She gestured helplessly at Letitia, which was silly, since they both knew she would find no quarter there. “I am not sure I will have time, with seeing to Mrs. Powell and helping with Mr. Robinson’s correspondence.” She looked around for another excuse and found one. “And the garden, of course. I did promise to tend to the cottage garden.”
“Susannah, don’t be silly! Father and I will be thrilled to have you helping Nick,” Letitia chimed in. “And if the garden gets out of control, I’m sure he will return the favor and help out here.” Letitia looked at him, eyebrows raised as though daring him to challenge her on this.
A wry smile turned up his mouth, acknowledging that his friend would brook no argument, and he continued his pursuit of Mrs. Stanhope’s assistance. Because of her earlier enthusiasm, he couldn’t tell whether or not she wished to help. Something was preventing her from accepting. Certainly, he had not been friendly to the girl, and he could do nothing about that, but he had come here to win her help, and he had one more thing to offer.
“Additionally, I am led to believe that this is in fact a treasure hunt. My grandfather seems to have offered me the reward in place of the inheritance of Poppledown Park, so I believe it will be somewhat substantial. I will be happy to offer fifteen percent of the findings as payment for your help. And in the event that I am wrong in my belief, I will still offer a minimum of fifty pounds.”
***
Susannah tried very hard to maintain a casual expression, but inside she was reeling. Fifty pounds? That would be enough to make a start. She could go find her own sleepy little village like this one, and a little cottage to call her own. She could keep Amy employed and even give her a little extra to send home to her family.
And since Letitia had fallen ill and Susannah had become reacquainted with her mother’s journal, she had been thinking that perhaps midwifery would be her future. With fifty pounds to her name, she might even be able to find a midwife to apprentice to.
It would not create a lifestyle as comfortable as the one she’d had growing up—and it wouldn’t replace her dowry completely—but neither would she be penniless. It would keep bread on the table, without having to provide the references she would need to be a governess or companion.
Still, it was a large amount. “Fifty pounds is a large sum of money for simply playing a game, Mr. Daventry. Are you certain you wish to offer it?”
He shrugged. “I anticipate the game bringing me much more than that, so I don’t mind sharing. And in the event that there is no prize, fifty pounds will not bankrupt me.”
She glanced at Letitia, who confirmed the truth of that with a nod.
She would be a fool to refuse it. “Very well. I accept your offer.” She let out a sigh. “I hope that I will be helpful enough that you won’t regret making this deal.”
He grinned at her, and it was almost enough to make her turn tail and run screaming over her shoulder that she’d changed her mind. It ought to be a law that handsome, disapproving men could not have knee-weakening smiles.
She pressed on. “So when do we start?”
“Are you available this afternoon?”
She nodded, still a little awed at the morning’s turn of events.
“Then let’s begin today. Do you think you can find Poppledown Park on your own? It’s just down the path from the cottage, about half a mile.”
“I’ll see you then.” Her smile still felt a bit forced, but she was looking forward to exercising her brain a bit. It was only after he had taken his leave that she realized she should have asked what the next clue was.
***
Afternoon loomed large in Susannah’s mind. She had accepted an invitation to luncheon at the vicarage, but perhaps she had done so to keep her thoughts from Poppledown Park. From Mr. Daventry himself.
She stopped by the cottage afterward, for no real reason except that it was the closest thing to home she had right now, and she needed to feel safe for a moment before going into the den of the lion. There were moments he had been kind to her, but he had made clear he could not think highly of a woman like her, ignorant though he was of her true circumstances.
Amy was in the small kitchen, punching down bread dough, when Susannah arrived.
“Fifty pounds!” she exclaimed when Susannah told her of Mr. Daventry’s offer. “That’s amazing! You’ll be able to keep away from that guardian of yours for good!”
Susannah nodded. “That’s why I decided to do it. I just hope this deal doesn’t prove to be my own destruction.”
Amy frowned. “How would it?”
