Chapter 4

Edward knew where to begin to try to find the proof Mariana needed – he just wasn’t sure if he would get anywhere with it.

Sitting in his small room at the inn, he pulled out the paper that had started him on this course. An old friend, one he had met years ago on one of his very first treasure hunts, had sent him news that there was a treasure to be located. He had told Arthur it was from a man high in the navy, for he knew his brother would be more apt to believe in the quest that way, but the truth was slightly altered.

He cast a suspicious look around the room before shaking his head at himself. He was in a private chamber – there was no one about who would be able to see what he was reading. The room was one far from fit for a duke, but he had chosen it on purpose so as to not draw attention to himself, although it seemed he had failed in that regard, judging by his conversation in the tavern.

He smoothed out the creased paper, reading it over once more, knowing the painstaking labor it would have taken the man to write each word, having learned his letters not long before.

Edward,

A treasure has been lost. The San Juan sunk after pirates attacked and made off with a fortune in doubloons. They returned it to Spain to Don Palencia.

Rodrigo

It had been sent from this very town. He imagined that his old friend Rodrigo had tried to find the treasure himself first and written to him only when he came up short. Edward wondered how hard it would be to find the man, but after a few minutes of contemplation, he smiled. He knew exactly where to go.

Edward paused on the steps,wondering if he would be allowed in. He supposed if he kept his mouth shut, no one would guess he was English. He stepped through the doors, finding that the building was mostly empty, but for a man at the front. Edward quickly made the sign of the cross, hoping he was doing it right, before continuing down the aisle between the pews, intent on speaking with the man who seemed to be the priest – until a figure bent over on a kneeler caught his eye.

“Rodrigo?” he called out in a whisper, and the man’s head snapped up, his eyes meeting Edward’s – and then a grin, one matching Edward’s own, lit his face.

“Edward!” he said, quietly but joyfully, standing before making his way out of the pew toward Edward, not hesitating to wrap his arms around him when he reached him. “It has been too long. How many years now?”

“Five, at least.”

“Sí, sí. What brings you here?”

Edward fixed him with a look.

“I believe you know very well what brings me here.”

The man nodded, before gesturing beyond the doorway of the church. “Perhaps we should go elsewhere to talk.”

“A fine idea,” Edward said, following him out of the building and into the sunlight, making the sign of the cross as he exited. Rodrigo laughed at him as he did the same although with much more conviction, before they emerged through the doors and made their way down the street toward the inn’s tavern.

Rodrigo appeared at ease, and Edward was actually quite happy to see him.

“You received my letter, then?” Rodrigo said, sinking back into the shadows in the corner table they had selected, well away from anyone who might overhear them, accidentally or on purpose.

“I did,” Edward said. “You know how to capture a man’s attention.”

Rodrigo chuckled. “You could never pass up a good hunt, now, could you?”

“I could not,” Edward said. “Now, tell me what else you know and why you were not able to locate the treasure yourself.”

Rodrigo’s eyebrows shot up as he appeared insulted. “Why would you think I tried myself first?”

A half-grin tugged Edward’s lips to one side. “I know you. You would never have asked me to join you if you could have done it alone – no matter how good of friends we are.”

“Very well, very well,” Rodrigo said with a chuckle, waving a hand in the air. “You are correct. I couldn’t find the treasure.”

“How do you know it is here?”

“Because,” Rodrigo said, leaning forward, “I was on the San Juan when it was attacked.”

“How is that possible?” Edward asked, mouth agape.

“I had gone home to Peru,” Rodrigo explained. “I intended to stay there, at least for a time, but home wasn’t exactly… how I expected it would be. When the opportunity arose to return to Spain, I took it,” he said with a shrug. “The gold from which the doubloons were forged was mined in Peru, and I believe that is where they should stay. I figured I would go along with them for safekeeping.”

“The Spaniards let you?”

“Of course,” Rodrigo said. “They needed men to work aboard the ship, and I was just what they were looking for. When the pirates boarded us, I managed to hide until I was discovered after the battle. I pleaded my case and was allowed to join them. That’s how I ended up here, for when the treasure was unloaded, I made my escape as well.”

“But you never saw where the treasure was hidden?”

“I did not,” Rodrigo said regretfully. “But I did see the Marqués de Palencia shake hands with the pirate captain. They made everyone leave the ship and spend the night in the town. I don’t know where the treasure went from there. When I returned, it was gone. I’ve searched everywhere, but I can’t find any trace of it.”

