Page 4 of The Earl's Secret
Gideon waved a hand in the air. “They are always in there, reading books on etiquette and how to find a husband or something of the like.”
“I see,” Devon said, although he couldn’t help his smirk, for he had seen what they were reading – and it was no book on etiquette, although he supposed that there was something to be learned about catching a husband in a book such as what they’d had in front of them – or, in Cassandra’s case, that she had been attempting to hide behind her back.
He met Gideon’s eye, realized that Cassandra’s brother knew exactly what they were up to in there, and with a nod so slight that none of the rest of them would notice, he let the subject matter lie.
Gideon had been there for him in more ways than he could count – including helping him out of a few impossible situations when they had been up to their pranks at Eton. Devon had much more propensity for being caught.
“So, what is the latest suggestion?” Devon asked, pouring himself a drink – wondering if it was the same brandy that Cassandra had been wiping off her delectable bosom, little minx – as he waited for Gideon’s latest scheme. The five of them had come together at school out of boredom, more than anything. Boredom with the life in front of them, seeking more, thrills that they couldn’t find elsewhere.
It would have been as frowned upon as Cassandra’s little book club would be, but in their case, if they were to be discovered, they would be forgiven. That was the difference in being a man versus a woman in this part of society. But there was nothing that Devon could do about it but accept it.
“Perhaps we should do something to slight Robertson again,” Anthony Davenport, Viscount Whitehall, suggested gruffly. “I hate that man.”
“I know you do, Whitehall,” Gideon said. “But there will be time for that later.”
“What about a prank that would have everyone talking?” Eric Rowley, Lord Ferrington, suggested. “Perhaps dressing up one of the statues on Temple Bar. Throw some pauper’s clothes on King Charles the first.”
His brother, Noah Rowley, was already shaking his head. “That would be seen as a political statement, not as a prank. It could lead to great misunderstanding.”
“You do know how to take the fun out of such things,” Ferrington said with a sigh, but Rowley just shrugged.
“’Tis the truth.”
“Actually,” Gideon – who was the Marquess of Ashford and would, in the future, become the Duke of Sheffield, said, “we are doing none of those things.”
“Whyever not?” Ferrington asked with a frown.
“Because I have stumbled across something that is much more interesting. Something which would be of great interest to me and to my family – and that I would share with you.”
That piqued the attention of the rest of them.
“Do get to your point, Ashford,” Devon said. “You are enjoying the suspense of this far too much.”
“Perhaps that is true,” Gideon said with a small smile. “But I must take some joy from it. As most of you know, my father’s illness has left our family in difficult circumstances.”
Devon nodded, even though he was surprised that Gideon had mentioned it. They all knew it to be true, but it was not something that the family often spoke of. Gideon’s father, the current duke, was in the country, an invalid, while Gideon looked after his duties and made all decisions. When Gideon was a boy, the responsibilities had been entrusted to stewards and men-of-business, but a leader had been needed at the helm. Gideon had always been the responsible one, using this club of theirs and their activities as a release. But at his heart, he was a man who took care of everyone else – most especially his family.
He had just been too young and naive to save the estate from being mismanaged and the coffers from being emptied. He was doing all he could to build it back up – a fact that Devon admired, but he hoped it wasn’t too little too late.
“I have found something that could restore our family fortunes,” Gideon said, a rare grin widening across his face. “We do, however, have to work for it.”
“I’m not following,” Devon said with a frown, and Gideon held up a finger and continued as the rest of them leaned forward in interest.
“I was in my study last night, and my letter opener fell to the back of the drawer,” Gideon said, acting out what had occurred as he described it. “I reached for it but couldn’t find it anywhere. I pulled out the drawer to see if the opener had become lodged in the side, and I was right – it had. But when I pulled it out, something else happened that I wasn’t expecting.”
“You are enjoying this storytelling far too much,” Devon said wryly, although he couldn’t help but be the one to ask, “What was it?”
“The bottom of the drawer fell out,” Gideon said, his blue eyes, so like his sister’s, a rather unfortunate fact, lighting up as he said it. “There was a secret compartment attached to the bottom. Not overly large, just enough to fit a slip of paper.”
They were silent as they waited for Gideon to continue.
“Well?” Devon demanded, “tell us what was in there, man.”
“It was a riddle,” Gideon said. “One that, from what I can tell, leads to a fortune.”
They all stared at him with gaping mouths before looking at one another. Devon scratched his head. Gideon was usually a reasonable man, but perhaps he had been pushed too far trying to restore his fortunes.
“Are you certain that is what it was?” Devon asked slowly.
