Page 60 of The Heir's Fortune
“What about Anthony’s accident?” Hope demanded in an uncharacteristically demanding tone. “He nearly died when his horse was startled.”
“That wasn’t us,” Anderson said. “DonRafael had sent a man to scout the area and see if he could determine where the treasure might be. He was coming after you and tried to shoot. We were, however, able to stop him from doing any more damage.”
“Thank you,” Whitehall said, and Hope reached over and grasped his hand, likely realizing just how much worse it could have been.
“Do you know who stole the necklace from Cassandra’s Aunt Eve in Bath?” Percy interjected.
“Mrs. Compton’s lady’s maid is aware of the treasure and the legacy, and we were able to exchange letters with her. It seems that the necklace truly was stolen the first time by another maid, who pawned it off, which is how it fell into the hands of another. The second time it was stolen, it was her lady’s maid, who decided the best course of action would be to take the necklace herself and return it to Castleton so that it didn’t fall into the wrong hands again.”
Percy nodded with some wonder.
“When Lady Faith and Lord Ferrington left for Spain, we wrote to Abello to tell him who they were. He has been part of this along with us since he knew your great-grandmother, Lord Ashford. He responded to our letter, telling us that he suspectedDonRafael was aware of your true identities. We knew to be prepared when you returned.”
“Unbelievable,” the duke said, and they all turned to him, uncertain of just how he would react to this. “Did my father have any idea?”
“No,” Anderson said. “We were asked to keep this to ourselves until the timing was right and the treasure was found.”
“The real question is, why did they hide it?” Gideon asked, sitting forward. “When they returned to England, why not use the treasure, put it back into the dukedom?”
Although, he was pleased that they didn’t, for it would have all been squandered away as well.
“Because it wasn’t the proper time to return the treasure to where it belonged.”
Gideon didn’t like that response.
“Which is… where?”
“Upper Peru,” Anderson said, a smile lighting his face. “My grandfather was from the country and, in fact, sailed with your great-grandparents along with the treasure from Spain to England. The Spanish mined the mountains of Upper Peru for the metals that forged the doubloons.DonRafael’s great-grandfather, who was your great-grandmother Mariana’s first husband, stole it from the government with the help of pirates. When your great-grandparents found it, at first they weren’t sure just who it belonged to, but they realized where it was from and to where it should return.”
Gideon was beginning to understand just what Anderson was saying, and as noble as the intentions had been, he was fighting the reality of what it was going to mean for him and the people who relied on him.
“It is no different than what we have done here in Britain for years. When countries are part of our colony, they utilize their resources accordingly. Spain did the same.”
“Perhaps,” Anderson said, sitting back, crossing his arms over his chest. “But if France were to defeat Britain, would you think Napoleon deserves all that England has to offer?”
Gideon took a breath and a moment to consider just what Anderson was saying before the man continued.
“Your great-grandparents had the noble purpose of returning the treasure to where it belonged – Upper Peru.The Spanish have mined it for centuries, using the labour of my ancestors and my people today to bring it to the surface. Spanish rule now is tenuous at best. It will not be long before my people find their independence once more, I am sure of it. This treasure, in the right hands, could help them in their quest. Your great-grandparents could not return it at the time because Spanish rule was too strong. They were hoping a time would come in the future when it could be returned to its proper place.”
“Which is now?”
“If you do what they were hoping, then yes,” Anderson said. “Do you have any more questions?”
Gideon looked to his father, who was stroking his chin in contemplation but said nothing.
“I do not believe we do at the moment, but perhaps once we consider it further. This is rather overwhelming.” In fact, Gideon felt as though he had been lied to for years, that all along, the people he had trusted, who had looked after Castleton, had known what was hiding just a short distance away and had said nothing, leaving him to look the fool.
“I am aware of that,” Anderson said. “I know the treasure is found but I still consider myself to be at your service with whatever you might need of me. I still have family connections back home that I can use to return the treasure and to ensure it will go to those who deserve it most.”
Gideon began nodding, even as he realized exactly what this meant. The treasure – the one that he had thought meant he had restored the dukedom to rights, that he no longer had to worry about marrying for a dowry because the fortune had refilled the coffers – was gone. It was not his, nor had it ever been.
Which meant that all had returned to exactly how it had been before. A dukedom in ruin, a crumbling estate, people who depended on him disappointed, and few paths forward.
Not only that, but he had lost all of that time he had spent hunting for the treasure, time that he could have been using in more worthwhile pursuits.
He had thought that he had everything he needed to offer for Madeline.
But it was as it had been before.