“We’re still not certain that Daventry won’t send me back to Hector. And even if he doesn’t, if we don’t solve the puzzles quickly enough—and if Letitia isn’t better soon—Hector might have time to find us anyway.”
Amy wiped the flour from her hands with a towel and stepped close to Susannah, putting her hand on her arm. “Miss Susannah, I know you aren’t too fond of God right now. Maybe you aren’t even sure He exists. But I am sure He does, and I know He will protect us. And you yourself know the promises in the Bible. All things work together for good.”
Susannah rolled her eyes. “Yes, I do know the promises, and I know that the rest of that verse says ‘to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ That’s not me.”
Amy stepped back and crossed her arms, an eyebrow raised. “Are you sure about that? Mr. Robinson seems pretty sure that you are serving God’s purposes, and Mrs. Powell too.” Her expression softened. “But just to be on the safe side, maybe you’d better get back to loving Him too. I’ve been trying to love Him enough for the both of us, but I could use some help.”
Amy’s words, the love in them, caused Susannah’s throat to tighten. But she just smiled tightly and waved a hand glibly in the air. “Oh, enough of this nonsense. I’ve given my word, and we need the money, so I’ll help Mr. Daventry despite the risk. I need to get on my way. I just need something from my room.”
Susannah gratefully ducked around the corner. She loved Amy dearly, but sometimes the maid spoke a little too boldly. Susannah rummaged through her bags until she found what she was looking for. She took a few fortifying breaths and stroked the quilt that Letitia’s mother had made. She’d come to take comfort in it and would rue the day she had to leave it behind.
Then she was off again, her father’s Bible in her hand. Her still-unruly garden gave way to true wilderness, the path leading over gently rolling hills shaded by trees. At last the path opened again to wide lawns filled with wildflowers, and what must be Poppledown Park rose in the distance.
It was a beautiful house, as all the old manor houses were, of course. It was made of rough gray stones, similar to other houses in the area, with some variations in color. Large windows and a few peaked roofs broke up its severity, and a turret graced one side. The doors and windows were trimmed with rows of rather large sea pebbles, reminding one of the nearness of the rocky seaside. It was less grand than some manor houses in other parts of England, but she understood why Mr. Daventry would fight for it.
She finally arrived at the door and was shown to a drawing room, with the explanation that Mr. Daventry would join her soon. The walk had done her good, but now that she was here, nervousness settled in again. She didn’t mind a few minutes to herself. But no sooner had she sat down than she heard quick light footsteps, and a young boy scurried through the door. He stopped and stared at her for half a breath, then grinned and ducked behind the sofa she was sitting on, out of view of the doorway.
Seconds later, she heard a woman’s voice coming from the hallway. “Gabriel Daventry, you come out now! It’s time for—” The woman stopped abruptly as she turned into the doorway and saw Susannah sitting there.
Susannah smiled.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” The woman—presumably Gabriel’s nurse—blushed furiously, dropped a curtsy, and backed out of the room, apparently believing her young charge had the same scruples as she about invading the privacy of guests.<
br />
After a moment, Susannah said, “I believe she’s gone now. You’ve done a fine job of throwing her off the trail.”
An eruption of giggles broke out from behind the couch. A good sign the boy was simply playing a game rather than avoiding a punishment of some sort.
“I have only one question,” Susannah continued. “What’s it time for?”
“Lessons,” came the voice behind the couch.
“Ah. What a travesty. On a day as fine as this.”
There was no response to this, so she went on.
“I’ve only just come from the wilderness myself.”
“Did you see any animals?”
“I saw seven deer, four squirrels, and a fox.”
“Foxes come out at night.”
“They hunt at night, yes, but sometimes they walk around during the day.”
This apparently piqued his attention, because his head poked up around the edge of the seat. With his dark hair and a thick fringe of lashes around even darker eyes, she could see he was his father’s son. Almost breathtaking in childlike beauty though, where his father had the hard angles of a man.
