Page 8 of If Not for the Duke

Sterling decided they had forgotten his presence for the moment. Rather bemused, he sank into the chair he had stood behind, interested in whatever Miss Wright shared.

“One story suggests the French hid gold there. Another insists it was the Spanish.”

“I had no idea there were so many.” Bernie leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Miss Wright.

Sterling smothered a smile. Her enthusiasm knew no bounds when it came to the supposed treasure on Oak Island. Would she tell their guest that they had begun a search of their own?

“What did your father believe?” Bernie asked.

A shadow passed over Miss Wright’s face, a vivid reminder that he had died searching for the treasure. It had only been a few years ago, and she and her sisters surely still grieved his loss. Especially when it was clear she’d loved him.

The thought had Sterling shifting in his chair. Love was not a word he associated with his own father. Duty. Respect, if begrudging. But not love. Such emotions made one weak, or so their father often told them. And Renwicks were never weak.

Sterling wondered if their father had felt any sort of tenderness toward them. He had certainly never shown it.

“My father,” Miss Wright finally began, “thought Captain Kidd was the most likely one to have buried treasure there.” She told them how the privateer had taken a ship loaded with riches only to be accused of piracy. He’d hidden the treasure in case he needed to use it to barter his freedom.

“That didn’t work well,” Sterling remarked.

Those blue eyes shifted to his in surprise as if she had forgotten he was sitting nearby. He couldn’t remember the last time that had happened.

“No, it didn’t,” Miss Wright agreed. “He was found guilty and hanged soon after. But what he said before his death has people dreaming about finding riches to this day. He insisted there was another, larger treasure. If the authorities would allow him, he would show them where he’d hidden it.”

“And?” Bernie asked.

“They chose not to believe him. However, my father said that if one considered the various amounts Kidd took while acting as a privateer, which is documented, a massive amount remains unaccounted for.”

“Fascinating.” Bernie shared a look with Sterling, making him wonder at her thoughts. Did the information make her even more hopeful there was treasure to be found on the island?

“There is also the story of strange lights said to appear on the island.” Miss Wright smiled, seeming to dare them to question the story.

“Oh, yes. That is supposedly what drew the original searcher to the island, wasn’t it?” Bernie asked.

Miss Wright nodded. “In 1795, a young man of sixteen years, who lived on a nearby island with his parents, swore he saw lights on Oak Island one night. He convinced two friends to join him to row across to the island to see what caused them. They found a strange depression in the ground and carvings on a nearby tree. Some accounts state they also discovered a block and tackle hanging on one of its branches. Would that have been enough to convince you to dig?”

Bernie considered the question as if she thought Miss Wright expected her to follow through on her answer. “I would certainly be curious. Curious enough to investigate.”

Suddenly, Miss Wright’s focus shifted to Sterling, causing his pulse to leap. “What of you, Your Grace? Would you have dug?”

To Sterling’s surprise, he found himself nodding. “What young lad doesn’t dream of finding buried treasure?”

“Truly, Sterling?” Bernie asked, obviously surprised.

“Of course.” Not that he would’ve been allowed to pursue such a nonsensical dream. “Those few clues would be enough to make one wonder.”

“My father would’ve agreed.” Miss Wright’s smile faded. “Though there were days when he swore he wouldn’t dig come the spring, he always did.”

“From the details in the museum exhibit, he only found a few items,” Bernie said.

“Enough to convince him something happened on the island. Wooden timbers aren’t found ninety feet below ground unless someone put them there.”

“And no one would put them so deep without a reason,” Sterling added.

“Exactly. But the work is difficult and dangerous.”

“As is most treasure hunting.” Sterling had heard enough lectures at the Royal Geological Society meetings to know that.

“Not all digs include traps to prevent searchers from finding what they seek.”

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