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A melia kept Miss Playford in sight while she followed at a more demure pace. The castle’s tapestries, paintings, coats of armor, heraldry, and other treasures were a source of great interest and she found that Sir Frederick had much to say on the artifacts and works of art they passed.

“You are so cultured, Sir Frederick,” Miss Playford marveled. “What astonishing sights you have seen. Oh, I wish I could go on a Grand Tour like you have.”

Amelia said nothing but raised an eyebrow as she let Miss Playford prattle on. She knew Sir Frederick had misbehaved. Thomas had recounted many tales of his indiscretions. Her upright betrothed had even blushed when he’d touched on the fact that women were involved.

No wonder Sir Frederick couldn’t meet Amelia’s focused look as Miss Playford expounded on his extraordinary knowledge.

And nor could she help observing, “For most young men, the Grand Tour is a euphemism for behaving with the reckless abandon they could not get away with on home soil. I am sure you must be quite an aberration, Sir Frederick.”

It was a timely reminder not to get too comfortable with the gentleman for while her Thomas had gone to fight for King and country, Sir Frederick had been wining, dining, and womanizing.

And now he seemed no longer ashamed. “Ah, Miss Fairchild, how hard must I work to gain your high regard?” he asked, obviously with an attempt at humor for he could not be serious.

“I’m not sure that gaining my high regard is worth any trouble at all,” she said. “Soon these events that my mother insists I attend, mostly to chaperone my wayward brother, will be in the past.”

He looked sly. “Surely you must be secretly betrothed, Miss Fairchild, for I cannot believe you wish to eschew the possibility of finding future happiness.”

“You know I am not, Sir Frederick,” Amelia said. “On my twenty-fifth birthday I come into a small inheritance that will allow me to retire quietly to the country.”

“Alone?”

“I will have a companion, I dare say. Since my mother insists.”

“She will not live with you?”

“For some of the time, of course. But she and I are not disposed to live companionably under the same roof all of the time and when I have the funds to put some separation between us—fond as I am of her company—it will be relief to retire from the revels she is so insistent I endure.”

“Like this?” Sir Frederick swept his arm about the castle.

They were in a gloomy corridor lit up with sconces, and had, during the past five minutes, crossed paths with several other knots of party-goers, all looking intent upon finding the ultimate prize.

“I must admit to enjoying myself rather more than I had expected. I’m sorry the feeling isn’t mutual. ”

Amelia felt bad. The truth was, she’d let herself go for a moment and had in fact felt lighter of being than she had for a long time.

The challenge of interpreting clues while conversing with a man who was, she had to admit, rather unexpectedly more lighthearted and entertaining than she’d remembered, was more enjoyable than she’d expected.

“I didn’t mean that,” she said. “Merely that I shall enjoy reading my books and not feeling as if I am being exhibited whenever I set foot in a public place as an unmarried young woman who must surely be looking for a husband.”

“And you are sure you are not?”

“I most assuredly am not!” Amelia said with more force than she’d meant for Miss Playford swung round as they reached the larger, lighter music room and asked, frowning, “Are you all right, Miss Fairchild?”

“Miss Fairchild was just explaining to me that she is not looking for a husband and intends to retire soon to the country.”

“Oh.” The shock in Miss Playford’s expression would have been amusing if Amelia didn’t feel so exposed and surprisingly put on the spot for her declaration.

“Not ever? You don’t ever want to get married?

I thought only ugly spinsters thought like that.

At least, the only people I’ve ever heard saying they don’t want to get married are the ones who’d never get a marriage offer to begin with.

But you’re beautiful, Miss Fairchild, so I am surprised.

” She smiled. “But that’s all right. No one should be forced to marry if they don’t wish it.

” Her smile faltered as she added, “Like poor Lady Pernilla. Her father should not have tried to force her to marry someone she didn’t want to marry!

Though of course the groom would not have been at all suitable, either. ”

Amelia shrugged. “Maybe she was in love with the groom. The poor fellow hasn’t been given the benefit of the doubt.”

“The fact that her letter remains in the book, unsent, is probably a sign that the young man couldn’t read.”

“Yes, she probably wrote the letters to make herself feel better,” Miss Playford agreed. “Now, here’s the fortepiano. I wonder if it sounds the same as the one I play.”

“I’m sure only you can give us an example of whether it does or not,” said Sir Frederick. “Do play us something, Miss Playford. I have been hoping all evening to hear your musical talents on display.”

“You have?”

The young girl sat down with such surprised delight that Amelia couldn’t help glancing at Sir Frederick, only to find him looking amused. He smiled at her, his eyes briefly sharing a moment of complicity, as Amelia recognized her own expression of fond amusement mirrored in his.

