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A scavenger hunt with Lord Foxmoore as her partner had not been something that Georgina thought she would enjoy.

She’d been wrong of course. This game of clues had been more entertaining than she could have ever imagined.

Now they were on their way to the library to search for their next clue. She was excited.

“What do you think the next clue will be?” she asked. “Or where it will lead?”

“I don’t wish to speculate,” he said in a nonchalant tone. “As I don’t even know where to begin. Though I doubt it will lead us off the grounds of Easton Abbey.”

She hadn’t considered that. “The marchioness wouldn’t have us leave the grounds. You’re right about that.” Georgina tapped her chin. “Though we could perhaps leave the house. I suspect she is using the entire estate to send each of us on some kind of wild chase for the next clue.”

“She’s probably enjoying it too.” He grinned. “The clues are interesting.”

They entered the library and found a clue on the table straightaway. Georgina lifted it up before he had a chance to. She wanted to read it first. He had grabbed all the other clues first.

A story, they say, can take you to a place far away. But a book still needs a place to stay.

“This one is easy enough,” she said, then handed it to him to read. Then went over to the shelves lining the wall. “Now we just need to find where on the bookshelf the next clue is.”

He read the clue and joined her by the shelves. “Should we divide and conquer?” he asked.

“It might be faster. I will take the shelves on the left, you go right, and we will meet in the middle.” She smiled. “Shout out if you find it and I’ll join you.”

“That I’ll do,” he told her. “And you do the same.”

They went to opposite sides of the room and started to search the shelves. There were a lot of books in the library, and it took them a while to go over each one. Until finally he held up the clue. “I have it,” he yelled.

Georgina rushed to his side as he broke the seal on the clue. They read it together.

Stiff is my spine and my body is pale, but I’m always ready to tell a tale. Find the book that holds this tale: Mistaken twins and laughter swell, in Ephesus, where mix-ups dwell. Two sets of brothers, lost and found, in Shakespeare’s farce, confusion’s crowned.

“Well at least we know it is Shakespeare,” Foxmoore said.

“That narrows it down some,” she agreed. “Do you know which one it is?”

“You don’t?” He tilted his head to the side. “I expected you would.”

She laughed. “I do. I am just curious if you do as well.”

He grinned. “Of course I do. Not that I enjoy the Bard, but I was forced to read his works during my formative years.”

Georgina stared at him. “Are you saying you do not enjoy reading?”

“I did not say that at all.” He met her gaze. “I just do not enjoy reading everything that Shakespeare ever wrote.” He tapped the clue. “This one in particular wasn’t one of my favorites. But as comedies go, it isn’t terrible.”

“Such praise,” she said. “It makes me want to find the tome with this tale in it and read it all over again.” Georgina sighed. “But I digress. We really should locate it. The next clue will be inside its pages.”

“You didn’t happen to notice it while you were looking for this clue?” He waved the parchment. “It might save time. As this isn’t my library, I am not familiar with how the books are shelved.”

“I noticed some Shakespeare,” she admitted. “Let’s go look on that shelf.”

They walked over together to the shelf and began to pull out volumes until finally he held it up. “Here it is,” he said. “Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors .”

Georgina smiled. He had known which tale the clue referred to.

Neither of them had said the title aloud.

She couldn’t say why, but she was glad he knew the right answer and had found the tome with the clue inside it.

He pulled the folded paper out of the book and held it out to her. “Do you want to do the honors?”

“No,” she said. “You open it.”

In the room that’s filled with sound, your next clue can be found

“It appears we are off to another room.” He gave her the clue to read. “Shall we go make some music together?”

“I’m not that talented,” she told him. “I have never played well.”

“Lucky for you,” he said in a wicked tone. “I am very talented. Just stay with me and you won’t be disappointed.” He winked. “Come, darling. Let’s take a stroll in the music room.”

They left the library and headed to their next destination. On a table they found a clue and opened it up.

My keys make a sound and sometimes they can be very, very loud.

“You feel like playing something for me?” She lifted a brow. “Showcase that talent of yours?”

