Page 67 of An Outlaw’s Desire

At a clattering sound, he glanced up. Blythe had poured out what was in the other bag: round pieces of carved bone. “They are pieces for a game.”

“They go with the board.” He picked up the parchment which seemed to be in reasonable condition and gently unfurled it. His gaze skimmed the contents and the notes scrawled in black ink down the right side.

Bloody. Hell.

“What do you see?” the widower asked, sounding impatient.

Pitt swallowed hard. The parchment had to be the most important document he’d ever held.

“Pitt! Tell us.” With an irritated sigh, Blythe scooted over to him.

He turned the parchment so she could see. He didn’t say a word. No need.

He waited for her to make sense of the rough sketch: several circles of repeated vertical marks along with a couple of horizontal ones. One of the horizontal rectangles was marked to convey its significance.

“’Tis the stone circle,” she whispered.

“Pitt,” Lord Montgomery said.

His hand shaking, Pitt handed the parchment to his lordship. Pitt did not dare confirm aloud what she’d said, for ’twas not merely a crude drawing of the ancient site. It showed the location of the lost Mercia riches.

Blythe’s mind reeled. Ancient treasure lay under the fallen monolith in the middle of the stone circle. More than once, she’d walked on ground very close to the hoard.

Lord Montgomery studied the sketch. She waited for his pensive expression to transform to shock, but instead, he handed the parchment to Harlow.

The widower frowned before handing it back.

Astonishment rippled through her. Surely, they saw the importance of the drawing?

“What you two have found is, without doubt, of tremendous significance,” his lordship said. “Yet, I have known the location of the riches for years.”

Blythe gasped. “You have?”

Lord Montgomery gestured to Harlow. “He is one of the few others who know. I tasked him to watch over the stone circle, so he is often on duty there.”

Pitt brushed shreds of leather off his hands. “How did you find out about the treasure, milord?”

“Stonemasons. When I hired them years ago to repair the castle’s outer wall, they decided—without first seeking my permission—to use one of the standing stones. They toppled it over, and when they peered into the hole left in the earth, saw gold. When they informed me of what they’d found, I realized ’twas most likely the lost riches. The hoard posed tremendous peril. I would not provide the means for John Lackland to gain the English throne.”

“The stonemasons must have been excited about finding the gold,” Blythe said. She certainly would have been. “How did you make sure they kept silent about it?”

“I paid them well to fill in the hole, cover it with the fallen stone, and not talk about what they’d found. I ordered them to leave Warwickshire. If they dared to return, I would have them arrested.”

“Sherborne must have learned that the riches were on your estate, milord,” Pitt said, “but did not know where. He had hoped that by having Galven and others loyal to him within the castle, he would eventually hear of the treasure’s location, but had no success.”

“’Tis what I suspect as well. Sherborne blackmailed you, Pitt, because he grew impatient and saw an opportunity, with me away, to seize control of the castle and get the information he wanted. As you rightly said earlier, you were to be slain and be blamed for the siege.”

“Who was responsible for the weapons in the secret chamber?” Blythe asked. “Galven?”

“Aye. During questioning, he divulged the names of men-at-arms and servants who assisted him. They have been arrested. In the siege, the mercenaries were to convince folk in the castle to rise against me in exchange for a share of the treasure. Those who agreed were to be given weapons.”

“Thank God Sherborne did not succeed,” Blythe murmured.

“Indeed. I am most grateful for your bravery, Pitt,” his lordship said.

“Blythe was equally brave, milord.” As Pitt looked at her and winked, warmth spread through her.

“What about the corpse?” Harlow motioned to the wall. “He had a map of the treasure, so he is involved with the riches somehow.”