“What was a lady like you doing in the wilderness anyway? I thought ladies weren’t supposed to go in the wilderness.”
“We most certainly can. I suppose we’re like foxes, in a way. We spend most of our time in houses, but sometimes we can go in the wilderness, just as sometimes foxes go out in the daylight.”
Now he sat on the seat next to her. “Ah. I don’t know very many ladies. Only my nurse and my aunt Alice.”
“Well, I’m Susannah. It’s nice to meet you.” She extended a hand.
He turned slightly and bowed over it. “I am Gabriel.”
Quite the young gentleman.
“So I gathered,” she said, trying to smother a smile. It would never do to make him think she was mocking him.
Just then Mr. Daventry walked through the door. Before he could take in the scene, Gabriel jumped from the couch and ran to him. “Father!” he said, taking Mr. Daventry’s hand. “I’ve a lady I wish you to meet. She’s lovely, and she’s been to the wilderness, and she’s seen a fox.”
Mr. Daventry swung the boy into his arms to look him in the face. “Oh-ho, my boy! What mischief are you up to? And wherever is your nurse?”
At this, the boy ducked his head sheepishly. “It’s just that she was going to make me write my letters again.”
“And so you evaded her, is that it?”
“Yes, and Miss Susannah was ever so cordial and didn’t even rat me out.”
Susannah couldn’t help but chuckle, and it seemed his father couldn’t either.
“Well, son, it isn’t nice to hide from Nurse.”
“Yes, Father.”
“As it turns out, I have already met your lady friend. She’s here to help me solve a puzzle.”
“Oh, I love puzzles, Father! May I stay?”
Mr. Daventry looked to Susannah questioningly, and she quickly nodded her head. Gabriel’s enthusiasm was wonderful, and it would be a pleasure to have him stay longer. Not to mention it kept her from being completely alone with Mr. Daventry, and that was a clear advantage.
“Yes, you may stay, but only on the condition that you are very quiet while she and I speak. And then, depending on where we begin our search, you must go back to Nurse.”
“Yes, Father.” Now the boy wriggled out of his father’s arms and ran happily back to his spot next to Susannah. He peered at her, and when she looked at him, said conspiratorially, “Father said I could stay.” He shrugged his little shoulders.
She matched his expression and replied, in hushed tones, “Yes, I heard. I’m so glad, for I’ve been enjoying your company.”
At this, he nodded happily.
Mr. Daventry slid his long body into one of the chairs near the sofa. “Well, Mrs. Stanhope, it appears you’ve had quite the welcome to Poppledown Park. I apologize for the delay. It seems you’ve had time to strike up a fast friendship.”
Susannah laughed lightly. “We have indeed. But I assure you, it all happened rather quickly.”
“May I offer you some refreshment before we get started?”
“No, no. I had luncheon at the vicarage just before I came. I am ready to hear all about this next clue.”
“Ah. The clue itself is simpler this time around. It reads simply Proverbs 3:6.”
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Mr. Daventry paused. “Yes, that’s right.”
“Mmm. When I was learning that verse, my father told my sisters and I to think of the signposts on the way to town to help us remember it.”
This brought an outburst from the small guest. “Oh! We have a signpost on the way to our town! It’s very tall, and it has letters on it! Sometimes Nurse asks me to practice my letters by telling them to her!”
Susannah smiled at the child. “Indeed? That sounds like quite a challenge.”
The boy grinned back at her. “Would you like to see? I can take you there.”
Susannah glanced at the boy’s father for approval.
He shrugged and said, “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. I don’t have any better ideas. But only if you don’t mind the walk. And the company.”
“A beautiful walk in the beautiful countryside with the most charming gentleman I’ve met in ages? I couldn’t think of anything lovelier.”
“Smashing! I’ll lead the way!” And their little guide hurried away.
