“Where’d ye get a trunk—”
Richard raised his finger. “Small—very small—box.”
Alex rolled her eyes. “Where’d ye get a”—she glanced at the colonel with both of her eyebrows raised—“very small box of treasure? Ye’ve no ship. No cache I’m aware of in Europe.” Her glare narrowed on Nick.
“I’ve no cache of treasure here. Or on the continent. Nor in the North of Africa,” Nick added when Alex’s glare showed no sign of softening. “In fact, I’ve written a letter to be sent to yer brothers indicating where a portion of the earnings I set aside during me years in their employ is stashed. It’s sealed and on the corner of the writing desk in me bedchamber.”
“Ye mean to send me brothers atreasure map?”
Darcy imagined it took a great deal to shock Alex, and he struggled to keep the twitch in his lips from deepening to a chuckle. Elizabeth, too, struggled. Her shoulders shook against his.
Nick grinned. “I couldn’t let ‘em stay angry with me bride when it’s in me reach to recover some of their favor after yer little misunderstanding.”
“I wouldn’t’ve misunderstood if ye’d’ve told me yer plans.”
Placing one hand over his heart, Nick said solemnly, “A mistake I promise not to repeat.”
“Do ye mean it?” Alex eyed him askance.
“From now on, I’ll confide everything in ye.”
“Everything?”
Darcy sensed trouble. Given Nick’s hard swallow, he knew he’d stepped one foot inside a noose, too.
“Aye. I’ll not go back on me word,” he answered bravely, despite the figurative rope closing around his ankle, ready to tug him off his feet.
Alex grinned, showing most of her teeth. “Good. Then ye won’t mind tellin’ me where ye hid yer doubloons.”
Darcy hid his smile behind his hand. Alex would keep Nick on his toes as much as Elizabeth kept Darcy on his.
Nick groaned half-heartedly. “Ye promise not to lose yer temper in front of our guests? In me brother’s fine house?”
Her brows furrowed, and she stepped away fromNick. “I’ve learnt a great deal from Lizzy ‘bout how to be a lady.” Folding her arms over her chest and lifting her chin, she said in a supremely offended tone, “A lady never loses her temper.”
Elizabeth’s whole body shook, but not a peep of laughter escaped her control. Darcy admired her all the more for it when she said in a voice which passed as joyful and proud, “You are my most exemplary student.”
Darcy nearly lost his composure. Alex was Elizabeth’s only student. But it served them well not to remind Alex of that fact. At least, not now, when Nick’s fate hung in the balance.
“Then again,” Alex added, “I still have a great deal more to learn about ladyhood. I promise to wait ‘til we’re alone to make me real feelins’ on the subject known.”
Richard jabbed Nick with his elbow. “Take care not to be alone with her anytime soon.”
Uncle leaned closer to Nick, his voice low enough only to be heard by Darcy, Nick, and their wives. “This does not bode well for your wedding night, son.”
Nick blushed. To be sure, it took all of Darcy’s composure not to blush with him.
Clearing his throat, Nick addressed Alex. “I hid enough doubloons on theFancyto set me up properly in case I was caught. Not everyone on me crew was happy to change professions … as yer refusal to join me and Arnold’s mutiny both proved.”
Alex chewed on her lips, and Nick bowed his head and looked at the floor to await her verdict.
Finally, she spoke. “Ye hid a fortune onmeboat? Withmecrew?”
“None of ‘em knew.”
“But they might’ve found it.”
“Youmight’ve found it.”
