Deception

by Amanda Quick

  “Then all is lost.” Magnus slammed his fist into his palm. “There are no bloody descendents.”

  “Could try digging up the whole island, I suppose,” Thaddeus said thoughtfully.

  Jared gave him a derisive glance. “Assuming you could even find the island, it is highly doubtful that you could discover the treasure by digging at random.”

  “We could help you, sir,” Robert volunteered.

  “We are very good at digging,” Hugh assured Jared.

  “So is Minotaur,” Ethan said.

  “Enough.” Jared held up a hand for silence. “Olympia is quite right. We do not have all the pieces of the puzzle yet. The search for clues must go on.”

  Olympia gazed at the scrap of paper that had been hidden in the dagger hilt. “We must try to discover if any of the Yorkes are still around.”

  Magnus frowned. “Told you, the line died out. Captain Yorke had no son to carry on the name, as far as I know.”

  “What about a daughter?” Olympia asked quietly.

  A stunned silence fell on the room.

  “Damme,” Thaddeus muttered. “Hadn’t thought about that.”

  “A daughter can pass along a family treasure or secret just as well as any son,” Olympia said. “Indeed, only yesterday Mr. Seaton was telling me the tale of how his grandmother ran a shipping empire that she had inherited from her father.”

  Jared’s indulgent expression vanished. His gaze turned cold. “I will not have Seaton involved in this, is that clear, Olympia?”

  “Yes, of course. Excuse me.” Olympia turned toward the door. “I must get back to the diary. There are one or two points I wish to check.”

  Magnus and Thaddeus swung around to follow her.

  “Allow us to assist you,” Magnus called.

  “No, I really do not think that would be helpful,” Olympia said. “I will let you know when I have something to add to our investigations.”

  “Well, we’ll just have to amuse ourselves in some other fashion,” Thaddeus said. He glanced speculatively at Jared. “What are ye teachin’ the boys, lad?”

  “You will not amuse yourselves in this schoolroom,” Jared said. “I will tolerate no further interruptions today.”

  “The lad always was a killjoy,” Magnus muttered to Olympia as he held the door for her. “Call us when you are ready for us, my dear.”

  “Very well.” Olympia looked at him. “What are you two going to do today?”

  Magnus and Thaddeus exchanged speculative glances. Then Magnus smiled brilliantly at Olympia.

  “I believe we’ll sort through a few of those invitations you received a few minutes ago. I’ll wager my son hasn’t bothered to introduce you to the polite world, has he?”

  Jared swore softly. “Olympia is not interested in going about in Society, sir.”

  “How do you know that?” Magnus demanded. “It’s obvious she ain’t had a chance to experience Society yet. You go on back to your bloody lessons, son. Leave your wife’s social activities to us.”

  Olympia looked from one stubborn male face to the other. “The thing is,” she said uneasily, “I really do not have a thing to wear.”

  Magnus patted her shoulder in an indulgent, fatherly fashion. “You leave that to Thaddeus and me, my dear. The two of us cut quite a dash in our youth. And our wives were considered diamonds of the first water, God rest their souls. We have a fine sense of style, do we not, Thaddeus?”

  “Aye, Magnus, that we do.” Thaddeus started to close the schoolroom door. He paused to lean back into the room. “Better hunt up a tailor this afternoon, lad. You won’t want to embarrass your wife.”

  “Damn it, Uncle—” Jared began.

  Thaddeus closed the door on the protest and grinned cheerfully at Olympia. “Run along and see what you can discover in that diary, my dear. I’ll send for a fashionable modiste and some samples. Should be able to get you outfitted with a couple of decent gowns in no time.”

  “As you wish,” Olympia said absently. She clutched the scrap of paper that she had removed from the dagger. Her mind was churning with fresh notions. “Pray excuse me. I really must get back to work.”

  Against his better judgment, Jared was waiting dutifully in the hall at nine o’clock the following evening. He was wearing a black coat, breeches, and the crisply folded cravat that had been ordained by his father. The heavy old town coach was at the bottom of the steps ready to whisk the Flamecrest clan off to a ball at the home of Lord and Lady Huntington.

