Chapter 14
Mariana sat on her bed, staring at her small valise in front of her. She hadn’t brought much with her, and she wouldn’t be leaving with much either – in fact, she was leaving behind more than she would ever have imagined. A piece of herself. Her heart. That would remain with Edward.
She stared up at the ceiling. Was she making the right decision? Should she stay? Where was her home now?
Then there was the treasure. While she didn’t feel that she had any claim over it, she did have a responsibility to ensure that it was returned to its rightful owners, although, she realized, she trusted Edward to do the right thing with it. That, she had no issue with.
She donned her hat and her walking cloak, even though pulling it around her shoulders made her feel as though she was putting on a fa?ade that belonged to someone else, a cloak of dread for what awaited her.
When she returned home, it would be familiar, yes, but what did she do with herself now? None of her circumstances at home had changed. In fact, she was most likely to no longer have a home if the new Don Palencia discovered she had abandoned it – especially for an Englishman.
She could understand now why Edward continued to seek one adventure after another. Because once one finished, he longed for the thrill of the next.
She opened her door, lifted her own bag and carried it downstairs, then waited by the front entrance for the carriage. When it pulled up, however, she was surprised when it was not a footman who emerged to help her, but Edward himself.
“Edward?” she said tentatively, surprised when she saw a slight, though hesitant, smile on his face. She would have expected him to be cross, or at the very least, upset. “You do not have to accompany me.”
“I know,” he said, tilting his head. “I would ask one thing before you go.”
“Yes?”
“Come with me to see something?”
She studied him, trying to decide if he had an ulterior motive, but she didn’t sense anything.
“Very well.”
She took his outstretched hand, but instead of helping her into the carriage, he led her to walk away from the house.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see,” he said, leading her down the path, silence stretching between them as they continued until they passed the ruins she had noticed on their way to the caves.
Finally, he rounded a copse of trees, and she saw where they had emerged.
“A lake,” she murmured, surprised at the sizable body of water before her. “I didn’t realize there was so much water near Castleton.”
“The other pond leads here through a very small river,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite places. I wanted to bring you here, to show you the parts of my estate that are worth visiting, that are reasons why I am happy to call this place home – even if I enjoy my adventures.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said, though still uncertain of why he had any interest in sharing it with her when she was leaving. “I can certainly say that.”
He stepped forward so that he was facing her and took her hands in his.
“Mariana, I know this might not be what you expected when you agreed to come with me. I seek adventure constantly, and I feel you have an adventurous spirit as well, or you never would have agreed to accompany me, or even marry me. Arthur and I have come to an agreement. While I might be the duke in name, he is happy to carry on and see to many of my responsibilities. I will have to be present in certain circumstances when required, but he will act in my stead when possible. Which will provide us with plenty of time to return to Spain whenever you wish.”
Her eyes widened as he spoke. “You would do that?”
“Of course!” he said. “I love your country, even if our countries don’t love one another. And I love spending time at sea.”
“But what if I cannot give you heirs?”
“If Arthur never marries, then someone else will inherit.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t overly matter to me.”
“But your mother?—”
“She will come around. She’s not as bad as she seems at first. She knows only the ways of the British nobility and she speaks what she thinks, but often her honesty is actually refreshing in this world. And I know that Charity is ever so pleased at the thought of being your friend. You can have any place in this estate as your own. If you want another estate entirely, I can find one for you.”
He paused and released a soft sigh. “If you still want to return, however, I completely understand. You can do as you please with the treasure, and I will see you home.”
“Not all the way.”
“Of course I will. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.”
“But then I would be worried about you on your return.”
He grinned, a twinkle coming to his eye. “It seems we have a problem.”
She tightened her grip on his hand.
“Why would you do all of this for me?” she couldn’t help but ask.
He looked at her, his face inviting and open. “For one, you would be the one sacrificing everything you know. This is not much in return. But more so… because I love you.”
Mariana had to blink back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks at his words.
“Oh, Edward,” she said softly. “I love you too.”
He lifted their hands so that their bodies came closer to one another, his lips pressing against the knuckles of first one of her hands and then the next.
“Does this mean you want to stay, or am I going to have to spend the rest of my life returning to Spain to see you?”
“I like the idea of returning to Spain now and again,” she said, finally allowing all of the reservations she had been holding onto to fade away, allowing her heart to finally tell her what it wanted. “But I think I have found home.”
“At Castleton?” he said hopefully, although his smile dropped when she shook her head and said, “No.”
But then it lit his face again when she added, “With you – wherever you are.”
He let out a whoop of glee and lifted her up, swinging her around in his arms before pressing his lips to hers, holding her close against his body.
“Have I told you that I love you yet?” he said when they finally came up for air.
“You have, actually.”
“Well, allow me to tell you again. I love you, Mariana.”
“And I love you, Edward.”
“You will stay and marry me, then?”
“I will,” she said. “I apologize, Edward, for not believing in you nor in us. I thought… well, I thought that I would make life difficult for you. I still am worried about that.”
“Life would be far more difficult without you in it,” he responded.
“I realize that now,” she said with a smile.
They began walking, hand in hand, back toward Castleton, lost in one another and the future they had to look forward to, when suddenly Edward came to an abrupt halt.
“What is it?” she asked, and he nodded his head forward, his mouth set in a grim line. There were uniformed men standing at his front entrance – in uniforms Mariana well recognized. “It seems that Spain has come to you.”
Edward keptMariana behind him as he walked up toward Castleton. Arthur and his butler, Scrivens, were standing at the front door, trying to prevent the Spanish soldiers from entering.
“What is the meaning of this?” Edward demanded, hurrying up the stairs. “What are you doing on my estate?”
One of the men stepped forward. “Are you the Duke of Sheffield?”
“I am.”
