"Very well, then, I shall leave the matter to you." Jared reached for his missing watch and grimaced when he failed to find it. "Must make a note to purchase a new one." He glanced at the tall clock and then looked at Ethan, Hugh, and Robert. "It is time for your lessons. Geography and mathematics this morning, I believe."
Thaddeus groaned. "How very dull."
"That's my boy," Magnus growled. "Give him a perfectly fine summer morning and he wastes it on geography and mathematics."
Robert gazed ingenuously at Jared. "Sir, we were hoping that we could be excused from our lessons this morning. His lordship, the Earl, says that boys our age should go fishing every summer morning."
"That's right," Ethan piped up. "And Uncle Thaddeus told us that when he was a lad he used to sail paper boats in a stream on summer mornings."
"And practice fighting with a real sword," Hugh put in helpfully.
"You are all three dismissed from breakfast," Jared said calmly. "I shall give you five minutes to get upstairs to the schoolroom and open your books."
"Yes, my lord." Robert jumped to his feet and made his bows.
"Yes, my lord." Ethan hopped up, bowed hastily, and dashed for the door.
"Yes, my lord." Hugh scrambled to follow his brothers.
Jared waited until they were out of the room before he fixed his father and uncle with a grim expression. "This household is run on a few simple but absolutely inflexible rules. The first rule is that I make the rules. And one of my rules is that the boys receive lessons every morning unless I decide otherwise. I will thank you not to interfere."
Olympia was shocked. "Chillhurst, you are talking to your elders."
Magnus grinned widely. "Damn right, son. Show a little respect, if you please."
Thaddeus chuckled wickedly. "That's the spirit, lass. Don't let him get away with sassing his elders."
Jared looked at Olympia as he got to his feet. "You need not concern yourself with my behavior, madam. I assure you I have been dealing with my elders long enough to know that unless I make myself clear from the start, they will turn this household into a menagerie in no time."
"I hardly think so," Olympia said stiffly.
"Trust me," Jared said. "I know them far better than you do. Good day to you, my dear. I shall see you at noon. Until then I shall be in the schoolroom." He inclined his head briefly toward his father and uncle. "Sirs."
"Off you go, son," Magnus said easily. "We'll still be here when you return."
"I was afraid of that," Jared said from the door.
He walked on out into the hall, leaving Olympia alone with Magnus and Thaddeus. She slanted them another anxious sidelong glance and was relieved to see that neither appeared in the least offended.
"Chillhurst prefers an orderly household," Olympia explained.
"No need to apologize, my dear." Magnus beamed at her. "The boy always was something of a stick-in-the-mud. There were times when his mother and I almost despaired of him."
"He's a good lad," Thaddeus assured her. "But he don't take after the rest of the family."
"In what way?" Olympia asked.
"No hot blood in him," Magnus said sadly. "He lacks the Flamecrest fire, if you know what I mean. Always on about his appointments or checking the time on his watch. Buries himself in his business affairs. No violent emotions, no strong passions. In short, a very abnormal member of the clan."
Olympia frowned at both men. "I do not think you understand Chillhurst very well at all."
"Fair enough," Thaddeus said. "He don't understand us, either."
"He's a man of refined sensibilities and deep passions," Olympia said earnestly.
"Bah. You'd never know he's got the blood of buccaneers in his veins, but he's a good lad, for all that." Thaddeus frowned. "Speaking of his watch, what happened to it?"
Olympia's mouth tightened. "Chillhurst used his beautiful watch to pay the ransom for my nephew."
Magnus stared at her. "You don't say. Just like him to purchase the boy's safety rather than go in with his dagger clenched between his teeth and two pistols blazing. A tradesman at heart. Who do you think kidnapped the boy?"
"Chillhurst suspects it may have been a trusted acquaintance who has since left the country," Olympia said. "I, however, am not so certain."
Thaddeus narrowed his eyes. "Let's discuss your notions on the subject m'dear."
Olympia glanced toward the door to make certain Jared had not returned unannounced. "Well, sirs, as to that, I have a strong suspicion that whoever kidnapped Robert was after the Lightbourne diary."
"Ah-hah." Magnus slammed the flat of his hand against the table so hard that the silverware jumped. "I agree. The diary is most likely at the bottom of all this. We're getting closer to the secret, Thaddeus. I can feel it in my bones."
Thaddeus's eyes gleamed. "Tell us what ye've learned so far, lass. Mayhap Magnus and I can assist you."
Enthusiasm soared through Olympia. "That would be wonderful. I would greatly appreciate your help. I must say, Chillhurst has taken a rather dampening approach to the matter."
Magnus heaved a heavy sigh. "That's my boy for ye. Damp as a fish. Now, then, let's get on with the matter. How far have ye got in the diary?"
"Very nearly all the way through." Olympia pushed aside her plate and folded her hands on the table. She eyed her two new assistants intently. "But although I've managed to translate most of the mysterious phrases, I have not been able to completely decipher their meanings."
"Let's have at 'em," Magnus said.
"Well, there's a phrase about the Master of the Siryn making peace with the Master of the Sea Serpent. Now, on the surface, that appears to be a fairly obvious reference to Captain Jack and Captain Yorke."
"Bit too late to patch up the quarrel," Thaddeus said. "Both been in their graves for years."
"I realize that. But I have begun to believe that it's necessary for the descendents of both families to meet in order to solve the mystery," Olympia explained. "I have found half of a treasure map. I suspect someone from Yorke's family has the other half."
"If that's the case, we'll never discover the treasure," Magnus said glumly.
"Damme." Thaddeus bunched a hand into a fist and struck the table forcefully. "To be so close only to learn we stand no chance of finding it."
"Why do you say that?" Olympia looked from one disappointed face to the other.
"Won't be able to turn up a descendent of Captain Edward Yorke," Thaddeus said sadly. "He never had a son. Whole bloody clan died out, as far as I know."
Olympia started to respond and then stopped when Graves spoke from the doorway.
"Beggin' yer pardon, madam." He held up a silver salver heaped with cards and invitations. "Morning post has arrived."
Olympia waved him away. "His lordship will see to those. He handles that sort of thing."
"Aye, madam." Graves started to withdraw.
"Hold a moment." Magnus looked at Graves. "Let's see what you've got there."
"They're merely invitations to various social affairs," Olympia explained, irritated by the interruption. "They've been pouring in ever since people realized that Chillhurst was in town."
"Is that right?" Thaddeus wrinkled his brows. "Been goin' to a lot of parties and soirees and such, have ye?"
"Oh, no," Olympia said, surprised. "Chillhurst throws them all away."
Magnus groaned. "Sounds like him. That boy never did know how to have fun. Let's open a few of those invitations and see what's happening in Society. Mayhap we'll find something interesting to do while we're in town, Thaddeus."
"Right you are." Thaddeus motioned Graves to give the salver to Olympia.
"I really don't think—" Olympia broke off as Graves placed the salver full of cards and notes in front of her.