The Black Diamond (26 page)

"Are you about to embark on a wedding trip?" Guillford inquired.

"Not just yet. I have a few business matters to conclude before I can leave England."

"Ah. Your father's estate."

"Among other things," Julian replied vaguely.

"It must be very difficult for you," Guillford added, glancing from Julian to Aurora. "Having to contend with so much at one time: your father's death, an unexpected marriage—and an unlikely one at that—plus these other business matters you just mentioned."

"Not at all." Julian's eyes narrowed. "I'm accustomed to handling a number of ventures at one time. As for my father's death, that was more an inconvenience than anything else. However, being summoned to attend to his estate had its compensations. Had I not been in Devonshire, I would never have had the opportunity to meet my bride. That was a fortunate day indeed. I'd lost hope of ever meeting a woman daring enough, unique enough, exciting enough, to share my life. As luck would have it, Aurora is all that and more." Julian wrapped a possessive arm about Aurora's waist. "Unlikely? Quite the opposite. If anyone is destined to end the age-old feud between our families, it's Aurora and I. We thrive on challenge. What's more, we always win."

"How delightful for you." A flush crept up Guillford's neck.

"Well, we've taken up enough of your time," Aurora piped up, torn between amusement and pity. Even armed with jealousy and resentment, the viscount was no match for Julian. "Courtney, let's collect the rest of my belongings. Then Julian and I can be on our way."

"Of course." Courtney's smile was bright. "Good day, Lord Guillford."

"Good day."

"You're brutal," Aurora hissed at Julian once they were all safely outside the door. The laughter in her eyes banked. "T
hank
you," she said simply.

"For what? I merely stated the truth."

"Then t
hank
you for stating the truth. It greatly eased my discomfort."

"You have nothing to feel uncomfortable about," Courtney declared loyally, leading them back into the library. "The viscount is going to have to recover from his infatuation with you."

Aurora nodded. "I know. Still, having all your support means the world to me."

"We're family. That's what family is for." Courtney glanced about. "Time to resume our tedious project. We have only two shelves left to explore. Let's get busy."

Julian climbed up and handed books down to Aurora, who in turn passed them to Courtney to begin perusing. Within an hour they were finished, as only a quarter of the remaining books dealt with the subject of falcons.

"Now what?" Aurora demanded.

"Now we consider other possibilities," Julian replied. "James wants us to find that book. That means we're not thinking along the lines he intends us to. So let's think along another. Where else would he store a book?"

"Do you think it's hidden?"

"No. The strongbox was hidden because it was outside our estates' protective walls. If we follow our original premise—that all clues, other than the locked strongboxes, were placed in our respective homes—then the book is situated somewhere at Pembourne. In which case, James would have no reason to hide it. Only the Huntleys would have occasion to find it."

"What about the servants? Visitors?" Courtney asked. "What if someone other than a Huntley happened upon the book?"

"Like the key to the falcon cages, the book wouldn't mean anything to someone unless he had the missing page and was specifically searching for the book it had been torn from," Julian responded. "No, my instincts still tell me the answer is right in front of us."

"I think not," Aurora exclaimed abruptly.

Julian's head whipped around. "You've thought of something."

"Actually, you have. You just didn't see it through to its obvious conclusion. Consider the order of events our great-grandfathers orchestrated: Geoffrey's strongbox delivered to you at Morland by Mr. Camden. James's strongbox key, hanging alongside the falcon cages at Pembourne. Geoffrey's map, sketched and hung at Morland. And now the page and the dagger found in James's strongbox, clearly possessions that originated at Pembourne." Aurora stared at her husband, exhilaration pumping through her blood. "If we follow the one-for-one partnership method to which our great-grandfathers clearly subscribed, it would mean the next clue should either originate from or be awaiting us at Morland."

"Of course!" That wild excitement exploded across Julian's face, his topaz eyes blazing sparks of fire. "You're absolutely right. Morland, Pembourne, Morland, Pembourne—now Morland. Why the hell didn't I see it?" He slammed his fist on the side table. "Dammit—a whole day wasted. Never mind; we'll make up for it." He sprang into motion. "We'll leave for Morland at once."

"I'll have Siebert bring your carriage around," Courtney offered, wincing a bit as she rose to cross the room.

"No." Julian stayed her with his hand. "You've already overtaxed yourself far too much."

"I'm not an invalid, Julian."

One black brow arched. "No, but
I
will be if Slayde thinks I've pushed you too hard. Please, for my sake stay here and rest. Besides, this way you can fill Slayde in after he concludes his meeting with Guillford. Tell him where we are and what we're doing." A grin. "Also, tell him his sister is a genius." He caught Aurora's hand. "Come. We have a book to find."

* * *

Aurora's exhilaration gave way to keen awareness just after their carriage turned onto the main road.

Abruptly Julian became a different man—wary, rigid—slowing the phaeton three times to scan behind them. The fourth time he pulled off the road entirely, reining the horses and swinging down from his seat to prowl about.

