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S ir Frederick led the way with an unexpected sense of lightness and discovery before he suddenly remembered that his sister was somewhere in this drafty castle and so was Mr. Greene.

He’d heard her name paired with her chaperone, which was only right, and with a rather unappealing and insipid young baronet’s son, but a couple of moments of reflection reminded him of how very enterprising Caroline was.

He certainly wouldn’t put it past her to smilingly glide away with young Mr. Pipkins and then pull off some daring swap.

Which meant that he really should make a point of learning exactly where Caroline was.

He’d just stepped towards the railing of the gallery so he could look down upon the various groupings that scurried about in search of clues, when salvation came to him.

“Henry!” he called down to the ginger-haired lad who was fortuitously passing below. “Just one quick moment of your time, if you please?”

With an apologetic glance at the pretty milkmaid and her chaperone whom he was accompanying, Henry bounded up the stairs. “How can I be of assistance, Sir Frederick? Is it Caro? It is, isn’t it?”

“It’s always Caro. I’m anxious every time she has an opportunity to slip under our guard and make off with Mr. Greene,” Sir Frederick said, lowering his voice as he heard Miss Fairchild and Miss Playford discussing the fine tapestry hung in the whispering gallery just behind him.

“He’s a fortune hunter, interested only in her money and he’ll use any lure.

Have you seen who she’s with this evening? ”

“Last I saw, she was safely with her chaperone and Mr. Pipkins.”

“But she’ll want to replace Mr. Pipkins at the first opportunity. You know that as well as I do. Lord, you probably have an even greater appreciation of the breadth of her ingenuity having had to keep pace with her throughout your childhood.”

“Oh, she’s ingenious, there’s no doubt about that,” Henry said admiringly, as he gazed after Caroline.

“Remember when she convinced the vicar she’d seen an angel in the churchyard?

It was just her white nightgown that she’d artfully placed in that old oak tree, but she had half the village believing her. ”

Sir Frederick noticed how Henry’s eyes softened at the memory. “You’ve always encouraged her flights of fancy.”

Henry’s usual cheerful expression suddenly darkened. “Did you know Greene’s been filling her head with tales of Paris? All glamour and fashion and fancy titles. But our Caroline’s worth ten of those fashionable misses who only care about their next new bonnet.”

“ Our Caroline?” Sir Frederick raised an eyebrow.

Henry flushed. “Well, we practically grew up in each other’s pockets, didn’t we?

Someone needs to remind her that true worth isn’t measured by how many diamonds a gentleman can offer.

” He straightened his shoulders. “I’ll keep an eye on her, Sir Frederick.

She may not listen to me like she used to when we’d climb trees and hunt for fairy rings, but I won’t let her throw herself away on a fortune hunter. ”

Sir Frederick studied the young man thoughtfully.

Henry’s boyish features had matured since Sir Frederick had last seen him, though that irrepressible grin still appeared frequently.

But there was something new in his manner when he spoke of Caroline—a protective warmth that went beyond mere childhood friendship.

“I trust you’ll be subtle,” Sir Frederick said. “Caroline doesn’t respond well to being managed.”

Henry’s laugh held a note of fond exasperation.

“Don’t I know it! Remember when she decided she wanted to learn sword-fighting and wouldn’t take no for an answer?

I still have the scar from where she jabbed me with a broken fence post.” His expression grew serious.

“But I’d rather have a hundred such scars than see her hurt by someone like Greene. ”

His smile was quickly replaced by another frown when he saw that Sir Frederick did not regard Caroline’s antics in the same way he did. Gravely, he added, “But I’m sure her infatuation with Mr. Greene is a passing phase.”

“I’ve no doubt it is, but if she misbehaves, she will have a lifetime to live with the consequences.”

Sir Frederick felt a flicker of hope that the grimness of his tone had the desired effect for Henry swallowed and said, “I hadn’t thought of that.

No, well, she’d better behave then, hadn’t she?

Or it’ll be Mr. Greene who carries her off after all.

No, I hadn’t thought of that at all for I knew her fancy for him would be fleeting.

He really isn’t the kind of gentleman who would make her happy for very long. ”

Sir Frederick patted him on the shoulder. “So, since you understand how headstrong she can be, I would be enormously grateful if you could please ensure that she’s behaving as she ought to. I do not want this ghostly week to finish in tears. Or with her heading towards the altar with Mr. Greene.”

With Henry’s promise ringing in his ears, Sir Frederick turned back to the ladies, ready to throw himself back into solving the puzzle. If the truth be told, it was a rare and pleasant diversion to be with two such charming young ladies. Though Miss Playford was young, she was really rather sweet.

“What do you suppose we should be looking for, Sir Frederick?” the young lady asked from near a large carved wooden screen which she’d been caressing as if it might yield a clue. She sighed. “We’ve looked behind all the pictures and tapestries and can’t find anything.”

“But have you looked in the walls?”

They turned at the sonorous tones of Lady Townsend who’d appeared at the end of the gallery.

Sir Frederick smiled. “Very cryptic, though it would appear you know more than the rest of us, Lady Townsend.”

“It is true that Lady Pendleton recruited me to assist.” She nodded at the cold stone walls. “Not all clues will be so easy to find so we need to hurry if we are to have everyone at the ball in an hour.”

Sir Frederick wondered if her assistance had included suggesting the groupings.

Had she decided upon who would be paired up?

And if so, could he prevail upon her to ensure Mr. Greene be kept as far away from Caro as possible.

He glanced at the two young ladies who had turned their treasure-seeking efforts to feeling for loose stones, catching Lady Townsend’s smile as he returned his attention to her.

