Page 11 of The Duke's Treasure
“How do you know it is here?”
“Because,” Rodrigo said, leaning forward, “I was on theSan Juanwhen it was attacked.”
“How is that possible?” Edward asked, mouth agape.
“I had gone home to Peru,” Rodrigo explained. “I intended to stay there, at least for a time, but home wasn’t exactly… how I expected it would be. When the opportunity arose to return toSpain, I took it,” he said with a shrug. “The gold from which the doubloons were forged was mined in Peru, and I believe that is where they should stay. I figured I would go along with them for safekeeping.”
“The Spaniards let you?”
“Of course,” Rodrigo said. “They needed men to work aboard the ship, and I was just what they were looking for. When the pirates boarded us, I managed to hide until I was discovered after the battle. I pleaded my case and was allowed to join them. That’s how I ended up here, for when the treasure was unloaded, I made my escape as well.”
“But you never saw where the treasure was hidden?”
“I did not,” Rodrigo said regretfully. “But Ididsee the Marqués de Palencia shake hands with the pirate captain. They made everyone leave the ship and spend the night in the town. I don’t know where the treasure went from there. When I returned, it was gone. I’ve searched everywhere, but I can’t find any trace of it.”
Edward leaned forward. “Do you know the marquis is dead?”
He nodded. “I do.”
“What happened to him?”
“He drowned, apparently. Washed up on shore.”
“My, my,” Edward said, taking a sip of his drink as the widow became more and more intriguing. “Rodrigo, I have an important question. Do you have any proof that this treasure exists?”
Rodrigo dipped a hand in his pocket, pulling out a couple of doubloons. “Will this do?”
Mariana hopedthat she had seen the last of the Duke of Sheffield, but for the third day in a row, he appeared at her house – this time, through her front door. She had to admit that as much as she thought his story was ridiculous, she enjoyed the banter with him. He challenged her, as she hadn’t been challenged in some time.
“Your Grace,” she said when he entered the drawing room, “to what do I owe the pleasure today?”
“Did you tell Abello I am allowed entrance?” he asked with a smile, taking a seat.
“I must admit that you amuse me, Your Grace,” she said wryly. “I am interested in what tales you have to spin today.”
“Tales,” he said, shaking his head. “Hardly. Do you believe I would travel here all the way from England if my story wasn’t true?”
“I couldn’t say for I do not even know you.”
“Well, now is your chance to know me better.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of coins. “Your proof – doubloons.”
She reached out, jarring when her fingers brushed against his palm, surprised at the shock that it brought. Their eyes caught and held, and she had to swallow away an odd lump in her throat at the strangeness of the connection she felt with him.
“Doubloons,” she said, breaking their eye contact when she looked down and turned the coin over in her hand. “Where did you get these?”
“A friend.”
“A friend,” she repeated. “That is some friend.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Do you trust said friend?”
“I do.”
“What did he have to say about this treasure that made you believe him?”
The story he told her was a fanciful one, and her eyes widened when he came to the part about her husband’s involvement. She had no idea whether or not to believe him, but she figured at this point, what harm would it bring to allow him to search the grounds? She had nothing to hide and was certain that, no matter how Javier was involved, there were no dubloons on the land.
