“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.
