A Rogue's Secret - Stacy Reid Page 0,30
path. I will have to borrow a heavy horse and cart and come up the old road.”
He re-strapped the chest and started opening the second. The lid opened to reveal it filled with smaller bags, which were a different shape. He lifted a couple out and untied one, spilling some of the contents into his hand, large glistening red stones shone out.
“Rubies, I wonder if all the bags contain the same? If so, this chest is worth far more than the first.” However, the second bag contained sparkling white stones, mostly of the size of one of his fingernails.
“I raise my reckoning because these are rare diamonds. I will put them back for now, but I will need a jeweller to ascertain their worth. I will have to get proper estimates so I can pay your share out accurately,” he smiled, feeling relieved that his problems were solved.
“I am glad you found the treasure,” she said.
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Verity.”
The smile she sent him darted through his heart and left him feeling energized.
“There is one more chest, I wonder what is in that?”
He reached over and opened the ultimate chest; the lid was harder to open and creaked as he lifted it. There were no bags in this one, instead there was a pile of elegant boxes of varying sizes.
Verity gasped. “There are jewellery boxes, you have found the family jewels.”
“I did not really believe there were any…” He lifted out three boxes of different sizes, the first revealed an emerald and diamond set, with necklace, bracelets and earbobs. The next, a more delicate necklace and earrings of sapphires set in intricate filigree gold. The third box revealed three rows of rings, fifteen in total.
“Oh, how pretty!”
“I think our courtship has gone on long enough,” he said, kneeling on the cold stone floor. “Will you please marry me?” he said, holding out the ring tray.
Her eyes were wide and sparkling, her cheeks flushed. “I think I had better marry you, now stop being an idiot and get off that cold floor, you will give yourself an ague…”
Rupert chuckled. “I want to kiss you again but first you must choose a ring as a promise of our engagement. I will put the banns up straight away, then we can marry in the New Year.”
“Everyone will think there is something very havey-cavey about us marrying so fast,” she said as he had pulled her tightly to him and was bruising her mouth with his kisses.
“But perhaps, it had better be sooner than later. I think I will have the green stone one,” she said, easing out of his arms and trying it on her finger. “See fits perfectly, so now we are really engaged, my lord. If you put up the banns and announcement in the papers, then there will be no going back for you. Although I am of age, I suppose you will have to ask my brother, for propriety’s sake as well.”
Chapter 9
Rupert replaced the wooden slats and then carefully returned the coffin. He said a brief prayer for the long-dead knight, “Rest in peace, good Sir, and keep watch over Frederick’s treasure.”
Verity’s heart warmed at his thoughtfulness and his honour. It should be impossible, but she realised she had fallen in love with this man who had recently made love with her in the open. Such reckless boldness on her part but she did not regret it at all.
Rupert turned to Verity. “I’m not sure if I should cross myself or something, as I am sure old Sir Rattlebones was catholic, but I was brought up in the Church of England, so I hope that will do.”
“I think the main thing is that you paid respect,” Verity replied with a smile. “We had best head back up as I can hear Rufus barking outside the church.”
“Yes, it sounds as if he is setting up a howl. I’ll just lock up as we go.”
He slid the sarcophagus’ lid back and locked it in place. They climbed the worn stone stairs to the vestry. Rupert closed the trapdoor and replaced the table over it, putting back the oil lamp in the same place on the shelves. They left the vestry and again locked the door; Rufus was now whining pitifully through the open door to the chapel. Verity rushed over to her dog and untied him, and he made a fuss of her as Rupert secured the chapel door.
The three of them set off together back down