Page 12 of The Earl's Secret
And there, in the middle of the room, was their father.
He turned when he heard the door open, surprise lighting his face upon seeing them.
“There you are! George and Eve!”
Cassandra and Gideon shared a look. It was one of those days, then, when he confused them with his brother and sister. They had been through this a time or two, and while it always saddened Cassandra with a pang in her chest, she found it best to humor him instead of attempting to correct him, which only served to further confuse him.
“It’s good to see you,” she said instead, walking over and taking one of his hands between the two of hers. “How are you?”
“Very good, very good,” he said. “Waiting for the weather to turn so that I can get out and visit the land.”
“Of course,” she said with a nod. Her father had always hated London, loving instead to work with the farmers and the land they owned in the area. It was partially why they had decided it was best for him to remain here in the country. “Did you see—” she was about to say ‘Mother’ but then realized it was likely best she continue on with his own line of thought, “Annabelle?”
“Yes, certainly,” he said, looking at her quizzically. “She was here just this morning. Likely gone on to prepare herself for our ride.”
“That’s wonderful,” Cassandra said. She walked over to the window, looking out at the lands stretching before them as Gideon began speaking with her father a bit more.
“I do have one more question,” Gideon said just before they prepared to leave. They would see their father often in the country, as he would join them for dinner whenever he was having a particularly good day.
“Of course.”
“Would you be interested in helping us solve a riddle?”
Cassandra shot a questioning look at her brother, wondering if they should be mentioning this, but Gideon slightly nodded in response as their father’s eyes lit up.
“How intriguing,” their father said. “Do tell me more.”
“Very well,” Gideon said, before lowering his voice slightly and reciting him the lines of the riddle, lines that Cassandra realized both she and Gideon had memorized at this point. “Do those mean anything to you?”
Her father pursed his lips, tapping a finger against them as he turned and walked around the room in thought.
“I would guess the treasure is a piece of jewellery. Or a set, such as the one Mother used to wear.”
“Did she?” Cassandra said, the idea of it piquing her interest. Perhaps her grandmother had been the one to write the riddle.
“She did,” her father nodded. “She had an entire set of rubies, actually, handed down to her from her own mother. Our grandmother had royal blood, you know.”
“I didn’t know that,” Cassandra said, exchanging a look with Gideon, who also shrugged. Apparently, it had not been part of family knowledge.
“Come, Eve, how could you not? You know she was from Spain, one of the younger daughters. Was married off to an English duke in expectation of peace or some sort,” he said. “When she came to England, she brought with her this elaborate set of jewels. I always wondered what happened to it.” He turned suddenly, his gaze piercing Cassandra. “Do you not have it?”
“Me?” she said. “Why on earth would I have it?”
“Probably because you are his sister,” Gideon murmured in her ear, and Cassandra nodded slowly.
“Right,” she said. “I meant, why do you think they are in my possession?”
“They are said to have disappeared one night from Grandmother’s room. I assumed you had taken them, for you always had such an eye for them and were so angry when I told you that I was going to give them to my bride one day. It only makes sense.”
“I understand why you would feel that way,” Cassandra said slowly. “However, they are, unfortunately, not in my possession. But perhaps we can find them together.”
“We shall certainly try,” Gideon said. “Well, we must be going but will return soon. Good day, Fa—Your Grace.”
“Good day,” their father said, before Cassandra followed Gideon out the door and they said their farewells to Anderson.
“What was that about?” Cassandra asked as they continued down the stairs. “I agree the jewels could be the treasure that awaits, but it doesn’t really matter if we do not know how to find them, now does it?”
“Do you truly think our aunt could have taken them?”
