Page 14 of If Not for the Duke

Lena sighed. She’d hoped her sisters would see something she hadn’t. Something that might point her in the right direction and allow her to move forward. The idea of finding a clue in the carefully written phrases that would lead to a development as to the location of the treasure was more appealing than she could’ve guessed.

Perhaps she was more like her father than she’d realized—a treasure hunter at heart who looked for evidence in the smallest details that might reveal a hidden chest of gold.

How silly of her. Especially when nothing but memories tied them to Oak Island now. Even if she found anything meaningful, what would she do with it? She and her sisters had no idea who was involved in the company that had purchased the plot of land that her father and Mr. Johnson had owned and explored for decades.

But she couldn’t let it go.

“Would you at least agree that further study of the letters is warranted?” Lena asked. Then again, she had already decided she would proceed, regardless of what her sisters said.

“Certainly.” Ella nodded.

Relief filled Lena. She supposed she wanted justification to pursue this. Protecting their father’s memory was just as important to her as it was to her sisters. If more clues existed that proved David Wright had been close to finding the treasure before his death, Lena wanted to find them. It seemed the least she could do since she hadn’t been able to save him the day he’d died.

Ella skimmed the letter again. “The part where Ebenezer Jenkins wrote, ‘You will find my love near the marked tree. The same mark I mentioned before.’ Is it referenced in the other letters?”

“Only once, but it’s just as vague,” Lena said. “Still, it’s so odd that he refers to a marked tree when Father was so enamored with the clue that it started him on the path to Oak Island.”

“Enamored is a good word.” Norah offered a rueful smile. “The streaks on that tree might have been a result of anything. Bless Father and his optimism, but his insistence that they’d been carved by whoever dug the Money Pit was questionable at best.”

“I think those were carvings,” Lena argued, despite being uncertain when they’d lived on the island. “We all saw them. None of the other trees looked like that one.”

“True.” Ella had always been the diplomat of the family. She never discredited anyone’s opinion but still managed to bring reason and logic into the discussion. At times, that had been a necessity to counter their father’s hopefulness, especially after their mother had died. “While not proof, they could be a clue connected to the carvings found elsewhere on the island.”

Norah scowled. “But none of the carvings on the island matched. Nor do we know what any of the carvings mean.”

Lena heaved a sigh, wishing she had a valid argument. “The letters are still intriguing.”

“Very much so,” Ella agreed. “I, for one, would agree that it’s worth taking the time to note the oddly worded passages and compare them to see if there’s a pattern.”

“Oh!” Norah straightened, her eyes widening with excitement. “Excellent idea. Do you want me to ask Simon to look at them?”

“Would you mind if I made an attempt first?” Lena asked. She couldn’t explain why she felt compelled to try when she was no expert. Whether the urge came from a knowing feeling or stubbornness, she didn’t know.

“Of course not.” Norah studied her. “Did Lady Bernice say something more? Anything that is making you wonder if she’s discovered a clue?”

“I confess that the same question crossed my mind,” Ella said, her head tilted to the side as she watched Lena.

Suddenly the image of Sterling filled her mind. His interest in his sister’s opinion of the letters had struck her as curious. He seemed like the last person to indulge in a fantasy such as Oak Island, regardless of how much he cared for his sister.

“Renwick seems to take Lady Bernice’s opinions to heart,” Lena said at last. “I suppose that lends extra weight to them.”

“What are your thoughts on the duke?” Ella asked. “He is a rather stern man, don’t you think?”

“Except for when he looks at his sister,” Norah added. “The tenderness he showed for Lady Bernice at the garden party was endearing.” Her gaze took in both her sisters. “The duke is certainly handsome, wouldn’t you agree?”

Ella blinked as if surprised by the question. “I suppose so.”

Norah shook her head and shifted her attention back to Lena. “Forgive our sister. She is so enamored with her husband that I don’t think she notices other men.”

“Why would I when I already married the best of them all?” Ella grinned.

Norah gave her a mock glare. “It’s clear that I did. However, we shall argue the point at another time. For now, allow us to agree Renwick is handsome.”

Lena’s lips twisted as she considered the statement. “His Grumpiness might be handsome, but his manners leave something to be desired.”

“His Grumpiness?” Ella erupted into laughter. “Wait until I share that with Leo.”

“You can’t tell me you don’t agree.” Lena sniffed. “He doesn’t go out of his way to be kind to anyone other than Lady Bernice.”

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