Page 18 of If Not for the Duke

“Yes, but how many times did Father say something similar?” Lena asked. “It must be in a treasure hunter’s nature to see the possibilities and remain optimistic. That doesn’t mean he’ll find anything.” Her words didn’t dismiss the knot in her stomach.

“What new technology do you think he intends to use?” Norah asked.

None of them had an answer. Not even Marbury, Vanbridge, and their grandfather had a guess as to what equipment Clarke could use that David Wright hadn’t already tried.

Marbury turned from where he’d stood staring out the window to face them. “I must say I don’t know what our response would’ve been if Renwick had come to us before the article in the newssheet. It’s not as if we could stop him from digging.”

His gaze met Ella’s, the tenderness palpable between them, pinching Lena’s heart. She was so pleased they’d found each other.

“True,” her grandfather agreed. “But I, for one, am not fond of surprises.”

Lena shared an amused look with her sisters. Their arrival in London had proven that to be true. His Grace had been less than pleased to find them on his doorstep when he hadn’t been aware of their existence. Only their persistence had worn down his defenses.

“I can’t believe that His Grumpiness and his sister were willing to ask me questions about Oak Island, all while they were already having work done on the island.” Lena scowled at the thought.

“His Grumpiness?” Vanbridge laughed, along with Marbury. “Is that what you call Renwick?”

Lena pressed a hand to her mouth, surprised the term had slipped out. “My apologies.” She glanced at her grandfather, hoping he wasn’t offended. To her surprise, he chuckled.

“Renwick is a rather dour man,” he agreed. “He seems to find little that pleases him.”

It was true, Lena realized. What had happened to make Renwick that way? And what would he look like when he smiled?

“I think the important thing is for us to show a united front on the topic,” her grandfather continued. “Do we show outrage at his efforts?”

“Or do we act as if we don’t care?” Ella asked. “Though I don’t think either will change the circumstances.”

“I don’t want them to find anything,” Norah confessed with a glance at her husband. “It seems like it would shed a poor light on Father’s efforts.”

“I think we can all agree it’s unlikely they will,” Vanbridge said. “But it might not hurt to have a plan in place in case they do.”

“You mean an idea of what we might say?” Marbury asked.

“Exactly.” Vanbridge nodded. “A response of some sort we’ve prepared so we’re not taken by surprise again.”

“It’s inconceivable to think they’ll actually find the Money Pit.” Lena shook her head, unable to imagine how she’d feel at that news. “But they might find a few artifacts.” She looked at each of her sisters in turn. “That could prove helpful as it would show Father was on the right path.”

“It would,” Ella agreed. “We will be certain to mention that if asked.”

“Have no doubt that we’ll be asked,” their grandfather said. “And if the Money Pit is found?”

Lena stared at him in surprise. She would’ve sworn that he would never use the term, given his feelings toward David Wright. The fact that he had was a testament to how quickly life could change, a lesson she should’ve learned by now.

“I think we’ll have to consider that particular possibility for a time before we can say for certain.” Ella bit her lower lip. “As Lena said, it’s inconceivable.”

Lena nodded, her heart heavy with worry. But what if Clarke did? Their father’s name would be bandied about as a joke. He’d be remembered for failing where someone else had succeeded with ease. She couldn’t bear the thought, and neither would her sisters be able to.

*

There was littleSterling could do to mitigate any potential damage, which irritated him to no end. He sent a stern telegram to Clarke with an order to refrain from conducting any additional interviews with the press and advising that all future statements were to be run through Sterling. Whether the man would listen when he hadn’t the first time remained to be seen.

Though he received several requests from the press for interviews, including one from the reporter who wrote the article featuring Clarke, he ignored them, not wanting to add more fuel to the fire.

He refused all callers so he could spend the morning with Bernie to make certain she wasn’t overly distressed. Her upset at the turn of events was understandable, as was her concern about what Miss Wright and her sisters must think.

That was his worry as well, though he knew there were others who would be displeased with him. The Duke of Rothwood was at the top of the list, followed closely by the Earl of Marbury and the Marquess of Vanbridge. Then came the majority of the members of the Royal Geological Society.

The situation was a tangle. He didn’t appreciate Clarke sharing the information publicly when he’d ordered him not to. Though he knew Clarke was considered a rebel by many, Sterling had thought they had an understanding.

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