"We're being followed," Aurora determined.

"Yes. This time we are." Julian strolled around in front of the phaeton, pretending to check the horses' tack, his gaze darting about the clusters of trees surrounding them. "And whoever is doing the following is not far behind." He frowned thoughtfully. "I'd investigate this on foot, but I won't leave you."

"I'll go with you." Aurora began to climb down.

"No," Julian commanded. "Stay put. If whoever's following us sees me lurking about with you alongside, he'll realize we've spotted him. I think we should continue on to Morland. Our pursuer evidently thinks we're heading someplace far more interesting, else he wouldn't be following."

"How do you know that?"

"Because the route that leads inland to Newton Abbot is a fairly well-traveled one. No common highwayman follows people from their homes and assaults them in broad daylight."

"Except you don't believe our pursuer is a common highwayman," Aurora reminded him.

"True, I don't. I think our pursuer knows precisely whom he's tracking and why. Which is all the more reason he'll hold off. No one who's familiar with my ability to defend myself would dare attack me under these conditions—not if he wanted to live. Further, I think the point is a moot one. Once our unwanted visitor figures out our destination, his interest in us will vanish, at least for the time being. Remember, Morland Manor is—in most people's minds—my home. Taking my bride there would seem anything but suspicious; 'twould seem the most natural thing in the world."

"As opposed to the more fascinating, inexplicable route you'd be taking if you were going off in search of—or to collect—the black diamond."

Julian flashed her a smile as he swung back into his seat. "Exactly." He guided the horses onto the road, continuing their journey as if nothing were amiss.

"That makes sense," Aurora concurred pensively. "So we simply go on our way and hope our pursuer loses interest."

"No, we go on our way, keeping up our guard lest our pursuer
not
lose interest." A quick glance at his wife. "Does this unnerve you?"

"Unnerve me? Not in the least. In truth, I find the whole situation rather exciting." Aurora sat up straighter, her entire face aglow. "I feel like an especially sly fox during the hunt, one who knows he's swifter and more cunning than either the dogs or the men who are stalking him."

Julian's eyes glittered, with humor and excitement. "I'm glad the thrill of the chase enthralls you so. Nevertheless,
soleil
, let me give you a small but essential warning: never become overconfident. Overconfidence breeds recklessness."

"And recklessness breeds failure?"

"In most cases." Julian brought Aurora's hand to his lips and pressed a hot, openmouthed kiss to her palm. "There is, however, one place where you can always unleash that enticing recklessness of yours—and be greeted with naught but success."

His husky tone, his pointed caress found their mark, and a surge of heat shot through her. "Really?" Her fingertips caressed his jaw, his mouth. "Odd, I seem to recall many places where you welcome my particular brand of recklessness."

Julian sucked in his breath, his expression a dizzying combination of raw hunger and stark amazement. "Only you could tempt me to forget everything—our current predicament, the book we're seeking—everything. We're in the midst of chaos, yet all I want to do right now is pull off the road and bury myself inside you until nothing exists but the staggering magic we make with our bodies."

Everything inside Aurora melted, slid down to her toes. "What if I were to entice you?"

"You'd succeed. So don't. It would endanger your life—something I've vowed never to do." With a quick hard kiss to her knuckles, Julian released her. "But once we're safely within those walls, once we've found that bloody book…"

"You offer a splendid incentive."

"An incentive—and a whole lot more." With a slap of the reins, Julian sped onward.

* * *

"Morland's library is a good deal more diverse than Pembourne's," Aurora noted. Seeing how few of the books reported on animals or nature, her shoulders sagged with relief. "But our task here should be far easier than it was at Pembourne. There we had to scrutinize an army of texts, lest one of the countless books that mentioned birds of prey be the one we sought. Whereas here—" She sighed, squatting down beside the lower section of shelves on the far wall. "—I'm relieved to see volumes on philosophy, history, religion, all of which we can eliminate as possibilities. That narrows things down significantly."

"Perhaps too significantly," Julian murmured, contemplating the room. "At first glance, I don't see a single book on falcons."

"We'll obviously have to delve more deeply."

"Agreed. Now, to determine a logical place to begin…"

"Don't determine. Search."

Julian tossed her a look. "So bloody impatient. Very well, Rory, this time we'll do it your way. But only because no harm can come of it."

"Yes, sir," she muttered.

"I'll start with the shelves on the opposite wall. Call out if you find anything significant."

"Don't worry. If I find that blasted book, Courtney and Slayde will probably hear me at Pembourne." So saying, Aurora began, skimming the titles from the bottom shelf up.

She was on the third section about an hour later when she gave a speculative frown. "I didn't know your family was interested in weapons."

"Weapons?" Julian glanced up from his task. "They weren't—at least not to my knowledge. Why?"

"Because this whole shelf is devoted solely to books on that subject: pistols, swords, cannons—an entire variety."

Slowly Julian descended the ladder, a puzzled expression on his face. "That's odd."