“Yes, but I have an advantage.” Jane grinned.
“Do you, indeed?”
“I know where I am going.” And with that, Jane set off at a dead sprint, not caring how unladylike or improper it was for her to do so.
She had heard Richard and Cressida talk about their meeting and the events leading up to their courtship enough times that she knew exactly the tree that he had been discussing. It was one of the largest oaks in the estate, and Richard had been sitting beneath it when Cressida had walked by.
When she arrived at the tree in question, she heard the sound of the Duke’s running feet close behind her. She ignored him and proceeded to glance up at the branches of the tree. On one of the lower branches were several scrolls, each tied to the branch.
“Drat and bother,” Jane muttered under her breath.
“What was that?” the Duke said from behind her.
“Nothing,” Jane replied, still refusing to look at him. “Just that I am going to have to climb to reach the next clue.”
“Yes, it would appear that way. What a shame to fall at the first hurdle.” The Duke began to roll up his sleeves.
“And what does that mean?” Jane asked.
“Well, you are clearly not going to climb the tree.” Blake gestured to the tree in question.
“I am.” Jane looked towards it, removing her gloves as she did so.
I will need my grip.
“I’d like to see you try,” Blake scoffed.
“I am not going to climb the tree with a lecher like you peering at me from below.” Jane gestured towards him and glared.
“I would do no such thing. I am a gentleman.” He put a hand on his chest in mock offense while giving her a lecherous grin.
Jane folded her arms across her chest, unmoved. “I am not climbing anything whilst you stand there and look at me.”
“Fine, I will turn around. Although how will I know if you have climbed it?” Blake asked as he turned around.
“Because I will have the next clue in my hands.” Jane moved towards the tree, still keeping half an eye on the Duke.
“Very well. Away you go,” he called, not looking back and instead waving his hand over his shoulder in the direction of the tree.
It had been many years since she had climbed a tree, but she was not going to lose to the Duke.
She was grateful to be in her riding clothes. If she had been in her regular clothes, she would never have dared attempt it. She scrambled up the tree, grabbed one of the scrolls, and then slid back down, scraps of bark flying in her wake.
“I have it!” she called, waving the scroll in the direction of the Duke and sticking her tongue out at him.
“And you did not bring one down for me? After I did the gentlemanly thing and turned around for you?” The Duke shook his head, but she saw the smile on his face.
“Chivalry only works one way, I am afraid. I am a woman, and you are a man.” Jane grinned and opened the scroll, taking care not to look at the Duke as he climbed the tree with ease.
The note on the scroll was short and sweet.“Find me at the center but take care to not lose yourself.”
It must be the maze.
Jane began to sprint again, ignoring the heat of the day.
Over the next few hours, she raced around the estate, every now and then bumping into the Duke. Many of the other contestants seemed to be lagging behind, throwing in the proverbial towel as the heat increased. But Jane had a wager to win.
“And that is one more to me,” the Duke called over his shoulder, holding a scroll in his hand.
