Page 64 of The Viscount's Code
“That’s it!” she said excitedly, her hands nearly shaking in front of her.
“What’s it?” Faith asked, as alert as Hope.
“The song. The piano. I think I’ve solved the puzzle.”
CHAPTER25
Hope hurried across the room, Faith following after her.
“Hope, what are you talking about?”
“The piano,” she said, rushing down the staircase as fast as her kid slippers would allow her. When she reached the landing, she nearly broke out into a run toward the drawing room. “I thought there was something to it,” she said, slightly panting with exertion now. “It’s like the desk. Father’s desk. It could be a puzzle. We must find Cassandra.”
“I think she is in the front parlor, saying her farewells as people leave,” Faith said, keeping up with Hope now. Hope veered off course from the drawing room to the parlor, stopping in the doorway, not caring any longer who might see her in such dishevelment.
“Cassandra!” she said, catching sight of her just as she was about to see off Madeline. “I have an idea. Come to the drawing room.”
She turned and began down the corridor before Cassandra responded, although from the look of her open mouth she was certainly interested in what Hope had to show her.
“Hope,” Faith said, not showing any effort whatsoever. “A word of caution – your idea is a sound one, but it could come to nothing. Perhaps we should have tested your theory before involving Cassandra.” She looked behind them to see that more of their friends had joined in following them. “Or anyone else.”
Hope had a feeling, however, deep in her stomach, that she was right. Her intuition was usually fairly accurate – except, it seemed, when it came to Anthony. But on this, she was certain.
“I’m right, Faith,” she said, pulling out the bench and taking a seat at the piano. “I know I am.”
She placed her fingers against the smooth, cool keys. She had played this instrument before, during many evenings that were spent in the drawing room, some with the gentlemen, some without. Sitting in front of any instrument was like coming home to her, and she lovingly stroked the keys before placing her fingers upon the correct ones.
She knew this was the answer. Anthony might have broken the code, but this part of the riddle was hers to complete.
She only wished that he was here with her. It wouldn’t be the same without him.
Hope wasn’t aware who all had followed them into the room, but it didn’t matter as she was too focused on what she had to do next.
“Mariana, mi amor, ha llenado mi corazón. Me ha dejado tan ligero y sintiendo calor,”she sang, her fingers dancing over the keys. She had memorized the song, and she closed her eyes, playing the notes and singing the words from deep within her.
She was about halfway through when she felt the shift in the piano, as though something moved within it. It was two bars later when she heard thethunk, and she slowed her playing as Cassandra and her brother rushed around to the back of the instrument.
“Well, I’ll be,” Lord Ashford murmured, as he reached into what seemed to be a new opening in the back of the piano and pulled out an item, lifting it up for all of them to see.
Hope looked around her now, finding that in addition to her, Faith, Cassandra, and Lord Ashford; Percy, Lord Covington, Lord Ferrington and Mr. Rowley had joined them.
“A key,” Hope breathed, standing from the bench and leaning in. “For what?”
Lord Ashford turned to Cassandra, who shook her head. “I haven’t seen anything like it.”
Cassandra lifted her palm up to her brother, who placed the key within it.
“It has a ruby in the center,” Cassandra murmured, looking at the small key. “There is also a small inscription.” She peered closer at it. “It looks like it is in Spanish.”
“Do these words make sense?” Lord Ashford asked, peering closer, reading.“Una piedra preciosa, un regalo de amor, un destello de llama.”
“A precious stone, a gift of love, a flicker of flame...” Cassandra translated. “What could it be? Do you think it is in code?”
“I wish Whitehall was still here,” Lord Ashford said with annoyance. “He was helpful in the past. Not only that, but if this has anything to do with the books, his memory is the next best thing to having them in our possession.”
Hope wished he was still there as well, although for altogether different reasons.
“Eric and I will be heading his way, if he is at his estate,” Mr. Rowley said. “Why do we not stop on our way home, to see if he can help?”
