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“Lady Pendleton and the family don’t want to be reminded of this,” said Sir Frederick. “Such a union would have scandalized society.”

“So sad if she was in love with him,” said Miss Playford on a sigh. “He must have been very handsome.”

“Well, handsome looks wouldn’t have kept a roof over her head.” Sir Frederick sounded less charitable as he folded the letter and placed it back in the book. “No doubt she was a foolish child interested only in his manly physique and her head was easily turned. That is no basis for a marriage.”

“I suppose if he had had money it wouldn’t have mattered who he was, where he came from, or how well-connected he was,” said Amelia.

“Even if it was new money, I’m sure the family would have relented in the end.

” She knew her tone was combative as she moved along the row of romance novels, as she continued the search for the next clue.

“If he was her intellectual equal, I dare say there would not have been the same resistance,” said Sir Frederick. “A lowly groom and a nobleman’s daughter? That really is a bridge too far.”

“Are you saying that money isn’t everything ?” Amelia couldn’t help asking, as she pulled out a copy of Pride & Prejudice . If he was to ally himself with Miss Playford it would be helpful if she could have him answer outright in the affirmative.

“Of course it isn’t,” he said, taking the volume from Amelia’s hands and saying with a short laugh, “My sister enjoyed this so greatly she insisted I read it.”

“What did you think?” asked Amelia and was surprised when he gave an unaffected laugh. “I thought the author was a genius for all that I was highly skeptical when I reluctantly read the first page with Caroline breathing over my shoulder in case I should wriggle out of it.”

“You read it to the end?” asked Miss Playford incredulously.

“Indeed, I did. And I’m sure I learned a great deal about human nature, and the minds and motivations of young ladies, that I did not know before.”

“Like what?” asked Amelia.

“Well, now, you are a fiercer and less forgiving Miss Lizzie Bennett with your fine eyes and exacting manner—”

“And who am I?” Miss Playford interrupted before Amelia could object to what she felt was a grave injustice. A fiercer Miss Lizzie Bennett? Why, Amelia was light-hearted and full of fun when people only took the time to know her.

“You, Miss Playford? Why, you remind me of Miss Lydia!”

Miss Playford bit her lip and frowned. “Miss Lydia?” she asked dubiously while Amelia’s heart sank though it was early days.

He’d soon see Miss Playford as more than a giggling, pleasure-loving miss who made foolish choices until rescued by a noble gentleman.

But perhaps that was what he really meant, she thought with a surge of hope.

Perhaps Sir Frederick saw himself as being the fine gentleman who’d take the young girl under his wing, and then marry her, before she could do herself, her family, and most definitely, her reputation, any harm.

“Oh, Sir Frederick, you are too funny!” Amelia interjected with a forced laugh. “Miss Playford is much prettier and cleverer than I ever imagined Lydia who was so fortunate to make such a grand and unexpected marriage,” she added with a pointed look at Miss Playford whose brow immediately cleared.

“So much cleverer!” Miss Playford suddenly cried as she snatched the book from Sir Frederick’s hands crying, “For there is the clue! I can see it’s not a love letter from Lady Pernilla so it must be a clue.”

“Clever girl! It is indeed clue number two,” said Sir Frederick glancing at the small piece of paper. “What does it say?”

Miss Playford beamed as she smoothed the paper and began to read.

“Voice carry, though whispered low,

In a circular path, round and round they go.

Find the spot where the secrets are heard.

And look for a stone that seems absurd.”

All three shook their heads at the cryptic words.

“Where do voices carry?” asked Amelia. “Sir Frederick, you know this castle better than we do. I suppose it could refer to the castle tower though isn’t that out of bounds?”

“Yes, it’s been crumbling and untended for years. We definitely are not to try and climb those stairs. But…” He thought a moment and then said, “There’s a gallery. A… whispering gallery—”

“That must be it!” said Miss Playford happily.

“Oh, you are so clever, Sir Frederick. How lucky that we have you in our team. I wonder how the others are faring? We shall win this treasure, I’m sure.

And then we shall all be very rich and can marry…

” She trailed off, dropping her head as she blushed.

“And can marry whom we like?” Sir Frederick supplied, smiling. “Indeed, that is a recipe for success for I hold to what I said earlier. A marriage based on money is a recipe for unhappiness. Besides, I doubt the treasure at the end of our treasure hunt will be anything more than a token.”

“Of course,” said Miss Playford who looked crestfallen as she followed Amelia and Sir Frederick to the whispering gallery.

“But it would help to have just a little bit of it,” Amelia heard her say under her breath, and couldn’t help concurring.

It was all very well for men like Sir Frederick who had no cares in the world and could do as they wished.

If he didn’t want to marry, he could simply idle his life away, breaking hearts just for fun.

Poor Miss Playford looked like she was about to cry, she realized as she glanced over her shoulder, and suddenly Amelia felt very guilty for getting the girl’s hopes up.

If Sir Frederick really did prefer young ladies with a bit of intelligence, then Miss Playford was not going to be his ideal mate and never would be.

But then, she remembered how many times she’d misinterpreted the words of gentlemen. Gentlemen who pretended that’s what they wanted when in truth a pretty face and a pleasing, obsequious manner was really all that appealed.

That’s what Sir Frederick had hinted he had wanted, all those years ago in the library when they’d pored over books, just like tonight.

And then Thomas had told Amelia what he’d overheard: Sir Frederick laughing over the serious bluestocking Miss Amelia, who thought she might actually catch a husband when all she was interested in was pretending she was cleverer than she was.

No, Amelia must not be taken in. If she was forming a slightly more positive opinion of Sir Frederick as their acquaintanceship increased, then it was because he was only putting on the kind of false front he knew would earn him her regard for the duration of the house party.