CHAPTER6
The Dukeand Duchess of Thistlewayte were visiting Billington House, accompanied by eight of Edward’s nine siblings, in the wake of receiving his letter about the treasure hunt set for them by their grandfather. Everywhere Susan looked, she spotted another Calthorpe, and they were all bubbling with excitement. The new governess for the five youngest Calthorpe girls, who had been hired to replace Georgiana after she and Edward married, had even been brought along to oversee them while the family visited the London townhouse.
Lady Eugenia Calthorpe, the eldest of the Duke and Duchess’ daughters, materialised at Susan’s elbow, as if out of thin air, with an easy half-smile and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“Wherever more than one Calthorpe gathers, chaos inevitably ensues.”
Susan barked out a surprised laugh, but nodded.
“I find it rather delightful, seeing you all together.”
“If I could please have everyone’s attention for a moment, I would like to go over this riddle with you all!” Edward called out over the dull roar of his family’s excited chatter.
Instantly, an expectant hush fell over the room, as if every person collected there had taken a deep breath and was holding it, waiting to hear the riddle and afraid to miss anything.
Edward cleared his throat, then held the letter from their grandfather up, and read loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear him.
“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.”
The moment he finished speaking, every person in the house burst into a flurry of conversation and movement… every person except Susan. She stood there, going over the riddle in her mind as the others rushed around her, talking over each other.
Lady Eugenia noticed, edging closer to Susan while the others rushed about, half of them already on a mission to search Billington House’s cellar.
Only Edward, Georgiana, Eliza, and Eugenia lingered behind in the drawing room.
“What are you thinking so fiercely on, Miss Wingfield?”
Eugenia studied Susan, her eyes sharp and bright.
Susan chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating the best and least offensive way to put her thoughts into words. She knew that Edward was well enough acquainted with her that he would not likely be offended, no matter what she said, but she held no such guarantees when it came to Lady Eugenia. Susan hoped that she and Edward’s sister would become great friends and did not want to jeopardize her chances, before they had really begun, by speaking recklessly.
“I am just not certain that the cellar is the part of the riddle that we should be focusing on at this point.”
“Interesting.” Lady Eugenia cocked her head, studying Susan closely. “What makes you think that?”
Susan’s heart pounded and her stomach fluttered nervously. She darted a quick glance at Edward and Georgiana, who both nodded, silently encouraging her to continue.
Please don’t let this hurt anyone’s feelings.
“Well—” Susan paused, wringing her hands. “It’s just that the riddle only mentions London once, and since we are in London, I think it might be best if we focus solely on unravelling that part of the riddle first, then work out the rest.”
Lady Eugenia smiled and nodded, then, and the knot of tension in Susan’s stomach eased just a little. “That does make a great deal of sense, Edward. I think we should listen to Miss Wingfield and focus on that last bit of the riddle first.”
The four of them crowded around Edward’s letter then, utterly ignoring the cacophony filtering through the house from the kitchen, and the cellar beyond it.
“In London if your mind you wrack, you’ll look behind a grandfather’s back.” Edward scowled down at the letter. “What on earth is that supposed to mean?”
“I certainly hope the phrase isn’t meant literally, because I shall have to draw the line at grave robbing, treasure or no treasure.”
Lady Eugenia’s quip was dry and quick, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.
Susan laughed heartily, nodding her agreement.
“Let us hope that is not the case.” She let her gaze wander the room as she turned the words over in her mind. Behind a grandfather’s back— Susan’s gaze snagged on the large, stately portrait of a man hanging over the drawing room’s massive fireplace. “I wonder…” Susan’s muttered musing caught Lady Eugenia’s attention and she elbowed Edward, then nodded for him to pay attention to Susan. Susan motioned to the painting hanging above the fireplace. “Do you have any portraits, here in Billington House, of the grandfather who left you the letter, perchance?”
“Yes!” Edward’s eyes lit up, and Lady Eugenia clapped. “Follow me.” He motioned for them to follow him into the front hall, then, and pointed out an imposing portrait quite near the front door. “This is grandfather’s portrait. Now what?”
“Look behind a grandfather’s back.” Susan wrinkled her nose, but voiced what had occurred to her anyway, even though she wasn’t at all sure about her guess. “Have you ever checked to see whether there might be anything on the back of the painting?”
Edward gasped.
“It would never have occurred to me to check the backs of the portraits, as most of them have been hanging in Billington House for years.”
“Well, come on then!” Lady Eugenia bounced on the balls of her feet, almost dancing in place with impatience. “Call the staff to help us take it down so we can check the back!”
“We must be very careful not to damage it.” Edward frowned, but called out for the butler anyway. “Williams! I have need of you in the front hall, if you please.”
The butler appeared almost instantaneously with a habitual, polite bow.
“How may I assist you, Lord Billington?”
“You will probably need help from the footmen for this. We need to take my grandfather’s portrait down and check to see if there is anything affixed to the back of it.”
Williams’ eyebrows raised so far that Susan was certain they would get lost in his hair at any moment, but he gave another bow.
“Of course. Right away, my Lord.”