  Jared did not know the Huntingtons but Magnus had assured him that Lady Huntington was an old acquaintance from the days when he had courted Jared’s mother.

  “Couldn’t ask for a better hostess to launch Olympia into the ton.” Magnus had rubbed his hands together with glee as he explained the plan to Jared. “Knows all the right people and they’ll all be there.”

  “I do not see any reason to launch my wife anywhere,” Jared had grumbled. “She’s perfectly content with her present round of activities. I do not think she will enjoy going out into Society.”

  “That only goes to show how much you know about women, son.” Magnus had shaken his head in despair. “Don’t know how you managed to land yourself a spirited female like Olympia.”

  Jared had slanted his father a thoughtful glance. “I collect that you approve of your new daughter-in-law?”

  Magnus had practically chortled. “She’ll fit right in to the family.”

  Jared smiled wryly at the memory of the conversation and then glanced impatiently at the hall clock. Neither Magnus nor Thaddeus had come downstairs yet. He had not seen Olympia at all since noon.

  Jared was anticipating her appearance with some trepidation. He knew his father and uncle had been closeted with the modiste and her minions for several hours the previous day. A gown had been delivered at five this afternoon along with several mysterious boxes but he had no notion of what to expect.

  He had seen enough of current fashion in town to know that low-cut bodices and thin, delicate fabrics were all the crack.

  If Olympia’s gown proved to be too outrageous, Jared decided, he would simply refuse to allow her to leave the house. A man had to stand his ground on some things.

  Graves appeared from the opening behind the staircase. Jared frowned when he saw that his new butler appeared even more dour than usual.

  “Beggin’ yer pardon, m’lord. Message just arrived at the kitchen door for ye. Figured ye’d want it right away.” He held out a sealed note.

  Jared took the note from him and glanced at the poor handwriting. “What the devil is this?”

  “Don’t know, m’lord. The boy said it was urgent.”

  “Bloody hell.” He ripped open the note and scanned the contents.

  Sir:

  Regret to inform you that the gentleman in question has not left the country after all. An associate saw him not more than an hour ago. I believe him to be headed toward his old place of business. Thought you might care to meet me there as soon as possible. I will wait for you in the alley behind the premises.

  Yrs,

  Fox

  Jared glanced once more at the top of the stairs as he folded the note. “This has to do with our old problem, Graves. Please do not inform my wife about it. She will only worry. Tell her that I will meet up with her later at the Huntingtons’.”

  “Right you are, sir.” Graves opened the door. “Perhaps I should accompany you?”

  “No need. Fox will be there.”

  Jared went out the door and down the steps. He wondered what he would do if he managed to get his hands on Felix Hartwell.

  Chapter 18

  “I was afraid of this.” Thaddeus cast a grim eye over the crowded ballroom. “Looks like that son of yours ain’t going to show at all, Magnus.”

  “Damn and blast.” Magnus swiped a glass of champagne off a passing tray and downed the contents in a single gulp. “Knew he wasn’t looking forward to the thing, but I thought he’d be gentleman enough
to put in an appearance if only to avoid humiliating Olympia.”

  “I’m not humiliated,” Olympia said forcefully. “I’m certain Chillhurst had a very good reason for having to go out this evening. You heard what Graves said. He received an urgent message.”

  “Bah, the only sort of message Jared would consider urgent is one having to do with his business affairs,” Thaddeus muttered. He swept Olympia from head to toe with an appraising glance. “He don’t know what he’s missin’. Young Robert was right. Ye do look like a fairy-tale princess tonight, lass. Don’t she look like a princess, Magnus?”

  “Aye, that she does.” Magnus smiled his charming pirate’s smile. “A diamond of the first water. By tomorrow morning you’ll be all the rage, m’dear. Damme, but that modiste was right about puttin’ you in emerald green.”

  Olympia smiled. “I am glad you approve of your creation, my lord. I must say, I do not feel at all like my customary self tonight.”

  In truth, she did feel quite unreal. The ankle-length silk skirts of her high-waisted gown seemed to float on the very air around her. The bodice was cut far lower than anything else Olympia had ever worn and fitted with tiny off-the-shoulder sleeves.