Chapter 16
This woman was infuriating. A fallen woman trying to deceive some of Nick’s nearest and dearest friends. He wanted to despise her. And yet here she was, playing little chasing games with his son—who was making the most uproarious of giggles—on the way to the signpost, which she had suggested they search based on her apparently extensive knowledge of the Bible. Not that he wouldn’t have—hadn’t already, in fact—had the same thought. He just hadn’t expected her to know the verse, let alone by memory.
And then there was the help she’d given Letitia. She had perhaps saved the life of one of his dearest friends. It was really difficult to continue to despise someone to whom one owed that kind of debt. Alas.
He supposed that was what he found the most infuriating.
The signpost wasn’t far. Just down the front path of Poppledown Park and then a short jaunt off to the left. And Gabriel led the way quickly, though he darted back and forth a bit to evade his new friend.
Though she played with his son, she kept pace with Nick. He hadn’t spoken to her since they had left the house. It was rude of him. A gentleman should make conversation. He sighed. He would try. Though he couldn’t think of anything he wanted to talk to her about. Except maybe how she had come to know the Bible so well, despite her obviously flawed upbringing. He didn’t suppose that question would receive much of an answer.
“Did you also grow up near the sea?” The question nearly erupted from him. Perhaps if he tiptoed around her upbringing, she would tell him what he wanted to know.
She smiled politely. “No, we were quite landlocked. I had never even seen the sea until Letitia and I went sea bathing yesterday. It was quite the initiation.”
“And did you enjoy yourself?” he asked, not because he cared. Just to keep the conversation moving.
Her smile seemed a little more genuine. “I did. Though if there is one thing that you and I will agree on, it is that I had lovely company. Letitia is one of the most delightful women I have ever met.”
“It is true. We do agree on that.” Without thinking, he offered this cake-headed question. “Do you think she will survive this birth?”
As one would expect, all jollity fled her face. She gave a little grimace. “I don’t know. I know my mother was a gifted healer. The midwives at home would send for her when they didn’t know what else to do. She helped many women, saved many lives. And although I am certainly not my mother, it is comforting to me that I have her notes.”
H
e nodded, silent. Perhaps he was too harsh in judging her. Perhaps she was right to try her mother’s unusual measures on Letitia.
“She does seem a little better today than yesterday.”
“A little. Not enough to ensure survival yet.”
Gabriel apparently had had enough of the adults taking no notice of him, and he darted past them, laughing and calling Susannah.
She put aside her somber mood long enough to feint at him, laughing back and calling him an imp.
Now he ran back ahead of them, his attention snagged by a tree with low-hanging limbs, yelling back his intention to climb it.
“What will you do if she worsens?” Nick asked.
She walked on for a moment without answering. “I am gathering some herbs. Some for a tisane to help the swelling. But some are used to make the baby come. It is too soon now. If we tried and were successful, I have no doubt that Letitia would be well again, but I very much doubt that the babe would survive. And if it did, its life would not be easy.”
“So we must wait.”
She nodded. “We must wait.”
They had nearly caught up to Gabriel in the tree. He was shouting down to them, inviting them to admire how high he had climbed. They stopped to shout up their praise for a job well done. Nick’s eyes slid sideward to watch her. She seemed genuinely impressed with his son, genuinely interested in his progress. It was nice to see another adult show him such attentiveness.
Even if she was a broken Cinderella.
Enough of that. If he didn’t stop thinking along those lines, he might start to admire her. And that would never do.
He called up to his son. “You have conquered the castle! And we have a signpost yet to vanquish! Come. Lead the way, our fearless leader!”
His son climbed to a lower limb and then jumped the rest of the way.
Nick remembered when he and Terence and Mark Robinson did the same. It seemed so long ago, made his bones hurt to think of it.
But Gabriel, of course, wasn’t daunted in the least. He ran ahead, skipping and twirling all the way to the junction of the roads, where the signpost stood, pointing southeast to Seaton, southwest to Beer, northeast to Colyford.
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