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“Chase—” Susan murmured, more to herself than to the two Calthorpe siblings standing beside her, discussing the deed they’d found tacked to the back of the painting.
“Hmm?”
Edward and Lady Eugenia looked over at her in unison, both having gone quiet and very still, watching Susan closely.
“You look like you did when you worked out that the ‘look behind a grandfather’s back’ part of the riddle meant we should be looking at the back of our family’s portraits.”
Edward murmured the words as he watched Susan’s face, but Lady Eugenia moved to peer over Susan’s shoulder at the copy of the riddle she held in her hands.
Susan held up the riddle so that all three of them could see it, and pointed to the lines which had jumped out at her after hearing the name ‘Galleon Chase’.
“Look here. ‘In a chest, in a cellar, in a Chase, I’ve placed a treasure, leaving no trace.’ Chase in the riddle is capitalized, just like it is in the property’s name on the deed. This has to mean that your treasure and Eugenia’s letter to set her off on her portion of the treasure hunt, are hidden in a cellar on the Galleon Chase property, surely?”
Edward clapped Susan on the shoulder like he would one of his best friends, and she had to brace her legs to keep from staggering under the weight of the excited gesture.
“I certainly intend to visit the place and find out, as soon as I’ve checked with Mr. Wentworth about whether the house is still in our possession, still standing, and so forth.”
Lady Eugenia gripped Edward’s arm, practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect.
“When you go to Galleon Chase, I’m going with you.”
It wasn’t a question, and Lady Eugenia wasn’t asking his permission. It was more of an order.
“No.”
Edward shook his head, and Lady Eugenia went rigid.
“No?” She blinked furiously at her elder brother. “What do you mean, no, Edward? My letter is there, with your treasure, and I have every bit as much right to go as you do, so that I can help you find the treasure at Galleon Chase!”
Edward sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m not trying to vex you, Eugenia, I promise. What if we’re wrong? What if the house is gone? What if the whole thing is a dead end and a waste of time? What if it takes ages for me to find the treasure and your letter? Need I remind you that Lady Mowbray’s St. Valentine’s Day Ball is taking place in a little over a week? If you go with me to Galleon Chase, you run the risk of missing the Ball, and leaving Miss Wingfield to deal with the Count D’Asti, not to mention the vicious adders amongst the rest of the ton, without you there to aid her as a friend.”
Lady Eugenia planted her hands on her hips and glared at her brother through narrowed eyes. Susan held up her hands and shook her head at the look on Lady Eugenia’s face.
“Lady Eugenia certainly does not have to stay behind purely to defend me from one admittedly unwanted suitor. As for the adders among the ton — as you call them — well, that is purely to be expected during one’s Season in London. So, my dear brother-in-law, I’m afraid you cannot use me as an excuse not to take Lady Eugenia with you.”
“Please, call me Eugenia, and I hope that I can call you Susan.” Edward’s sister beamed, once again looping her arm through Susan’s as she arched a brow at her older brother.
“Of course! I would be delighted if you do so.”
Susan gave Eugenia’s arm an encouraging squeeze.
Edward grimaced at the two of them, both smiling prettily and presenting quite the united front against him.
“Of course you have just as much right as I do to go, Eugenia. I was just concerned that you may not arrive back in time for Lady Mowbray’s Ball, and it might be a missed opportunity for you to find a prospective match among the men who will be present. Do you not wish to explore any of those potential matches?”
Lady Eugenia blushed, then, and looked down.
“There may be a gentleman… or two… who has managed to catch my attention. Luckily for you, brother, I am not inclined to force Susan to attend Lady Mowbray’s Ball without me. However, if you do manage to find my letter and riddle from Grandfather while you are away, you must bring it to me immediately.”
“I will. You have my word.” Edward leaned over and kissed his sister right on the top of the head. “I am going to go see Mr. Wentworth this very afternoon to find out what he knows about this deed.”
“Ahem.” Georgiana, who had come to see if they had achieved any success, cleared her throat behind them. “You do remember that Lady Walcot’s Ball is tonight, do you not? What if your meeting with Mr. Wentworth runs long? Will I have to attend Lady Walcot’s Ball without you?”
Edward gave Georgiana his most charming smile and reached out, gently caressing her cheek.
“Between Eugenia and Susan, I am sure you will have plenty of delightful company at Lady Walcot’s Ball, darling.”
Georgiana tried not to smile, even as he leaned in and brushed a soft kiss against her lips. Susan suppressed a groan and looked away. Edward and Georgiana were disgustingly romantic, and Susan wanted a love like theirs, despite all her prior claims that practicality and security should be one’s only concerns when it came to marriage. Susan wanted to share silly little light-hearted, intimate moments like that with Lord Seabury.
Her heart ached, and, as the servants carefully rehung the portrait, she left the others to their own preparations, and retreated to her room to ready herself for Lady Walcot’s Ball, wondering whether she might see Lord Seabury there.
* * *