  Her hair had been parted in the center and drawn up into an elegant chignon. The style was trimmed with green satin flowers and artless little curls that danced around her ears. Her satin slippers and long kid gloves were the same gem-green as her gown.

  Thaddeus, Magnus, and the modiste had all agreed that the only jewelry that could possibly be allowed was a pair of emerald earrings. Olympia had explained that she did not own any emerald earrings.

  “I’ll take care of the matter,” Thaddeus had promised.

  He had produced a pair of spectacular emerald and diamond earrings the afternoon of the ball. Olympia had been horrified.

  “Where on earth did you get those?” she demanded suspiciously.

  Thaddeus had contrived to look hurt. “They’re a gift, lass.”

  “I could not possibly accept such a valuable gift, sir,” she had said at once.

  “Ain’t me who purchased ’em for ye,” Thaddeus had assured her with a sly wink. “It was your husband.”

  “Chillhurst bought these for me?” Olympia had stared at the jewels in wonder. She had been startled and secretly thrilled at the thought that Jared had taken time from his busy schedule to select a pair of earrings for her. “He chose them, himself?”

  “What I meant,” Thaddeus had explained very carefully, “is that he purchased ’em for ye in a manner of speakin’. True, he didn’t actually pick ’em out for ye, but rest assured it was his money that paid for ’em.”

  “Oh.” Olympia had promptly lost interest in the earrings.

  “Here now, it’s very nearly the same thing as buyin’ ’em for ye himself, lass,” Thaddeus had insisted. “The thing is, Chillhurst is a nice enough nephew but he ain’t got no notion of style.”

  “That’s right, girl,” Magnus had said solemnly. “No notion of fashion at all. But he’s the only one in the family since Captain Jack himself that’s had the knack of makin’ money, y’see.”

  Thaddeus had nodded cheerfully. “No gettin’ around the fact that any blunt Magnus and I and everyone else in the clan has to spend came from Chillhurst in one way or another.”

  Olympia had scowled in annoyance. “In that case, I would think that you and the Earl and the rest of the family would treat Chillhurst with a bit more respect, sir.”

  “Oh, we’re quite fond of the lad,” Thaddeus had said. “Don’t doubt it for a minute. But there’s no denyin’ he ain’t out o’ the same mold as the rest of us.”

  Robert, Hugh, and Ethan had been awestruck at the sight of Olympia as she had descended the stairs that evening.

  “I say, you look beautiful, Aunt Olympia,” Hugh had whispered.

  “The most beautiful lady in the whole world,” Ethan had added.

  “Like a fairy-tale princess,” Robert had concluded.

  Olympia had been touched by their admiration. It had buoyed her up a bit after the letdown she had experienced upon discovering that Jared was not in the hall to witness her transformation.

  The flare of disappointment had made her aware for the first time that she had been eagerly anticipating Jared’s reaction to her new finery.

  “Damme, here comes Parkerville,” Magnus announced. “No doubt he’ll be wantin’ an introduction and a dance, just like the others.” He glanced at Olympia. “Sure you don’t want to take the floor, m’dear?”

  “I told you, I do not know how to dance,” Olympia said. Aunt Sophy and Aunt Ida had not considered dancing an important accomplishment for a young woman. They had favored instruction in Greek and Latin and geography.

  “We’ll take care of that little problem soon enough,” Thaddeus whispered as an elderly, bewhis-kered man drew close. “I’ll engage a dancing instructor tomorrow.”

  “In the meantime, I’ll handle old Parkerville,” Magnus muttered under his breath. “Man always did have a talent for lechery.” He inclined his head at the newcomer.

  “Evening, Parkerville,” Magnus boomed, “Been an age since we last ran into each other. How’s your lovely lady wife?”

  “Dead, thank you.” Parkerville turned an oily smile on Olympia. “Heard you’ve got a daughter-in-law at long last, Flamecrest. Word has it your boy’s been keep-in’ her tucked away out of sight until tonight. Now that I’ve seen her for myself, I can see why. You’ll introduce me to her, will you not?”

  “Of course.” Magnus went through the introduction with a bored air.

  Lord Parkerville took Olympia’s gloved hand in his and lingered over the back of it. “Charmed, madam. May I have this dance?”