Edward leaned forward. “Do you know the marquis is dead?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“What happened to him?”

“He drowned, apparently. Washed up on shore.”

“My, my,” Edward said, taking a sip of his drink as the widow became more and more intriguing. “Rodrigo, I have an important question. Do you have any proof that this treasure exists?”

Rodrigo dipped a hand in his pocket, pulling out a couple of doubloons. “Will this do?”

Mariana hopedthat she had seen the last of the Duke of Sheffield, but for the third day in a row, he appeared at her house – this time, through her front door. She had to admit that as much as she thought his story was ridiculous, she enjoyed the banter with him. He challenged her, as she hadn’t been challenged in some time.

“Your Grace,” she said when he entered the drawing room, “to what do I owe the pleasure today?”

“Did you tell Abello I am allowed entrance?” he asked with a smile, taking a seat.

“I must admit that you amuse me, Your Grace,” she said wryly. “I am interested in what tales you have to spin today.”

“Tales,” he said, shaking his head. “Hardly. Do you believe I would travel here all the way from England if my story wasn’t true?”

“I couldn’t say for I do not even know you.”

“Well, now is your chance to know me better.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of coins. “Your proof – doubloons.”

She reached out, jarring when her fingers brushed against his palm, surprised at the shock that it brought. Their eyes caught and held, and she had to swallow away an odd lump in her throat at the strangeness of the connection she felt with him.

“Doubloons,” she said, breaking their eye contact when she looked down and turned the coin over in her hand. “Where did you get these?”

“A friend.”

“A friend,” she repeated. “That is some friend.”

“Yes, he is.”

“Do you trust said friend?”

“I do.”

“What did he have to say about this treasure that made you believe him?”

The story he told her was a fanciful one, and her eyes widened when he came to the part about her husband’s involvement. She had no idea whether or not to believe him, but she figured at this point, what harm would it bring to allow him to search the grounds? She had nothing to hide and was certain that, no matter how Javier was involved, there were no dubloons on the land.

“Fine,” she said. “You may search. But I decide what happens to the treasure.”

“With my advice.”

“I will take it into consideration. That is the best I can promise.”

He reached out, taking her bare palm in his, and this time she welcomed the sizzle that it brought.

“We must come up with a story as to why you are here.”

“I could be your lover,” he said, his lips curling seductively, and she laughed.

“Hardly. My cousin.”

“A steward.”

“A relation.”

“Trust me, my lady, I would not be believable as your relation,” he said in a low voice, causing a delicious swirl of warmth in her belly.

“Very well,” she said, sitting up straight, ignoring her traitorous body. “You are here to do business.”

“The truth then,” he said, a look in his eyes telling her that he wanted to do much more than business, but she had no time for an English duke. She might be a widow who no longer had to worry about her reputation for propriety’s sake, but she had no wish to endanger herself with ties to a man again.

“When shall we begin?”

She paused, considering the options. The sooner he realized that what he was looking for was not here, the better.

“Whenever you like. You have free rein to search the grounds.”

He held her gaze. “Are you concerned what people may think of my coming and going?”

“I am no young lady waiting for marriage any longer,” she said. “All that matters to me is that I am able to live the life that I choose – and at the moment that means being done with you and this ridiculous tale that you have spun.”

“That may be true,” he said, shifting forward, his lips curling upward ever so slightly. “But part of you believes me.”

“I do not.”

“You do,” he said confidently. “Or you never would give me an invitation at all.”

“I believe that you have some alternate motive for being here, but I have not yet determined just what that might be.”

“Think what you will,” he said with a shrug. “I will go get my things.”

“Your things?”

“Would it not be best if I take a bedroom here? I am a visiting English duke. I do not think I can stay at that inn another day.”

Mariana rose from her chair, enjoying the stature she had over him as he remained seated.

“You made your choice when you decided to come to Spain,” she said. “You haven’t proven that I can trust you yet. Until then, you will have to remain at the inn. As for your search, well, I suppose you can start today if you’d like.”

“Splendid,” he said, standing himself and holding out his elbow. “Will you join me?”

She looked down at his proffered arm. She didn’t want to give him any inkling that she had an interest in this, but at the same time, she truly had nothing else to do. Then there was the fact that he was one of the most charming, attractive men she had ever laid eyes on – although that should be reason to avoid him altogether.

“Very well,” she said, giving in. “Let us begin our tour.”