“I think that’s an absolutely lovely sentiment.”
Lord D’Asti’s voice was soft and husky, and perhaps a bit strained with some private emotion which Eugenia couldn’t quite identify. He swallowed convulsively, and Eugenia had an overwhelming urge to pat his hand sympathetically, or perhaps rub her hand in soothing circles between his shoulder blades, but she knew that was a wildly inappropriate thought for her to have, especially considering the events of the past few months.
Edward lifted the parchment and read Eugenia’s riddle aloud.
“From low to high, yet still well hidden
Of earth and sky, of hearth and midden,
Each waits in darkness, all together
Above a home, safe from the weather
Surrounded by the past, yet for your future
In an old estate, set by waters pure
Choose the right place, by neighbour’s measure
Climb to the top, you’ll find your treasure.”
Hearing someone else read the riddle aloud gave Eugenia a moment of inspiration that had eluded her in the past. She rushed over to the drawing room window and looked out at Ashbrook’s grounds. A beautiful, clear brook wended its way back and forth across the rolling green grounds and through the ash grove on its way to join the river at the back of the property.
“What is it?”
Edward strode over to join her at the window, and everyone else followed.
Eugenia raised a finger and tapped on the glass gently, first pointing at the brook, then at the river.
“What if ‘waters pure’ is referring to the brook and the river?”
“I suppose it could be, yes.” Edward shrugged. “But that alone doesn’t seem to be reason enough to get excited, in my opinion.”
“It’s not just that!” Eugenia grew animated, turning her attention to the view from the window once again. “Ashbrook is an old estate which was out of use for many years before you gifted it to Lady Gainsbourne.” Edward nodded for Eugenia to go on. This time, she pointed to the far right side of the vista the drawing room window presented to them. “Look there. I can see Billington Hall on the property next door from here. I couldn’t even begin to think of a better neighbour to have than Edward. And Thistlewayte Hall is just a little further on that way, past Billington Hall. So, ‘by neighbours measure’, Ashbrook is all but perfect.”
Eugenia whirled around, excitement leaving her practically vibrating on the spot.
“What if the riddle is referring to Ashbrook?” She chewed on her bottom lip, pacing back and forth in front of the window. Mulling over the other words. From low to high… Edward had found his treasure in a cellar, the lowest part of the house. If one were going from low to high, then the opposite of the cellar made the most sense. “Edward do either you or Lady Gainsbourne have the keys to the attic?”
Lady Gainsbourne shook her head.
“None of the keys we have open the attic.”
“The attic? No. But hold on one moment. I’ll see if it’s somewhere in my study here.” Eugenia was amused - Edward was so excited that, instead of calling Barstow for the keys, he went looking for them himself. He returned shortly with a smile and an oil lamp. “Come, the hunt begins.”
Edward was grinning, giddy as a school boy, and soon they were all laughing and talking excitedly. Lord D’Asti’s fingers brushed against the back of Eugenia’s hand, sending another thrill — an entirely different sort of excitement — buzzing through her body.
Very quickly, they arrived at the door to the attic with a large ring of keys in hand. Eugenia regarded the bundle.
“Do you know which key it is?”
Edward shook his head.
“No – we’ll just have to try them all. But as far as I know, this ring holds a copy of every key related to this estate.”
There must have been more than twenty keys, and they tried each one in turn, but none of them even began to turn in thelock. Eugenia groaned and shook her head, disappointed that her idea had been a failure.
“I should have known—”
