Free Smugglers' Summer by Carola Dunn Page B

paper, Sir Tristram?”
    He had unfolded the sheet and stepped to the window to examine it in a better light.
    “It is a map of the house and grounds, with certain vastly interesting additions. It seems a number of hiding places were built at various times and this gives instructions on how to find them!”
    “It looks very ancient,” said Julia, trying to appear interested.
    “At least two hundred years old, for this tower is not shown.
    “If I am not mistaken,” Octavia added, studying the map, “the tower was built right on top of the only secret place in the house itself. How very provoking!”
    “There is a tradition that Sir Thomas Cotehele, who built the tower, buried treasure chests somewhere about the place. He was a Dutchman whose daughter married one of the Sir Richards and he lived here for many years. I’ll wager he used the old priests’ hole, or whatever it was, to hide his wealth!”
    ‘‘Mama’s chamber is on the ground floor of the tower," said Julia, her indifference forgotten. “Mama, may we search your chamber for an entrance to the treasure room? Mama!”
    Lady Langston sat up, looking flustered. “I was not asleep,” she protested. “You should take a turn about the shrubbery this afternoon, Julia. It is not at all healthy to be cooped up in the house all day.”
    “I shall, Mama, but we have found an old treasure map and we need to look about your chamber. May we?”
    “There is no treasure in my chamber, child, for I brought scarcely any jewels since we do not entertain."
    “Not in it, Aunt, under it. But if you will permit us to look about for an entrance, we promise not to disturb your belongings.”
    “Oh, dear.” Her ladyship looked to Sir Tristram for guidance.
    “It will do no harm, ma’am,” he said, smiling over the girls’ heads as one adult to another.
    It dawned on the viscountess that her daughter was for once in charity with her highly eligible suitor and willing to accept his company, however dubious their enterprise.
    “Very well,” she agreed with a sigh. “But Julia, before you go, pray thread this needle for me. The silk seems to be lost."
    “Let me do it, ma’am,” offered Octavia. “You two go ahead; I shall join you in a moment.”
    Sir Tristram’s look of gratitude almost repaid her for the possibility that they might find the treasure without her.
    It took several minutes to sort out her aunt’s silks and find the right one to match the pink rose she thought she had been working on. More time was lost in trying to find her way amid the confusion of stairs and landings. In the end she had to ask a maid.
    “You mean the White Bedroom, miss? ‘Tis just through the Punch Room, under the arch and up them stone steps. Careful, miss, they’re right steep.”
    She reached the top of the granite staircase in time to hear her cousin say pettishly, “The map is perfectly useless. It shows nothing in the least resembling this room."
    “No luck?” she asked. “What a shocking disappointment! I quite thought to find you both dripping with emeralds and pearls and running your hands through chests of Spanish doubloons.”
    “Not a single emerald,” said Sir Tristram. He spoke cheerfully but it was plain he was mortified.
    Octavia doubted it was because of the lack of treasure. She was sure that he had taken up the hunt with such enthusiasm because of Julia’s interest. Her cousin was behaving like a spoiled child, her usual sunny temper and friendliness changed to irritability.
    If that was the result of falling in love, Octavia was glad she had never succumbed.
    “I should like to see if we can discover some of the other hidey-holes,” she said, “but not immediately. It seems a very long time since I breakfasted and if my aunt does not have luncheon served I shall repair to the kitchens and see what I can find."
    “I should be happy to join you, Miss Gray, but I am even happier to be able to assure you that Mrs Pengarth provides a more than