“You understand what I’m afraid of.”
Dominic nodded. “I do. Of course, I do. But it’s a risk worth taking.”
Tess cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s gaze her way. “As much as I don’t want to create enmity between siblings or with you, Miss Prince, since I’m very much looking forward to having you as a sister...” She hesitated and took a breath. “I know that I am the reason Dominic is determined on this course of action.”
“That’s not entirely true.” Dominic stood and approached her, taking Tess’s hand gently in his. “Do you think it didn’t bother me to see the way they treated the dig, the artifacts? The notion of them all being shipped to America never sat right with me.”
“Nor me,” Miss Prince put in. “But it is what we agreed to. Van Arsdale could fund a dig of this scope when others wouldn’t. We can say whatever we like about them, and they probably deserve it all, but he is generous when he’s determined to succeed.”
“The man has more money than he knows what to do with. Of course, he treats it lightly.” Tristan spoke, and everyone turned his way as he’d remained mostly quiet. “I wasn’t bothered at first. I knew Tess’s goal was to excavate that mound, and if Van Arsdale could be the means, then I was content with whatever the consequences might be.”
“And the thousand pounds he offered,” Tess reminded him.
He managed to look momentarily abashed. “It was convincing for both of us,” he reminded her in turn.
“Agreed.” Tess had to acknowledge that she had signed Van Arsdale’s contract like the rest of them, even if it made her stomach knot. “It was their arrival that changed everything.”
Eveline Prince nodded, though she hadn’t been present to witness any of it. “Tristan filled me in.” She cast a gaze at her brother and then Tess. “Do we know where the gold buckle is now?”
“We don’t,” Dom told her. “We assume they’re traveling with it. Hopefully safeguarding it.”
“And showing it off to everyone they meet,” Tess couldn’t help adding.
Miss Prince crossed her arms and paced on the pale floral rug all the way to the edge of the room and then back again.
“So, the happiest outcome is that Van Arsdale wants to surpass his rival and gain fame from a donation to the British Museum?”
“Yes, that’s what we’re betting on.” Dom shot Tess a smile.
Tess knew her own smile was weak and uncertain because hearing it spoken aloud in Miss Prince’s sharp, firm tone reminded her that they were putting a great deal of hope in Gordon Van Arsdale believing acclaim would come from giving this find to a British museum rather than creating his own.
“And the worst outcome,” Miss Prince went on, “is that he fires all of us, hires new excavators, and ships it all back to America anyway.” She turned a look her brother’s way. “And the papers will report that the Princes were dismissed from one of the most extraordinary finds in English archaeological history.”
Tess had been standing, her back to the window and the old oak, but now she made her way to the settee opposite her brother and Dominic and slumped down.
“I don’t think the odds are in our favor,” she admitted in a low tone, loath to say it and yet determined to get the words out. “And I hate thinking that this might tarnish your family’s reputation or future opportunities. It seems too great a risk.”
Lifting her head, she looked first at Tristan and then the man she’d fallen completely in love with. “I think perhaps the best course of action is continuing on the dig under the terms we all initially agreed.”
“But you’re not on the dig anymore,” Tristan pointed out. “I suggest we rectify that at the very least.” He turned toward Dominic. “You can arrange that, yes?”
“Of course, but—” Dominic stood up from the settee and then approached his sister. “What was that play you saw last year and adored?”
Miss Prince arched one brow at him, then frowned as if she was beholding a madman. “Mr. Wilde’s play?The Importance of Being Earnest.How can that possibly be relevant?”
“Yes, and it is relevant because despite the title, everyone is pretending to be something they’re not to get what they want.”
“The point of the play is that it was a bad idea, Dominic.”
“Nonsense. It was a comedy and it all worked out in the end.”
Miss Prince’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I’m a terrible liar. You know that.”
“We’ve both held our noses with clients and even with Papa when he did something dreadful through the years.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“We can part ways on this. You and I.” Dominic glanced at Tess, and there was such hopefulness in his eyes that Tess felt it too. “We’ll attempt our idea. If you like, you can tell Van Arsdale that you disagree wholeheartedly.” He tipped a crooked smile. “Which, in some ways, you do.”
