Page 37 of The Trials of Alaric
“Both of us.” Alaric’s lips twitched into a grin at the memory. “At the time, Lord Beverley was admiring himself in the mirrors of the whatnot in the drawing room.”
That surprised Claddach into a bark of laughter. He and Alaric exchanged an amused glance.
“Lady Beatrice did show me the statue, though, sir.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” said Claddach. “Everyone who finds it will have help from someone. It is not something people are likely to chance on. I suppose you want your next clue?”
“Yes, please, my lord,” Alaric said, wondering if the earl’s tolerance of his cheek would extend to telling him who else had solved the third clue.
Claddach pulled out a drawer and removed a folder. Alaric was startled to see his own name on the front. The earl pulled out a folded sheet of paper, much like the ones that held the previous clues, and handed it over.
“Your fourth clue, Redhaven. The answer to the question you are too polite to ask is yes. You are still the leader in the treasure hunt. No one else has solved the third clue. If you plan any more early-morning excursions with my daughter, or excursions at any other time of the day or night, you will oblige me by including a chaperone. Enjoy your breakfast, young man. You might mention to the other suitors that I will see you all in the entry hall at ten o’clock.”
Did his early morning spy also see our kiss?Alaric bowed toward Bea’s father. The man who would be his father-in-law if all went well. Suggesting a chaperone could just mean that the earl had been young himself, once. Either way, his suggestion was fair, but also kind. The earl seemed to like him. Alaric vowed to do everything he could not to let the man down. “I will, my lord.” The earl inclined his head and then turned his attention back to his desk.
Alaric stopped by a window on the stairs to read the clue.
“To save his liege requires a fee—
“A loyal man, he must agree.
“His bride he finds a dear delight.
“Choose wisely. Day? Or dark of night?”
Another cryptic verse. Nothing immediately occurred, but at least he knew—or at least hethoughthe knew—that the answer would be a set of lovers. Narcissus didn’t count as a set, but he was still a lover. Chuckling at his own rambling thoughts, Alaric hurried on up the stairs to leave his outdoor coat in his bedchamber.
Colyn was there before him, and his eyes lit up when he saw Alaric. “Mr. Redhaven. Ye’re to go out today, sir. Lord Claddach is after givin’ all the suitors a list of tenants to visit. And this evenin’, the gentlemen are to entertain the ladies.”
“Thank you, Colyn. That explains why Lord Claddach wants to see us all in the entry hall at ten. I have my fourth clue, Colyn.” He waved the piece of paper. “No idea what it means, yet.”
He read it to Colyn, who commented, “Sounds like the boyo in the verse has to get married to rescue his lord? Lucky fellow gets a bride he likes.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t say more than that, sir.”
A man who marries a woman he loves to save his lord, and after that has to make a choice between day and night.I know that I’ve heard a story like that.But try as he might, he could not call it to mind.
*
Each of thesuitors had been assigned a gig with a groom to drive it. The back was loaded with baskets for the tenant families they were to visit. They had been paired with a lady each, and Alaric found himself escorting Miss Radcliffe.
Bea was with Meadowsweet. Alaric followed them with his eyes, and then recalled his manners and looked at Miss Radcliffe instead. “We have five houses to visit,” he said, handing over thelist he had been given. “Do you know the families at all, Miss Radcliffe?”Might as well take advantage of local knowledge.
“Two of them,” Miss Radcliffe answered. “They have children at the school my mother supports. And another by reputation.”
From her tone, Alaric guessed the reputation was not good, and she confirmed it when she said, “The husband is a drunkard, and the children are wild, though my mother says the wife does the best she can.”
The groom had been given the route, it seemed, for he did not ask for directions but drove down the hill from the castle and turned left, away from the town. They stopped first at the home of one of the families Miss Radcliffe knew through the school, where they were greeted cheerfully and invited in, “For Da will be that cross if he does not see ye, Miss Radcliffe, and the gentleman, too. One of Lady Bea’s suitors are you, sir?”
Alaric bowed as he said, “I am. I’m the one who was shipwrecked on your beach, ma’am. Redhaven is my name.”
“Ma’am,” the woman giggled. “As if I was a fine lady. Come along inside, sir. Lucky you were to come off alive, Mr. Redhaven.” The front door opened directly into a small but clean and tidy sitting room. The woman of the house raised her voice as they entered. “Da, here’s that pretty Miss Radcliffe come to see ye, and Mr. Redhaven, too, he that was washed up on the beach.”
“Da” was sitting right next to the fire and, despite the warmth of the day, was wrapped in blankets so that nothing showed but his hands and face. He raised a scrawny hand and displayed a gap-toothed smile. “More dead nor alive,” he quavered.
“I was, yes,” Alaric told him, raising his voice in imitation of their hostess. He put the basket he had been carrying on a low table and squatted down on his haunches, so that his head was more on a level with the old man’s. “But I am well again now.”
“Fine doings up at castle, eh?” the old man asked.
“Fine doings,” Alaric agreed. “Most nights, the ladies sing for us, or play the piano. Tonight, it will be the turn of the gentlemen to entertain. What should I do, do you think? I am not a great singer, and I cannot play the piano.”
