A Heart's Treasure (26 page)

She didn’t know. It was impossible to say. Yet she lay in bed, unable to sleep, feeling a tingle that started in her toes and crept up her body to the very top of her head, only to trace back down again. It left her breathless and trembling and eager for the morning’s light, for there was a muddled hope in her mind that morning would make it all clea
r…

Chapter 18

Not all that tempts our wand’ring eyes

And heedless hearts, is lawful prize;

Nor all, that glisters, gold.

—Thomas Gray,

Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat

“Do you agree to trade partners?” Xavier asked, the next morning’s sun creating a gleaming line along his beaver hat. He’d taken Michael, Summer, and Genevieve aside, out into the inn’s yard.

Michael’s shoulders moved under his jacket and he pulled a face. “Don’t know if I care to.”

“Michael!” Genevieve scolded, her heart rising and falling in her breast repeatedly. One moment she was filled with desire that her brother would answer she was now to be Xavier’s partner, the next she shrank from the idea.

Instead of clarifying anything for her, the morning had brought severe doubts that she had interpreted anything correctly last night. Reticence tied her tongue and locked her eyes to the floor, so now she couldn’t even meet Xavier’s gaze.

“Please, Michael,” Summer interjected, “it’d be such sport. And after all, you yourself said you didn’t wish to be partner to your sister.”

“That was before we ever started. Now it’s too late. It’s unfair.”

“I’ve said Summer and yourself may have the extra token,” Xavier repeated patiently.

“But that’s not right, is it?” Michael argued. “You earned the token as a team, and ought to keep it as a team, that you might win the wager. It makes no never mind to me to fund a prize for the winning couple, but there are others who would feel the pinch dearly enough, and would argue the unfairness of a change such as you propose. No, I think things must remain as they are.”

Genevieve heard a small sniff to her side, and lifted her eyes long enough to see tears were turning Summer’s eyes into blue pools. The tears spilled over, running down Summer’s cheeks.

“Oh, Michael,” Genevieve breathed, gathering up her friend’s arm, agitated by the tears— and alarmed to find she was faintly pleased to see them, to allow them to perhaps mean that if Xavier loved, he loved alone. Her dual responses confused Genevieve, so in her confusion she berated her brother. “Only see what you’ve done.”

Michael eyed his betrothed dispassionately. “What’s fair is fair. No use turning into a watering pot over it.”

Summer raised a handkerchief to her mouth, attempting to stifle the small distressed sounds she made.

“Come now, Yardley,” Xavier said, frowning. “It’s merely a game. No point in upsetting the lady, is there?”

Genevieve stiffened, new doubts reaching like dark tendrils into her mind. Last night she’d been so sure, so shocked by the sincerity of Xavier’s denial, but last night seemed very far away in morning’s light.

“It’s a ruse,” Michael declared, finally sounding agitated himself.

“Michael,” Summer said on a sob.

“It is, I tell you.” Michael looked from face to face, looking exasperated. “Listen and hear the truth, you noddies, for it’s become quite clear to me that none of you know it. Summer set her cap at me the day she left the schoolroom. She believes she may snap her fingers and every gentlemen must come running—and I did, just as a good puppy ought. I even was so under her spell I asked her to marry me, did I not? Yes, but now my vision is grown clear. I tell you, I’ve been made to play the game she set into place, but no more.”

His annoyance deepened when he only received appalled stares in return.

“Summer!” he said softly, but the word was a scold all the same. “Oh, go on then, cry your tears, dear girl. I know you. We’re very alike, we two, and I know you’re playing out your hand. But this is an end to it, I’ve decided to play my hand in my turn.” He directed his frown toward his sister now. “Genevieve, I shan’t be made to dance to her tune by the mere existence of a few tears. I shan’t be told what and when and how I may behave.”

“Michael, you’re being terribly unkind—”

 He interrupted with a scoffing sound, and turned his gaze back to his fiancée. “Lady Summer Rose, I will
not
be your partner, not for the purposes of this treasure hunt. That is final.” He crossed his arms over his chest, staring defiantly at the girl.

