Free Suzanne Robinson by The Treasure Page A

in grief. “Designs upon your lordship’s heart and hand.”
    Valin turned away from the agent, staring at the gold chalice but not seeing it. “My heart and hand?” he said faintly.
    “Forgive me, but as she’s been here so long, that appears to be likely.” Mildmay placed the documents on one of the display cases. “A simple robbery would require only a short stay during which she could locate the desired objects. She would then leave and send minions to do the actual robbery.”
    “So, that’s how it’s done,” Valin said without interest.
    “Often, my lord, but in this case—”
    “Thank you, Mildmay. Thistlethwayte has a cheque for you. Should I need anything else, I shall call upon you.”
    Mildmay was a man of discretion who knew when to make himself invisible, and this he did.
    Valin heard the door close and walked blindly to the window. It looked out over the eighteenth-century terraced gardens at the back of the house.He’d been suspicious, and yet to be faced with the truth was a shock. She was an imposter. Perhaps she’d been born into a good family that had fallen upon hard times. Certainly Emily, or whatever her name was, had been educated and trained as a lady. Certainly she was clever, more than clever. She was brilliant. Valin glared at the documents Mildmay had left behind. She had him panting after her like a puppy, curse her soul.
    Was she after his heart and hand? Was she like all the rest, interested in his title and riches? Dear God, she was ruthless. She’d twisted his guts around her ivory fan.
    Valin swore, whipped around, and started pacing. “Bloody liar! Vicious, deceitful creature. I’ll toss her out on her ear, I will. Dear God, if only it were permissible to raise one’s hand to a woman.”
    “Va—lin!”
    He winced at the mad-parrot screech. The door flew open, and Aunt Ottoline soared in on a wave of apricot silk with yellow bows.
    Valin squinted at the garish effect, sunk his hands in his pockets, and grumbled, “Yes, Aunt. I’m extremely busy at the moment. I’m due to meet Miss de Winter. We’re going for a drive around the park.”
    “Not until I have a word with you.”
    “Only one?”
    “Don’t be impudent, Valin. I boxed your ears when you were a boy, and I can do it again.”
    Breathless and pink with agitation, Ottoline subsided into a chair, battered her enormous skirts into submission, and turned her glittering stare on Valin.
    “It was you who came to me, Valin. Months ago you threw yourself on my mercy, and begged me to help you find a suitable girl to marry in order to save Agincourt Hall from Acton’s depredations. Then you behave as if I am persecuting you when I do my best to help you.”
    “I’m sorry, Aunt.”
    “I declare I shall fall into a brain fever if you don’t mend your conduct.”
    In his preoccupation, he barely heard her. “I will, Aunt.”
    “Good.” Ottoline patted her lace cap and folded her hands in her lap. “Now, who is it to be: Miss Kingsley, Lady Drusilla, or Lady Victoria?”
    “I don’t care for any of them,” Valin said absently. Then he started at the high, gooselike wail that echoed off the walls.
    “Va—lin!”
    Ottoline fell back in her chair, sputtering and moaning. Alarmed at her color, Valin rushed to her, found her scent bottle, and held it under her nose.
    “Aunt, don’t carry on so. I can’t help it. None of those girls is congenial to me.”
    “No one ever will be!” Ottoline sniffed and tossed her head from side to side. She was flushed and breathing rapidly. “I’m undone. No one knows what I suffer. Oh, my heart, it flutters so, and my head is pounding. Oh, oh!”
    When his aunt’s face turned crimson, Valin grabbed his newspaper and fanned her with it. “Shall I call a doctor? Truly, Aunt, you don’t look well.”
    “I shall be disgraced. Everyone in Society knows I’m arranging your marriage. The families of the girls you’ve rejected will hate me, and everyone else will laugh