Page 28 of Lady Louisa and the Carriage Clock
“You have no desire to sell the clock?” Lord Wycliffe asked gravely.
“Not at present.” She took a sip of tea. “I have grown fond of it for the short time it has been in my possession. And my brother helped me to acquire it, so there is now some sentimental attachment to the piece.”
She’d spoken tongue-in-cheek, not being able to help herself when it came to provoking the man.
A moment later she was sure she had seen a light in Cecil’s eyes. He’d thought of something. The viscount took a sip of his tea and remained silent. Evidently, he did not wish to share whatever insight had come to him.
“You’ve had an idea,” Louisa whispered, raising a brow.
“I have?” His expression was bland.
“Oh yes,” she replied mischievously. “If you want me to consider selling you the clock, you’re going to have to be more open with me, Lord Wycliffe.”
Her words and tone of voice brought heat to her face. She was almost flirting with the man. His eyes widened, and it was his turn to raise a brow.
Louisa raised her chin, not retreating. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted that Edith was looking down at her teacup, one hand nervously fiddling with her earbob.
There was silence in the room except for the sound of their breathing and the pop of embers in the hearth from a dying fire.
Cecil sighed. “I believe the clues to the riddle are the subject of the clocks. The decoration of the clocks.”
“That is a brilliant idea,” Edith replied, looking up and dropping her hand from her earlobe. “What is the subject of Louisa’s clock, Cecil?”
The viscount picked the clock back up and studied it, turning it in his hands. “This kneeling figure that is chained is Cupid. The standing woman holding a bow is Venus. The torchieres and floral garland may or may not be relevant to the riddle.”
“You are correct that the figures are indeed Cupid and Venus.” Louisa rose to her feet and retrieved the Thomas Hope tome she’d left on a dresser in the room. “Both clocks are described in this book.”
Setting the book on the table before her, Louisa skimmed through the pages. “The other clock has a figure representing what I believe is Diana, goddess of the hunt. The sketches in this book are not as detailed as they could be.”
Once Louisa found the page she wanted, she turned the book for the viscount to see. “Legend states the riddle will unleash a devastating secret about the ton,” she replied. “You believe that secret alludes to the Rogue’s Alliance, Lord Wycliffe?”
“Although there are many stories associated with the clocks.” The viscount studied the sketches of the timepieces in the book before returning his gaze to Louisa’s clock, never meeting her gaze. “It is hard to know which ones are true.”
Edith spoke into the short silence. “I can think of no one in the ton known as Cupid or Venus. Diana is a common enough name. What is significant about those names?”
“That is the riddle.” Lord Wycliffe kept his attention on the timepiece before him. “I also agree that the second clock depicts the goddess Diana.”
“At least we have a few hints now.” Edith asked hesitatingly, “Are you sure you don’t want Cecil to take possession of the clock, Louisa? You could be in danger from the RA.”
Louisa now had two pairs of eyes on her. The viscount’s last statement had convinced her of something. “Perhaps I could be swayed to give up my clock if Lord Wycliffe would allow me to examine its partner?”
“The other clock?” Edith knit her brows.
The viscount showed no reaction when she replied, “Oh yes, my friend. Lord Wycliffe most assuredly possesses the other Roman mythology clock.”
Chapter Ten
Blast! Lady Louisa was too clever for her own good. Cecil thought quickly, arranging his features into a blank mask.
“The objective is to keep you safe, Lady Louisa, not to expose you to additional risk,” he replied smoothly.
“You have heard my terms, Lord Wycliffe,” the lady replied with a shrug, settling back against the cushions of the settee.
Lady Edith smiled softly and took a sip of her tea, not weighing in on the matter. He couldn’t think of any way out of his dilemma.
“Lady Louisa, you’re being unreasonable.”
The lady bit her lip a moment before replying with a sigh, “Am I? How badly do you want my clock?”