The lady gave two more terrible sobs, then drew herself up. “Very well, Michael. I release you. You’re under no obligation to me any longer. Would that I could say I wish you well for the future, but the truth is—” she sobbed once more, then cut off the sound ruthlessly, and finished “—the truth is, I hope you rot in Hades.”

Genevieve’s jaw fell open as Summer spun and marched back into the inn. She turned with large, incensed eyes to face her brother. “Michael!” she gasped out.

But instead of looking abashed, or even mildly repentant, he grinned from ear to ear. He reached down to tweak his sister’s nose. “I thought that wouldn’t happen until Brockmore,” he told her.

“You were expecting that…that scene?” she cried, even though she did recall he’d said something like.

“Indeed.” There must have been something in her face, because Michael checked his seeming amusement. “Genny, I know you think me mad, but I’m not. You just don’t truly understand Summer. You have to know she’s been catered to all her life, and little surprise that, as she’s clever and knows how to use her usual sweet, mild ways. But underneath her sweetness there is an iron will, my girl. She’s used to absolute obedience from her devotees, her brother, her older sister, and of course the servants. She is, in fact, quite spoiled. I thank God I saw it before we married. Only ask Moreland here.” Haddy had come from the inn, a look of concerned inquiry on his face. “Moreland, tell us, is Summer spoiled?”

Haddy didn’t hesitate. “Terribly, I’m afraid.”

“See?” Michael beamed.

Genevieve sneaked a glance at Xavier, finding he looked on with a scowl to match her own.

A slow throb began in her chest, one that told her clearly if Xavier had been noble and let the lady go to her love…the noble act had been set aside by this latest turn of events. Summer had just become untethered, free, accessible.

“But at heart a very loving creature,” Haddy went on, eyes darting from one to the other, no doubt trying to understand why his sister had run into the inn crying. “She always said she would have a love match or none at all.”

“Quite.”

Kenneth and Penelope had come from the inn, looking, by their hesitant steps and mouths poised to ask questions, as though they’d had some manner of explanation from Summer.

“But am I to understand there’s been a tiff between you two?” Haddy asked.

“She’s released him from their betrothal,” Xavier said, his arms crossed and a hand to his chin.

“She what?” Haddy said, looking like someone had struck him between the eyes with a cudgel. Penelope and Kenneth’s questions stayed behind their lips, and their eyes widened.

“She’s freed herself of me,” Michael said.

“You’re terrible,” his sister rebuked him. “This was no way to handle a parting, you idiot.”

Haddy was turning a trifle red. “You did all this in public? Yardley, have you embarrassed not just yourself but Summer? Has the Dillonsby name has been besmirched?”

“Oh, I suppose,” Michael agreed, waving a hand in the air. “Honor must be met, and all that. But as dueling is illegal—” Haddy grunted acknowledgment of that fact “—I think perhaps I have a better thought.”

Haddy’s brows had lowered dangerously, but he replied, “Which is?”

“I will marry the girl after all.”

Xavier cocked his head to one side, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he listened. Haddy’s scowl deepened. Genevieve considered boxing her brother’s ears.

Haddy thought for several long moments, but then his brow cleared. “Daresay that would do the trick. Though Summer could well put her heels down and refuse to have you back, I have no doubt. Not sure if I care to speak with her on your behalf—”

“Then don’t. Besides, no one will ever convince Summer of a thing unless Summer wishes to be convinced.”

Haddy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, much as Xavier had done. “ ’Fraid that may be true,” he conceded. “What then?”

“I’ll have to convince her myself, as I’m the only one she wishes to persuade her,” Michael said complacently.

Genevieve stared from one gentlemen to the other, mystified. “How will you ever do that, Michael? It’s quite clear you’ve mortally offended her, and without doubt broken her heart.”

Michael shook his head. “Not a bit of it.” He stopped to reconsider. “Well, perhaps. But I had to show the girl that I’ll be my own master. And now she knows it. Happily, she’s wanted me to pursue her for the longest time. She’ll come back around, make no mistake, though I’ve little doubt she’ll lead me a merry dance before she succumbs and owns to it.”

Genevieve’s mind spun at his audacity, but she said what first came to her tongue. “But you cannot love her.”

He turned to her, his expression as surprised as it had been yesterday. “Of course I do. Utterly. Who’d tolerate such a little beast if not for the love of her?”