  Olympia smiled distractedly as she wriggled her hand free from his grasp. “No, thank you, sir.”

  Parkerville looked deeply distressed. “Perhaps later?”

  “I doubt it,” Magnus said, with casual satisfaction. “My daughter-in-law is extremely particular in her choice of partners.”

  Parkerville glared at him. “Is that a fact, sir?”

  “Yes, indeed.” Magnus smiled benignly. “She hasn’t danced with anyone all evening, in case you’ve failed to notice.”

  “I have not failed to notice,” Parkerville said. “Nor has anyone else in the room.” He gave Olympia a speculative smile. “We are all waiting to see whom she will favor.”

  Olympia did not care for the tone of his voice. “Sir, I do not … ”

  “Lady Chillhurst.” Lord Aldridge emerged from the crowd and came to a halt in front of Olympia. “Delighted to see you here this evening.”

  Magnus assumed a threatening expression. “Do you know this man, my dear?”

  “Oh, yes.” Olympia smiled at Aldridge. “How nice to see you, sir. Is your wife with you?”

  “She’s about somewhere.” Aldridge smiled hopefully. “I say, can I convince you to dance with me, madam? It would be my great honor to be the first to lead you out onto the floor.”

  “No, thank you,” Olympia began. “You see, I do not … ”

  “Olympia. I mean, Lady Chillhurst.” Gifford Seaton made his way through the throng to Olympia’s side. “Heard you were here this evening. Everyone’s talking about it.” He surveyed her with surprise and open admiration. “Allow me to tell you, madam, that you look ravishing.”

  Magnus scowled at him. “You’re young Seaton, ain’t you? I recall meeting you when your sister was engaged to my son.”

  “Aye, I remember him, too.” Thaddeus bristled. “I doubt that Chillhurst has seen fit to introduce you to Lady Chillhurst, Seaton, and we certainly do not intend to do so. Off with you, now.”

  Gifford gave him an annoyed glance. “Lady Chillhurst and I have already met. We have mutual interests.” He turned back to Olympia. “Is that not right, madam?”

  “Yes, quite correct.” Olympia could feel the palpable tension in the atmosphere. “Please, gentlemen, do not embarrass me or your son by ca
using a scene. Mr. Seaton and I are acquainted.”

  Magnus and Thaddeus gave her disgruntled looks.

  “If you say so,” Magnus muttered. “Surprised Chillhurst allowed the introduction, if you don’t mind my sayin’ so.”

  “Chillhurst had nothing to do with it.” Gifford gave Magnus a sarcastic smile. “I told you, Lady Chillhurst and I have mutual interests. We are both members of the Society for Travel and Exploration.”

  Magnus grimaced. Thaddeus continued to glower.

  Olympia frowned severely at her new in-laws. “That is quite enough out of both of you. Mr. Seaton has as much right to be here tonight and to speak to me as anyone else.”

  Gifford smiled at her. “Thank you, madam. I trust I also have as much right to request a dance as anyone else here tonight.”

  Olympia smiled ruefully. “Yes, of course. Unfortunately, I fear I must refuse.” She paused as her eye fell on the elaborate fob of Gifford’s watch. “But I would like to speak to you for a few minutes if I may, sir.”

  Seaton’s smile assumed a hint of triumph. “My pleasure, madam. Allow me to escort you to the buffet room.”

  Olympia took the arm that Gifford extended. She saw Magnus’s eyes narrow. Thaddeus’s scowl grew more fierce. She quelled them both with a look.

  “I shall be back shortly, my lord,” Olympia said to the Earl. “Please excuse me. I wish to discuss something important with Mr. Seaton.”

  “Well, well, well,” Parkerville murmured behind the pair. “Now, this is an interesting development, is it not?”

  Magnus and Thaddeus turned to him with thunderous expressions.

  Olympia ignored them all and urged Gifford forward. “Come, sir, I have been most anxious to speak with you. I have a few questions I must ask you.”

  “What sort of questions?” Gifford guided her through the crush of brilliantly dressed people.

  “About your watch.”

  Gifford gave her a startled glance. “What in blazes does my watch have to do with anything?”

  “I’m not certain yet, but I would very much like to know why you chose the motif of a sea serpent for the decoration.”