After some argument,Susan had been allowed to go to hire a Bow Street Runner, accompanied only by her maid, and two footmen. It was still a rather scandalous thing for a Lady to do by herself, but at least she was well protected. The Runners had eyed her suspiciously, when they realised that no man of her family accompanied her, but the presentation of money had soon removed their qualms and they assigned a man to investigate the Count D’Asti as she had requested.
When Susan returned to Billington House, she found Georgiana and Edward so deep in conversation in the drawing room that they both failed to hear or see her enter the room. Susan paused as Georgiana spoke.
“What is it?”
Georgiana stared down at whatever was laid out on the tea table between her and Edward.
“It’s a letter from my grandfather, containing a rather perplexing riddle. In the letter, he promises a breath-taking measure of wealth and treasure for me and each of my siblings, but each piece of the promised treasure has been hidden somewhere which will only be revealed if we manage to unravel the riddles he left for us. I must find my share of the hidden treasure. When I do, the riddle he left behind for Eugenia will be revealed, and so on for each one of us, but I can make neither heads nor tails of this demmned riddle.”
“Maybe I can help you work it out.”
Susan had to bite her lip to keep from chuckling at Georgiana’s startled shriek and the way Edward jumped and swore under his breath at her interjection.
Georgiana pressed a hand against her heart and glared at Susan through narrowed eyes.
“Did you have to scare us half to death?”
Susan flashed her eldest sister a mischievous grin.
“No. That was just a happy accident.”
“A happy accident indeed,” Georgiana snorted, rolling her eyes. “I should scold you for eavesdropping, but we shan’t turn down an offer of help.”
Susan nodded and moved to join them at the small table. With her index finger, she tapped the letter where it lay on the tabletop and arched a brow at Edward.
“May I?”
“Of course.”
Edward picked the letter up and passed it over to Susan.
Dear Edward,
You hold in your hand the first clue of many in a great treasure hunt which is designed to ensure that each one of my beloved grandchildren receives their fair share of the vast wealth my own grandfather left behind for me and me alone, as is expected with first-born sons. I would never have found it without my dear sister Virtue’s cleverness and assistance.
Therefore, I gifted her the half of the treasure which I felt she had rightfully earned by helping me along my search, and together we conceived of a way to make sure that our vast wealth is doled out in a manner which will help each and every one of our respective grandchildren, regardless of where they fall in the birth order, rather than the eldest taking all.
Now, I leave you with this riddle, and sincerely hope that you solve it, so that you may find your treasure and set in motion the chain of events which will lead your sisters and brother to their treasures, as well.
In a chest, in a cellar, in a Chase,
I’ve placed a treasure, leaving no trace.
One record only, of where it went,
Held firm in place and nowhere sent.
In London, if your mind you wrack
You’ll look behind a grandfather’s back.
I wish you the absolute best of luck with the hunt for your treasure, and I dearly hope that you find it. If you do not, your nine precious siblings will have no hope of finding the treasures I have carefully hidden away for each of them, in turn. Each prize holds a letter containing the next clue for the next Calthorpe in the birth order.
Happy Hunting,
Grandfather
Susan smiled at the letter’s sentiments, thinking that she would have liked Edward’s grandfather very much, indeed, if he sought to provide for each of his grandchildren regardless of whether they were born first or last.
“Have you told your sisters and brother about this mysterious treasure hunt your grandfather set up for all of you?”
Edward shook his head.
“I was going to wait until I worked out my own riddle and found my treasure, and Eugenia’s letter with it, to tell them. Keep it a surprise, just in case someone else has found the treasure before us and all is lost before we truly begin.”
“That is a rather depressing thought.”
Susan scrunched her nose at him, even as she traced a finger over the words of the riddle.
Edward shrugged, pacing towards the fireplace and back, as if he could not physically bear to be still a moment longer. Perhaps, Susan thought, the pacing will help him untangle his thoughts.
“It is, but I feel we should be prepared for disappointment, just in case things do not go the way that Grandfather expected they would. Better prepared and relieved, than unprepared for every possibility, even the less than pleasant ones.”
“Interesting,” Susan murmured, looking the words of the riddle over again. “Where did you find this letter from your grandfather?”
Edward reached out, drumming his fingers on the mantle above the fireplace as he contemplated her question.
“It was inside the suit of armour which was hidden in the secret passage behind Georgiana’s former suite in the servants’ quarters at Thistlewayte Hall.”
“The suit of armour that fell on you when you discovered the door to the secret passage?”
Susan directed that question at Georgiana, who nodded, laughing at the memory.
“The very same.” Georgiana reached up and unconsciously brushed her fingers against her dark hair where it hid the scar from when the suit of armour fell on her. She’d fallen and struck her head on the floor of her quarters, suffering quite a wound in the process. “If Edward hadn’t had the armour moved from my quarters to the study, the letter might never have come loose and been found.”
Edward took the letter and studied the riddle again, frowning fiercely at the cryptic words.
“If I am not mistaken, you would not have found your clue to the treasure hunt if not for Marjory and Millicent’s penchant for mischief.” Susan crossed her arms. “If you tell your sisters and brother of this treasure hunt which your grandfather set for all of you, they may be able to search for more clues while we try to work out your riddle.”
“Good idea, Susan.” Edward smiled and brushed a tender kiss against Georgiana’s cheek. “I shall write to each of my siblings, informing them of the treasure hunt, and that they should visit me here at Billington House as soon as possible to look over my letter and this riddle from Grandfather.”
“While you are writing those letters, could you please copy the riddle for me, so that I may study it more closely, without having to have your letter in my possession? This is exciting!” Susan clapped her hands and could not resist smiling. “I look forward to seeing your sisters again. They are delightful company.”
“I shall be glad to.”
Edward strode out of the drawing room, then, surely going to his study, leaving Susan alone with her elder sister.
Georgiana arched a brow at Susan and planted her hands on her hips.
“Are you, perhaps, immersing yourself in this mysterious treasure hunt of Edward’s to distract yourself from your distressing problem with Lord Seabury and the Count D’Asti, sister?”
“And if I am?” Susan scowled at her elder sister. “I would much rather be occupied while I wait to hear back from the Bow Street Runners than simply sit here, miserable and losing my mind when I can do nothing about my own situation at present.”
“That is reasonable, I suppose.” Georgiana reached over and gave Susan’s hand a gentle, soothing pat. “I am sure all will work out as it should.”
“By whose standards?” Susan muttered, even as her stomach knotted with anxiety at the question.