“True, true,” Haddy muttered.

“Michael,” Genevieve cried, struggling to understand, refusing to look toward Xavier. “I don’t understand—”

“I can see you don’t. That’s because you are one thing Summer is not: generous. You give of yourself, and not with first calculating what you’ll get back for it. You cannot understand she wants something so very much—namely myself—that she has tried every trick to get me. She adores me. No doubt because I adore her as well. It’s been dashed difficult these past few months, you know, playing the part of the callow, heartless, uncaring youth. And shame on you, Genny , for believing it of me. Oh, I’m every bit as spoiled as she, but not callow, even you must own to that. But you see, I
had
to tell her I was not to be had, not under the terms she dictated.” He laughed then, shaking his head and smiling widely. “Who knows, perhaps this is her cleverest trick to date? Perhaps I’m still being manipulated by the little minx. But I shan’t mind. It’s time to look forward to the chase.”

“But what if you’re wrong? Terribly wrong?” she asked, her hand at her forehead.

He laughed again. “I’m not wrong. You’ll see for yourself, Puss, when I win her back.” He stepped around his sister, heading for the inn, whistling a carefree tune as he resettled his hat at a jaunty angle.

Kenneth and Penelope exchanged mystified glances.

“Has he gone mad?” Genevieve asked blankly, her hand falling to her side.

“Probably. But thank goodness the two of them will finally be getting on with things,” Haddy said. He paused, cocking his head to one side. “Although, she may well make him play the pretty for quite some while yet. Just to prove she has as much pluck as he does.”

“Good lord,” Kenneth murmured.

The five looked at one another. “What next?” Haddy finally said.

Kenneth was the first to recover. He held up a blue sheet of paper. “We move on, I say.”

Haddy nodded, and the others made noises of agreement.

“I see no need to wait upon the others to read the next clue, as it’s Penelope’s turn, and we must get on with collecting the next token,” he said, casting a dubious glance toward the inn.

Penelope took the paper. “We may have to send Michael on his way home. Regardless of how he thinks of his own charms, it’s difficult to believe Summer would wish to travel in any wise near the man.”

“I think you’re wrong there,” Xavier said to his sister.

Penelope’s right brow rose, questioning his correctness. “We’ll see.”

“The clue,” Haddy said gruffly to her.

Her mouth twitched, not a smile but rather doubt.
She knows something of love that has been put aside,
Genevieve thought to herself.

“‘
Four miles northeast of Chester am I,
” Penelope read the clue.  “’
The remains of Price, where I did die.
’” She shook her head. “It’s too easy, Kenneth. You’ve given me his name, and everyone knows James Price was hanged and that his bones remain still on Trafford Heath.”

He took the paper from her fingers just long enough to turn it over. “Read the back.”

She clucked her tongue. “You’ve added more? It’s your own forfeit you risk by doing so.”

He tipped his head a little to one side, conceding the point. “Just read it.”

“It says, ‘You must name James Price’s crime exactly and must recite the poem his remains have inspired.’”

Her fingers moved, as though she were counting, at the end of which she lifted dancing eyes. “I’ve not been caught out, dear Kenneth, and so you are saved. I’ve heard the answer from your very lips in the past. James Price robbed the Warrington Mail, and was hanged on the Heath for his crime. Years since, in his skull has been found a robin’s nest, and I’m afraid a chant grew from that unfortunate occurrence.”

“But how does it go?” Laura challenged, stepping forward, glancing at her brother to warn him he’d not escape his forfeit unless the entire clue was solved as stated.

But Penelope knew it. “‘
Oh! James Price deserved his fate. Naught but Robbin in his pate.
’”

There was a silent moment, then, “Not fair,” Laura cried. “Kenneth has been providing her with the answers. Is that why you two went off alone last night?” she challenged.

Penelope flushed a dark red, and Kenneth reached to straighten his cravat. “I should say not. We wandered afield, is all. It was dark,” he said.

Xavier turned away, perhaps so as not to let others read his expression, and Haddy offered a disbelieving snort.

“We were back before you two were,” Kenneth accused.

“We were looking for you,” Xavier said, facing them again. He almost smiled, acting undisturbed by the accusation.