“My, my, but I am impressed by your companions’ ability to dig for clues,” she said. “On the dance floor a young lady must be a model of decorum, but she may reveal hidden depths when tasked with something as important as finding hidden treasure.”

“I’m sure the knowledge of such an unknown but potentially glittering reward unleashes something very different.

” Sir Frederick smiled. “Though that said, my sister Caroline takes no trouble to hide her rebellious nature whether on the dance floor or not. If you are wandering the castle to help the guests find what they must, I wonder if you’d do me the great favor of ensuring my sister is kept away from fortune hunters.

There is one in particular to whom she is very keen to lose her head. ”

“I presume you speak of Mr. Greene,” replied Lady Townsend to Sir Frederick’s horror.

“She is so transparent?” he asked.

“As is he. Indeed, Lady Pendleton observed it, and I immediately understood her concern and now yours. You have my word, Sir Frederick, that I will do what I can to keep contact between them to a minimum.”

“And have you seen either of them this evening?”

“Young Mr. Henry was squiring her about last time I checked. Poor Mr. Pipkin looked very downcast. Ah, but there’s no accounting for the beating of a tender young heart.

Love is spawned in the unlikeliest of places.

But I will leave you as it clearly won’t be too long before your next clue is found,” Lady Townsend added, just as Miss Fairchild cried, “I’ve found it! Look! Look!”

Sir Frederick grinned at her unfettered enthusiasm but when she glanced up and caught his eye she sobered and said with more gravitas, “We found this behind a loose stone. Most definitely a clue. I shall read it:

‘A lady in white, with eyes that follow,

Her gaze holds a secret in rooms hollow.

Count the doors from left to right,

The third one leads to your next sight.’”

“Yes, but what does it mean?” asked Miss Playford. “It makes no sense at all.”

“Not unless you think about it. Eyes that follow? What could that refer to?” he replied.

“A gentleman who admires a lady will follow her with his eyes.” She glanced at Sir Frederick who hoped his smile was bland in answer to the hope in hers. Goodness, he thought, he must not allow Miss Playford to think for a moment that his eyes followed her.

As for Miss Fairchild, he realized with a start that his eyes followed her quite a lot. Well, he was trying to understand her, when he’d clearly misunderstood her all those years ago.

She seemed so cold and self-contained and yet on several occasions she’d succumbed to the girlish enjoyment of the moment. It was a refreshing reminder of the old days before she’d inexplicably gone cold on him.

Now she said, “But what else follows you with their eyes? Why, a painting, of course! Have you never felt it before? The sense that when you’re in a room with huge paintings on the wall, they are watching you.

I thought that when we passed the antechamber that led here.

There was a painting of—” She broke off suddenly then added, “Of a woman in white! You remember that, don’t you?

Come, follow me! I think I’ve discovered our next clue already. ”

They retraced their footsteps and were soon standing before a large portrait of a beautiful young woman with long golden hair falling over one shoulder, large, cornflower blue eyes gazing out from the frame with a wistful expression, her gown of the fashion from one hundred years earlier.

Miss Playford bent forward to read the inscription before gasping. “Why, this is Lady Pernilla! See how beautiful she is?”

There was no disputing this. Sir Frederick thought how much she reminded him of Caroline with her impish smile and her manner: languid but hinting at a spirit ready to be unleashed the moment she no longer had to remain still.

“No wonder she had admirers,” remarked Miss Fairchild.

“A groom was her admirer. Of course she could never have married a groom,” said Sir Frederick.

“No, but I am sorry for her if she lost her heart to him. Perhaps he was the only one who was kind to her. You remember in her letter that she referenced the unwelcome marriage her father was pressing upon her,” said Sir Frederick.

“Perhaps she threw herself at the groom in protest. That must surely have been the reason for her to have preferred him to the other gentlemen in the district. She wouldn’t have chosen to be penniless if she could have found someone respectable who was worthy of her heart. ”

“Well, I’m not sure I agree with your speculation, Sir Frederick,” said Miss Fairchild who was running her hands behind the back of the painting, withdrawing, with a smile of satisfaction what was clearly their next clue: a folded piece of paper which she began to read:

“Keys of ivory

Strings of gold

Lift the lid to find what’s next

A clue to guide your future steps.”

“Well, that’s easy,” declared Miss Playford. “The next clue is in the fortepiano, of course. I was playing it when I first got here. A very pretty instrument though quite old and not as fine as the one I play on at home. That is, when my Aunt Pike allows me to play it,” she added.

“I’m sure we would love to hear you play something when we find the next clue,” said Miss Fairchild, glancing at Sir Frederick with a smile.

“And what about you, Miss Fairchild? Do you play?” asked Sir Frederick, suddenly curious. “You seem learned in a great many areas. I’m sure you can play a pretty tune to amuse us.”

“I’m not sure I wish to attempt to amuse anyone, Sir Frederick, and certainly not with my dubious musical abilities,” Miss Fairchild replied with a sudden return to her previous cool demeanor.

He wondered what he’d said to vex her but then Miss Playford was clapping her hands and leading the way out of the dimly lit antechamber saying, “I think we should hurry if we want to be the ones to win this great treasure. We must get there first!”

But as he found himself shoulder to shoulder with Miss Fairchild as they followed the other fair child through the corridor, positively skipping in her excitement, Miss Fairchild relaxed sufficiently to say, “There is something charming about extreme youthfulness. I’d pegged Miss Playford as far less ebullient.

” With a frown, she added, “Though, come to think of it, that was only when she was in company with her aunt.”

“She’s charming,” Sir Frederick agreed. “A charming child,” he added, thinking how much more appealing was Miss Fairchild’s intelligence.