“Darling,” he began. “You’re not ready for my talents.” He flashed her a grin. “But perhaps I’ll give you a taste of them before the day is out.” He gestured toward the pianoforte on the far side of the room. “Shall we go retrieve the next clue?”

“I suppose so,” she agreed. They walked over to the instrument. He found the clue lying over the keys and handed it to her. She tore open the seal and read it.

Seeing double. Check me to discover your doppelganger.

“Is there a mirror in the room?” she asked.

They looked around and he motioned to the opposite side of the room. “It appears as if they’re going to make us explore every nook and cranny of this room.”

“Perhaps,” she said. “Let’s go see if there is a clue behind it.”

They quickly crossed the room. He lifted the edge, and the clue fluttered to the floor. It hadn’t been too secure and could have easily slid free without their assistance. He retrieved the clue from the floor and opened it.

You pull me back in the morning to bring in the light and shut me when the sun goes down before you say goodnight.

“There are five windows in this room,” Georgina said. “We are going to have to look behind all the curtains.”

“That shouldn’t take too long. Shall we divide them up like we did the bookshelves in the library?”

“Yes,” she said. “Let’s begin.”

She was lost in her own thoughts as they searched behind all of the curtains.

They each had searched two and met in the middle.

Neither of them had paid attention to where they were walking and bumped into each other.

Georgina lost her balance and started to fall, but luckily he was quick enough to catch her before she did.

He pulled her against him and his heat enveloped her.

Sensations spread over her that she’d never felt before.

Georgina had never been so close to a man…

Dancing hadn’t even brought anyone this close to her. Not that she had danced much.

“I’m sorry…” she mumbled.

“Are you all right?”

She glanced away from him and turned toward the curtain.

Georgina didn’t know what to think of these feelings that were filling her.

She didn’t like feeling uncertain. Instead of answering him, she started to search for the next clue.

It was on the floor behind the curtain. She leaned over and plucked it up and held it out to him. “You read it,” she ordered.

He stared at her with concern, but he didn’t object to her demand.

He took the clue from her and opened it up.

He read it and then handed it back to her.

She scanned the contents of the clue and frowned.

She had thought they would have the entire estate to search for clues, and this one guaranteed they would be leaving the house.

It was unlikely they would find the sort of flowers the clue described lying around in vases inside. She stared down at the clue again.

A fragrant scent wafts through the air, leading you where petals blush and thorns may prickle, a fragrant bloom with colors fickle. A garden’s pride, with blooms so lush, you’ll find your path through nature’s blush.

“Are we going out to the garden then?” she asked.

“It appears we are,” he said. “To the section with thorns in abundance. Lady Easton does adore her roses, and there are several varieties to look over. Though I suspect we will be looking in the pink section.”

“The blush?” she asked.

“Yes,” he agreed. “Let’s go for a stroll in the gardens, darling.” He smiled. “They are lovely this time of the day, or so I’ve heard.”

They left the music room and went out to the garden.

They had another clue to find. She had to wonder how many more there could be for them to uncover.

Not that she had grown bored. It wasn’t that at all.

No, what she felt was something entirely different.

She had a sinking feeling that desire now filled her, and it was entirely directed at the Earl of Foxmoore.

*

Adrian kept glancing at her trying to understand what was going on in her mind.

She had grown quiet—almost pensive. After she had almost fallen and he’d caught her, something had changed between them.

His desire for her had always been present, but perhaps she seemed aware of it now.

That was the only way he could describe it.

Something pulsed between them. A new sense of longing that neither of them could deny.

Though he suspected she would attempt to do just that if he pushed her for answers.

They strolled outside and headed toward the gardens.

There was only one location that made sense after reading through that last clue.

They would have to go to the section of rose bushes that had several shades of pink on full display.

They had only just begun to bloom in the past week.

He had noticed the last time he had escaped the house and the clamoring guests.

There were too many people inside Easton Abbey.

He still could not believe that the marquess, one of his closest friends, had agreed to host this debacle.

Though to be fair, it did give Adrian more time with the lovely Georgina. So he could not complain too much.