When Cash nodded firmly, Millie’s gaze dropped to their joined hands, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. He pulled Athena past the little maid; certain the story of their lofty guest’s madness would be all over the servants’ dining hall by that evening.
Madness? Is that what love was?
Possibly, but he was surprised to discover he didn’t mind.
Behind them, the hall quieted as Millie ushered everyone downstairs, and Cash was certain he could now hear his own heartbeat. Athena’s fingers were entwined with his, in a way which somehow felt as intimate as what they’d shared at The Sword and Sheath last week. He glanced at her, and wasn’t quite surprised to find her grinning.
Together, they pushed open doors and peeked in, trying not to disturb occupants if they were present. Most were small bedrooms belonging to the maids or footmen; some had one bed, some two, but each was cozy and comfortable.
But their sons weren’t there.
Athena had resorted to calling out Callan’s name occasionally, but Cash didn’t join her. If Matthew had wanted to show himself, he would’ve.
Her breath caught. “That one.”
He wasn’t sure what she was talking about until he followed her gaze to a door to what looked like another small bedroom. Unlike the rest of the rooms, this door wasclosed—mostly. There was a crack between the frame and the edge of the door, as if it had been closed in a hurry.
Or someone had done it on purpose.
He reached for the handle and pulled open the door to what he assumed was a closet.
He was wrong.
”Oh my…” breathed Athena as she slipped around him and stooped to enter what Cash could only callThe Fort.It was remarkable.
“Look at all these pillows, Cash!” Athena had to remain stooped in the center of the space—it really wasn’t too much bigger than a closet, and Cash suspected that’s what it had been before their sons had taken it over. “I have wondered what in the world a set of lads would do with all the pillows and blankets Callan was stealing.”
Cash couldn’t stop his chuckle as he leaned into the space, his neck craning around to peer at all the improvements. The floor, indeed, was strewn with pillows of all shapes and sizes, including more than a few he recognized from various parlors here at Dumpkins. Had Matthew been filching pillows as well?
The original shelves had been removed from one wall to make more space—his son had found a set of tools somewhere, and Cash was surprised to realize how proud he was—but on the other side of The Fort, the shelves contained an eclectic collection of books. Everything from nursery stories to—he peered closer—Markham’s illustratedA History of Wheat, Volume Three.
Hmm. Perhaps stolen by a lad who can’t read?
And aye, there was a stack of priceless ancient manuscripts, some of the titles clear. All of themOliphant.
His gaze skimmed over the books, rocks, and other assorted treasures the lads had stored on the shelves. There was a fishing hook—in honor of the time they’d spent fishing at the river?—and a perfectly round skipping stone. Propped against one shelf was a small portrait of a younger Athena, and a larger painting he didn’t recognize. Had Callan stolen a portrait from Dumpkins Manor to decorate their hideaway?
His breath caught when he saw the collection of wooden toys. Those soldiers reminded Cash of Matthew’s favorites when he’d been a younger lad. Had his son brought them from the nursery for Callan to play with?
He closed his eyes on an exhale, his hands braced against his knees.Dear God, son. All you wanted was a little brother, wasn’t it?
“Cash?” Amusement in Athena’s voice drew his gaze back to her. “Look at this.”
The space was cramped, but when she moved to one side, he saw what had been hidden behind her skirts. “Is that…atrifle?”
“Aye,” she drawled, her hazel eyes sparkling with amusement. “Filched this morning from Newfincy Castle, if I dinnae miss my guess.”
A trifle? Callan had stolen the messiest kind of dessert he could pick and had carried it to Dumpkins?
“Why?” he asked, shuffling further into the small space.
“Because, I suspect, it is my favorite.”
It was the note of laughter in her voice which snapped his gaze back to hers, and suddenly, he was remembering his plan to ask her to become his mistress. He’d planned to seduce her with strawberries and crème and enough sweets to make her sayaye. But the thought of her licking her spoon clean after enjoying the trifle…? Well, it was an entirely inappropriate time for a cockstand, but that didn’t seem to matter one whit to his body.
Blast.
And then her lips curled upward, as if she knew what he was thinking, and he took a step toward her. “Athena?—”
