Enticing the Earl

“If you think I believe that, you’re mad.” Charlie sat down across from Simon and tilted his head. “What is the real reason?”

Simon knew in his heart that his brother was not involved but Charlie had always been the reckless one of the family. “First tell me why you don’t need money. You always run short of your monthly allowance.”

“I already told you about Miss Stone. I have put away my rakish ways, Simon. The money you give me is more than enough to support myself comfortably when I’m not gambling and whoring.”

Simon smiled at his brother. “I must meet the woman who can make you change for the better.”

“Come to Suffolk and you will.”

“We will.”

“You’re serious?” Charlie said excitedly.

“Yes. You were right. It will be a good opportunity to introduce Mia.”

Charlie sobered. “And what about you?”

Simon inhaled deeply. “I shall manage for her.” As long as Charlie was being honest, he could too. “There is more. The real reason we are searching for information is Mia found something in old Mrs. Perkins’s garden.”

“That old witch is still alive?”

Simon laughed remembering how Mrs. Perkins had come after Charlie with a hoe for taking some of her strawberries. “Barely. I believe she is near ninety.”

“So what did Mia find?”

“A gold hilt, a gold coin, and an emerald. Colin and his wife took it to Hertzog. He said if we find more, he would be interested. He believes they are very old.”

Charlie frowned as he stood and scanned the shelves again. “I don’t understand. I know you. If there was some type of old treasure you would want it to go to the British Museum, not Hertzog.” He sobered and frowned. “Sorry. I didn’t realize your finances were that bad off.”

Simon didn’t answer.

“How can I help you?” Charlie offered.

“Want to go dig in the dirt?”

Charlie smirked. “Behind Mrs. Perkins’s garden? Absolutely.”

“I told Mia we would go after she finishes with the dressmaker. We need to take a few footmen with us in case Davies or Lambert is there.”

“Aren’t they one in the same?” Charlie asked as he turned back toward the shelves. He pulled out one book and leafed through the pages.

“We can’t be certain yet.”

Charlie swung around with a grin. “I think I found something that might help us.”

Simon took an old bound journal from his brother’s hand. “The Ancient History of the Earls of Hartsfield.” Simon flipped through a few pages and smiled. “The Earl of Hartsfield was bestowed upon Edward Simon Blakesworth in thirteen hundred and ninty-nine for...”

“For what?” Charlie impatiently asked.

“I’m trying to determine just that. The ink has faded in a few spots over the last four hundred years. I believe it says just duty to the king.”

“Wait, is that duty to King Richard II or just duty to King Henry IV?”

“Excellent question. The letter of patent says Henry IV.”

Charlie waved him on. “Keep reading.”

Simon deciphered the text in silence for a while. “Apparently, the king asked then Sir Edward to investigate a possible uprising in the Midlands in support of Richard. Edward discovered a baron, I can’t read his name, was devising a way of getting Richard out of Pontefract Castle.”