Page 15 of If Not for the Duke

“I don’t know him well, but from what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t argue,” Ella said.

“To be fair, I’m not certain it’s his fault.” Lena had only to remember the conversation about the late duke. “Their father was a harsh man, even to his children, from what Lady Bernice said. He was very impatient with her illnesses when she was a child.”

“A child?” Ella’s mouth gaped in shock. “Who could hold a child responsible for illness?”

“The late duke, apparently. Is it any wonder that Renwick is indulgent toward his sister?” Lena rather wished he wasn’t. Then it would be easier to dismiss him from her thoughts.

“That’s terrible.” Ella still seemed to be absorbing what Lena had shared. “I shall take care to be especially nice to Lady Bernice when I meet her.”

“Do you think there could be more to the letters?” Norah asked with one brow lifted as she looked at Lena. “Something she’s not telling you?”

Lena considered the question. “Perhaps. She does seem convinced that they say something, but I have yet to see it.”

“What if she’s holding some back?” Norah glanced between them.

Ella nodded slowly. “That would make sense.”

“It’s certainly worth further investigation,” Norah suggested.

Lena glanced at the letters stacked on the table at her elbow. “If she hasn’t already given me the entire collection, what could I possibly say that would convince her to do so?”

“Not so much what you say,” Ella suggested. “But what you do.”

Lena frowned at her sister. “I don’t understand.”

“Surely befriending Lady Bernice and her brother wouldn’t be so difficult.” Norah lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug.

“Exactly.” Ella gave a single nod.

“You mean deceive them?” Lena was shocked at the suggestion.

“It’s not a deception since you like Lady Bernice,” Norah countered. “I would guess that she’s in need of a friend.”

“Do be careful though,” Ella warned. “Her brother might see through any attempts at artifice. Be your normal friendly self and see what happens. If she has been holding anything back, she might eventually be inclined to share it with you once she comes to know you better.”

“True.” Norah’s pleased smile suggested she thought it was the perfect plan. “There’s no rush to discover the full truth.”

“Perhaps you’ll sense something as you continue to read the letters.” Ella raised a brow as she watched Lena, obviously wondering how she felt about the idea.

“Perhaps.” That was as much as Lena wanted to say.

Her thoughts held on Renwick. Putting herself in close proximity to him seemed a terrible idea. Even the thought of doing so caused her heart to speed. For some reason, she didn’t think it had anything to do with treasure or Oak Island.

No. It had to do with the man himself, along with her unfortunate reaction to him.

But the expectant expressions on her sisters’ faces left her little choice. “I will see what I can do.”

*

Two days later,Sterling settled into his chair at the breakfast table after an early morning ride. He reached for the cup of coffee Foster had just poured with one hand andThe Timeswith the other.

His morning routine rarely varied as he had found soon after his father died that taking time for himself before his day began in earnest had many positive effects.

He prepared to take his first sip as he scanned the headlines, only to abruptly set the coffee down as he stared at the newssheet in shock.

Famous treasure hunter launches a new quest, the headline declared. An uncomfortable feeling lodged in the pit of his stomach. It came as no surprise to see Walter Clarke’s name in the first paragraph of the story that followed the headline.

Walter Clarke announced he is now digging for treasure on Oak Island in Nova Scotia and has already made significant progress.

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