have looked a fool because you threw leaves at me.” Luke shrugged. “Besides, perhaps I think I would look rather dashing with a leaf in my hair.”

“I can put it back if you like?” Emily offered, winking at him.

He laughed. “I think I shall decline your offer.”

“It is nice to see you like this.” She said, feeling a warmth spread through her as she looked at the joy in his face. That is what I wanted to give him, to have him relax a little.

“Like what?” Luke canted his head towards her.

“This.” She made a gesture that took in all of him. “Relaxed. Happy. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”

Luke paused for a moment, as if considering her words. His smile remained in place, and he said, “I am. It has been… Well, it has been some time since I have been able to just…”

“Let everything go?” Emily suggested. He puts so much pressure on himself.

“Yes.” Luke nodded. “I have been Duke Warren for so long, I had almost forgotten what it can be like to just be me.”

“What do you mean?” Emily asked.

“Most of my dealings, outside of my brother, are with members of the ton. They see my title first, and that suits me. That is how they should see me after all.” Luke ran a hand through his hair, leaving it mussed. “But here, well, when you are surrounded by people of equal rank who are open to accepting you as one of them… I can just be myself.”

Luke the Duke. Her words seemed to hover between them, and Emily wondered if they had really called each other by their first names. If when she had been on the edge of delirium, they had been that intimate.

“You also seem to be enjoying yourself.” Luke said, after a moment.

“I am. And it is mostly because of you.” She said without thinking. “Actually, it is all to do with you.”

“Me?” Luke’s voice was soft, and as she met his gaze, she realised exactly what she had said.