Page 33 of An Earl Unmasked
Minerva returned her attention to the paper. “Eighty-five.”
Diana glanced at him and mouthed, “Do you know?”
Randal wanted to say yes, but with his mind on pillows, he was toying with the idea of whisking her way to his chambers, not on his papa’s riddles. He cleared his throat and asked, “Minerva, could you please repeat the clue once more?”
Minerva handed him the paper and began to pace, her whole attention was on solving the riddle, which is what he should be focused upon, too.
He read over the clue twice before saying. “I believe this riddle was to be solved in conjunction with the prior one.”
Diana asked, “How so?”
The sweet lilt of her voice captured his full regard. “Clue number four led us to the ballroom. But once in the ballroom, where did it lead us?”
Diana’s eyes went wide with recognition. “How clever of you, my lord—the pianoforte!”
The compliment flipped his heart with joy Yet alarm bells rang in his head. He needed space before he acted rashly. However, his bottom remained firmly seated in the chair next to the woman whom he was rapidly falling in love with.
Chapter Sixteen
Silenced by thefrosty look that clouded Randal’s eyes, Diana busied herself with rearranging papers. All Season long, gentleman after gentleman had disappointed Diana. Most referred to her love of word puzzles as plain ridiculousness; others simply gave her the cut direct and left her alone, never to approach again. Despite his original objections, Randal had assisted her with every clue. It was clear that the man was clever, yet intelligence alone wouldn’t have allowed him to solve the clues—only a fellow lover of prose knew better than to simply take a word at face value.
Her heart stopped. Her gaze affixed to Randal’s relaxed features. Randal Wilson—Earl of Chestwick—the brilliant war strategist—the Beast of Chestwick—was the man she had been searching for.
The legs of Randal’s chair scraped against the floor, breaking her train of thought. With a curt nod, he left her to meander across the room to sit in the chair opposite to Greg. Her body swayed slightly forward, the intangible pull that had her wanting to be close to the man was growing in intensity. Her brother, who rarely found much to say to strangers, was openly conversing with Randal as if he was one of the family. Her siblings openly accepted Randal, unlike the few brave gentleman callers who had arrived at the Malbury townhouse with flowers this past Season.
With no one else close, Diana sat back and seized the moment to admire Randal’s profile. It was no wonder that Randal had been a successful army captain. His strength came from both his quick mind and his muscular form. She rubbed her palms together, recalling the feel of his hard broad chest. Randal was unlike any scholar she had ever been acquainted with.
Minerva stepped in front, blocking her view of the man. “Stop staring at him like he’s a treat you wish to devour.”
“I was doing no such thing.”
“Oh yes, you were.” Minerva placed her hands on her hips. “You claimed you wanted to find old Lord Chestwick’s prized literary piece before we depart in the morn…did you not?”
Randal had been right. If they solved the mystery this afternoon, what plausible reason would she have to return? None that Minerva would believe. The only excuse Diana would have—wanting to spend time with Randal. So, she didn’t want the riddle to be solved.
“Diana.” Minerva’s gaze bore down upon her. “We still have two or three more riddles to solve. If we concentrate, I’m certain we shall be successful. It is still the goal to obtain the treasure and leave Chestwick alone—correct?” With a slight shake of her head, Minerva said, “No need to reply—clearly it is no longer our primary objective.” She looked about and then added, “Perhaps, I should suggest Chestwick and I finish the game we started. If I take an extra moment or two to ponder over my moves, I could draw out the game until suppertime, and then we can officially declare the game a tie.”
Diana insanely wanted Randal’s attention for herself, not to watch him sit across from Minerva.
As if Minerva could read her mind, her sister added, “I promise not to prolong the game longer than necessary and, leaving the riddle unsolved, you shall have a logical reason to return at a later time—chaperoned, of course.”
Diana smiled. She wished she could have somehow made Minerva’s wishes come to fruition as her sister did for her. “Will you assist me to stand? I’d like to watch the game.”
“Are you certain your ankle is healed enough to bear weight?”
“Aye, I made it to the water closet unassisted earlier. However, it is a tad sore now.”
“Diana Malbury! Here I believed you were still in pain since you have let Chestwick carry you about like a babe, when in fact you have simply been enjoying his beastly attention.”
“He’s not a beast.”
“He’s hardly what one would call charming. He rarely smiles. His lips only curve a twinge in your direction. He barely speaks unless to bark orders…”
Minerva shifted closer, and Diana rested a hand on her sister’s arm. “That is because everyone else hardly ever pauses to take a breath.”
“True.” Minerva smiled and whispered, “Shall we wager how many paces before Chestwick swoops you up? Say half a month’s allowance?”
Diana had lost on the last two wagers she’d made during the Season with Minerva. The reasons for her sister’s wish to amass a large sum alluded her. Minerva was not one to run away from the family. She loved and cared for them too much to cause such angst and worry. “Very well, five.”
