(1976) Deception by Amanda Quick

Author:Amanda Quick [Quick, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Regency, Humor, Romance, Historical, Chick-Lit
ISBN: 9780553565065
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1976-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Olympia put down her pen and gazed thoughtfully at the mysterious phrase she had just unraveled.

Seek the secret beneath the

Siryn’s surging sea.

It made no sense, just as the warning about the Guardian made no sense. But Olympia was virtually certain it was another piece of the puzzle.

Before she could consider the problem further, a knock sounded on the study door.

“Enter,” she called absently, her attention still on the new clue.

The door opened. Mrs. Bird, Robert, Ethan, and Hugh filed into the study and arranged themselves in a line in front of her desk. Minotaur ambled in behind Hugh and took up a position at the end of the column.

Olympia reluctantly looked up from the Lightbourne diary and found herself faced by a row of determined faces. She gazed back in bemusement.

“Good afternoon,” Olympia said. “Is there a problem?”

“Aye,” Mrs. Bird said. “There be a problem all right.”

Robert, Ethan, and Hugh nodded in agreement.

“Perhaps you’d better see Mr. Chillhurst about it then,” Olympia said, her attention still on the phrase that she had just finished transcribing. “He’s very good at sorting out problems.”

“Yer forgettin’ that he be the Viscount Chillhurst now,” Mrs. Bird said brusquely.

“Yes, Aunt Olympia,” Ethan said helpfully, “You must address him as his lordship now.”

“Oh, yes. You’re quite right. It slipped my mind again. Very well, take the problem to his lordship.”

Olympia smiled distractedly. “I’m sure he’ll deal with it. He always does.”

Robert drew himself up stiffly. “Begging your pardon, Aunt Olympia, but you’re the problem.”

“I am?” Olympia looked to Mrs. Bird for explanations. “What is this all about?”

Mrs. Bird made fists of her hands on her broad hips and set her mouth in an inflexible line. “That bloody pirate says he’s asked you to marry him.”

Olympia was suddenly wary. “What of it?”

“He also says ye haven’t accepted his proposal yet,” Mrs. Bird continued.

Olympia gave her a determinedly reasonable smile. “I can hardly marry a viscount, can I?”

“Why not?” Robert demanded.

“Yes, why not?” Ethan chorused.

Olympia frowned. “Well, he’s a viscount. Some day he’ll be an earl. He needs a proper wife, not someone like me.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Hugh asked. “I like you just the way you are.”

“Yes, you are a very nice sort of female,” Robert said loyally.

“What’s more, ye be the one his lordship ruined, Miss Olympia,” Mrs. Bird muttered. “And ye be the one he wants to marry.”

“I explained to Mr. Chillhurst, I mean, I explained to Lord Chillhurst, that you were not ruined after all,”

Ethan said. “I told him that you were really quite fit, but he still thinks you should marry him.”

“That’s right,” Hugh added. “And we think you should marry him, too, Aunt Olympia. If you do not, he might decide to leave and we’ll probably have to get a new tutor. We shall very likely not be able to find one who knows all about Captain Jack and how to measure the distance across a stream without crossing it and why a kite can fly.”

“It’s a matter of honor,” Robert said darkly.

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