“We believe that you have stolen from the Spanish King.”
“Just what do you believe I have stolen?”
“Chests of doubloons.”
“And just why would you believe that?”
Two of the soldiers exchanged a glance. “We were provided the information.”
“By whom?”
“It does not matter.”
“I—”
Edward stopped when Mariana stepped forward, beginning to speak in rapid Spanish, although he caught most of it.
“I can tell you who stole from the Spanish King,” she said, continuing before Edward could stop her. “My husband.”
“And you are?—”
“Do?a Palencia. My late husband apparently hired a group of mercenaries, who are likely those who told you about the treasure. He hid it back in Spain. If they have told you about it, it is only because they lost it. I accompanied the duke here, and I can assure you, he has no treasure.”
The solider seemed uncertain.
“Do you wish to start another war?” Edward said, stepping forward, and the solider started slightly.
“No,” he said, although there was doubt in his expression now. “But we have orders.”
“To do what?”
“To search for it.”
“Very well,” Edward said, stretching his arms out. “Search.”
“Edward,” Arthur said in a warning tone, but Edward waved them forward.
“If this is what it will take to convince you, go ahead. You have my leave to search the house and the grounds.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” the solider said with a nod, and as they continued on, Mariana looked up at him with a frown.
“Why did you do that?” she asked.
“I just want peace. If they want to search, then so be it. When we outran the pirates, they must have decided that they would prefer the treasure return to Spain than to remain with an Englishman.” His eyes roamed over her face, his voice dropping. “It is very unlikely that they will ever find it, but if they do, I do not care. I have the only treasure I need.”
“How romantic,” she said with a slight laugh.
“I do believe, however, that we are not going to be able to return this treasure anytime soon,” he murmured. “Until then, what do you think?”
“I think we wait until the time comes when we can return the treasure to where it belongs.”
“What if that day never comes?”
“It will,” she said, tilting her head to look up at him. “Even if we are not here to see it.” She bit her lip. “Are there people in your life who you trust more than any others in the world?”
He nodded. “There are.”
“I think we ask them to help us look after it, until it can once again be entrusted to someone worthy.”
“But how?—”
“I have an idea,” she said, her lips curling up. “When I was a girl, my father loved to create treasure hunts for me. Riddles, puzzles – he enjoyed setting up these games.”
Edward nodded. “I have seen many artifacts that provide such games on my travels, he said. “What are you thinking? That we create a treasure hunt?”
“Precisely,” she said with a mischievous grin. “One that is not only complex, but requires both intellect and tenacity to solve.”
“That sounds like it could be fun,” he said slowly as the idea began to grow on him. “Have you any ideas?”
“More than we would ever need,” she said with a laugh, although she sobered when one of the Spaniards reappeared.
“Is this yours?” he asked, holding out a hand, a ruby necklace dangling from his fingers.
Edward’s mouth formed a firm line.
“It is,” he said with uncharacteristic anger. “And unfortunately, you have now ruined my surprise.”
Mariana turned to him.
“A surprise?”
“I’ll explain when we are alone,” he said with a meaningful smile before turning to the solider. “I can tell you precisely when and where I bought it,” he said. “It was from a jeweller in Spain – not from some treasure stash which is more than likely on the bottom of the ocean.”
“Very well,” the soldier said, still suspicious. “I will collect that information.”
He returned to the house just as a shriek came from within, and Edward suddenly remembered that he had another issue.
“I forgot to warn my mother,” he cringed. “I best go ensure she is well.” He looked at Mariana. “You will not go anywhere?”
“No,” she said. “You are here. And my home is with you, wherever you may be.”
“I’m ever so glad to hear it,” he said, and then, leaving her with Arthur, he winked at her before slipping inside.
With one soldier watching them,Mariana stood next to Arthur, realizing it was the first time she had been alone with Edward’s brother.
As effervescent as Edward was, Arthur was quiet, and yet he still exuded the same comfort of character.
“You are good for him, you know,” Arthur said, looking at her. “He needs someone like you.”
“Not Lady Jane?” she said, unable to help the smirk in her words, although she was chagrined when they caused Arthur to turn a bright shade of red.
“Not Lady Jane,” he agreed. “She fit Edward’s title, but not him as a man.”
She turned to face him fully, remembering what Edward had told her about his brother’s affections. “If he and Lady Jane had been right for one another, then I’m sure they would have been together long before now. Perhaps Lady Jane is looking for the right person as well.”
“Perhaps,” he said quietly although his eyes seemed distant, and it wasn’t long before Edward reappeared, a chuckle on his lips despite all that was occurring around them.
“Mother wasn’t too pleased,” he said before stepping up to the Spanish soldier. “Finish your search and then be gone from here before I ask less nicely.” He turned to Mariana. “Shall we walk?”
She nodded with a smile of farewell to Arthur before taking Edward’s hand and following him along the grounds.
He turned to her when they were out of sight, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it before pulling out the necklace that had been in such question.
“I bought this for you while we were still in Spain. I was going to give it to you as a farewell gift, but when you agreed to accompany me – to marry me – I decided it would be a wedding gift instead.”
“It’s beautiful,” Mariana said, her heart warming that he had been thinking of her even then. “And the sentiment is lovely.”
He rounded behind Mariana and fastened the clasp around her neck.
“There we are,” he said. “Perfect.”
She lifted a hand, her fingers stroking the brilliant jewels. “This feels nearly too ostentatious to wear.”
“It suits you beautifully,” he said with a smile. “A piece of home to wear here in England.”
“My home is with you,” she said. “Now, and always.”
“We will set our roots here together, at Castleton,” he said. “But our home is so much more than that.”
“It is the family that we will begin,” she said, looking up at him. “Which, I have a feeling, will be very soon.”
Her dreams had been answered. And they couldn’t come true quickly enough.