In the end, they found a maid who directed them without question and soon Vanessa and Crispin were stepping into the kitchens.
“May I help you?” a curious kitchen maid asked.
“Yes, we are looking for a baking tin,” Vanessa said.
An older woman harrumphed. “I didn’t think anyone would solve that riddle.” She reached over and lifted a plate with two biscuits. “Take these to Lady Sewell.”
She then gently pushed them from the kitchen.
Crisp reached over and took a biscuit for himself.
“We are to take these to Lady Sewell,” Vanessa reprimanded.
“She has an entire tier of biscuits and cakes, and I am famished.”
“Then you should have come to breakfast,” she chastised.
“That would have required that I socialize and be nice.”
Vanessa snorted. “You seemed to enjoy Society before you left for Greece.”
“Yes, well, much has changed. I have little tolerance for the frivolities and gossip and whatnot.”
“Ah, Lord Crispin and Miss Claxton, you have won today.” Lady Osbourne nearly cheered as they entered.
“Unfortunately, none of the others have come inside,” Lady Sewell advised. “If they are having difficulty deciphering the first riddle, they will never determine the last.”
“Give them time,” Lady Osbourne insisted. “They do not have the same skills of observation as these two.”
“But what shall they do for entertainment while we wait on the others?” Lady Sewell demanded, as if she did not approve, though Crispin couldn’t understand why.
“We will stroll the grounds,” Vanessa offered and pulled on his arm. “Come to know the estate as it might benefit us tomorrow.”
And while they were doing so, they would search for the ruby.
Vanessa woke in an excellent mood, and nearly hummed as she made her way to breakfast. Most of the guests were already present, with the exception of Crisp. As Vanessa only knew the others by way of a passing acquaintance, she filled her plate and settled away from them, hopeful that Crisp would join them for this meal and take the seat next to hers.
Yesterday, as they visited the gardens, Crisp spoke of his visit to China, and how he began to collect swords, purchasing those that were of interest wherever he traveled. This led to an interest in daggers, and thus another collection began.
The way he described his library, with swords on the wall, rare manuscripts and scrolls, daggers, vases, busts, pottery, and all manner of rarities, she longed to visit to see the collection for herself. Unfortunately, he was a bachelor and she’d not be able to visit without first an invitation and second a chaperone—preferably a relation.
Her heart warmed just thinking about the hours they’d spent together yesterday, and she dearly hoped that today was the same.
With those thoughts, Vanessa also reminded herself that she must be careful not to become too attached or get lost in the past that they once shared. Just because Crisp and the memories still lingered in her heart, didn’t mean that there was a future any more than there had been nine years ago. Besides, her focus should be on finding the ruby, though she wished Lady Osbourne could at least recall the last time she had seen the item, for it would at least be a place to start.
If the ruby was so valuable, priceless even, how did she manage to lose it and not know when or how?
Vanessa supposed it didn’t matter so long as it was found, which reminded her that she’d not told Crisp what she wanted when she won the wager.
Just thinking about voicing what she wished to win caused her heart to beat heavier and her palms to grow damp, and she dearly hoped that Crisp didn’t reject the proposition out of hand. That would be even more humiliating than when she’d been left standing at the altar.
“You’re blushing.”
So caught up in her thoughts, Vanessa hadn’t realized that Crisp had entered the breakfast room and had retrieved a cup of coffee.
“I am not,” she argued. Though, her face was rather warm, as was her body. Most likely due to what she desired to win and why she must find the ruby first. The heat could also be from anticipated embarrassment of when she did find the nerve to tell Crisp what she wanted when she won the wager.
“The riddles,” a footman announced, then stopped by each team and made certain they received their copy, which included two riddles. Crisp placed it on the table between their seats and they both leaned in to read.