But their amusement turned to admiration at the first lilting notes of Miss Playford’s rendition of Haydn’s Sonata in G Major. She really was very good.

“Enchanting, Miss Playford. I trust you’ll entertain us all at some stage during the house party,” said Sir Frederick.

“Oh, my Aunt Pike says I’m not good enough to play in front of other people,” Miss Playford said, standing up quickly, and adding, “And we need to find the next note. I allowed my vanity to get in the way.”

Her flash of guilt was a surprise to Amelia who said, “It’s not vanity to show what you’re good at. Besides, all young ladies are encouraged to work at their singing and dancing skills.”

“Yes, but not to be vain about it,” said Miss Playford, as she began a quick search beneath the lid of the fortepiano. “Which is why my aunt, who is here chaperoning me, would not countenance my standing up in front of the other guests. Oh, look! Here it is, tucked away in the corner!”

“Our Miss Playford has hidden depths,” murmured Sir Frederick as Miss Playford unfolded the note and began to read:

“Outside these walls, a puzzle grows,

Where hedges high in patterns pose.

At the heart, a statue stands alone,

Bearing a message carved in stone.”

But Amelia was concentrating more on Sir Frederick’s veiled admiration for Miss Playford than the actual words.

Perhaps all she needed to do was to ensure the couple spent more time together.

Miss Playford was very young, admittedly, but very sweet, and Sir Frederick obviously liked a pretty and accomplished young lady.

Perhaps Amelia just needed to coach Miss Playford on how to flatter Sir Frederick. Perhaps that was what was missing. Sir Frederick needed to be appreciated, and he was not going to get that kind of endorsement that would feed his vanity from Amelia.

Her attention was claimed by Sir Frederick. “So, ladies, is your footwear sturdy enough for a tramp in the grass which hopefully is not wet with dew although it is all but dark?”

“The full moon bathes everything in light. Going outside would be ever so exciting!” said Miss Playford. “And I would gladly sacrifice my slippers for such an adventure for I have another pair. Would we really go outside, Sir Frederick?”

“Outside?” Amelia gasped before Sir Frederick said, “You seemed more invested in your own thoughts than in finding the treasure, Miss Fairchild, for outside we must assuredly go if we are to solve the puzzle. What was it that so claimed your attention?”

As Miss Playford sent her an enquiring look and as Amelia clearly could not speak the truth she said, “I was thinking of poor Lady Pernilla’s tragic love story.”

“I’d imagine she’s far from the only young lady who’s unable to wed the man of her heart,” said Miss Playford with surprising equanimity. “So that’s not really tragic, is it? Not when her story isn’t special.”

“Good heavens, Miss Playford, that’s not very sentimental of you,” remarked Sir Frederick with a surprised laugh. “I thought I witnessed a secret tear when you read her love letter.”

“Yes, but I thought about it as we were making our way through the castle and tried to list the couples I could think of who’d made matches of the heart—or rather, ones that were happy—and that’s when I counseled myself to take a different approach.

” Her more robust tone faltered a little.

“You see, my aunt is forever telling me that I allow my foolish heart to rule my mind and that my vanity will feed me with unreasonable expectations. Especially since I have no dowry.” Her voice faltered.

“She says a lady must learn to do what those who know better tell her, and to accept it with a good and pragmatic heart.” She gave a small laugh.

“Sometimes I forget her strictures and it’s only when I have a few minutes of reflection that I remind myself. ”

“So, you don’t believe in the love match?” asked Sir Frederick. “You do not know any couples who are happily wed?”

Miss Playford bit her lip as she shook her head.

“What about your parents?” asked Amelia before she could help herself.

“I don’t remember them very well,” said Miss Playford. “And my aunt was jilted at the altar so she doesn’t have a happy story.”

“You’ve not been to many dances or assemblies in the district?”

“Only one.”

“Cousins, friends, siblings?” asked Amelia, and when Miss Playford shook her head, she gasped, “Are you not lonely?”

Miss Playford frowned. “I had many friends at the Ladies’ Seminary I attended for the ten years until just a few months ago when my aunt decided to launch me.

But books are my greatest friends. I cannot tell you how exciting it was to discover the library here.

In fact, as soon as my aunt is asleep, I shall creep downstairs and spend the whole night reading. ”

Amelia and Sir Frederick exchanged glances and Amelia found she was regarding Miss Playford in a very different light. She smiled. “I hope you are transported to wondrous new worlds, in that case,” she said.

“Yes, for even going outside during the night is an adventure!” exclaimed Miss Playford, leading the way towards the door. “Come along! I’m sure we are ahead and are going to win!”