Hugh relaxed slightly. "Very good, sir."
"I say." Ethan grinned. "That's good news, sir. We would hate to get another tutor."
Robert scowled at the younger boys. "That is not what we came here to talk to him about."
"What did you come here to talk about, Robert?" Jared asked quietly.
Robert's hand was clenched in a tight fist at his side. The words came out in a headlong rush. "Mrs. Bird says you've had your way with Aunt Olympia and that you've got what you wanted and everyone in town knows who you really are now and you'll disappear soon because of the scandal which will occur when everyone finds out you are not actually married to Aunt Olympia."
"Excuse me, sir," Ethan said before Jared could respond. "But what does it mean, you've had your way with Aunt Olympia?"
Robert glared at him. "Be quiet, you idiot."
"I was just asking," Ethan muttered.
"Mrs. Bird says you've ruined her," Hugh said to Jared. "But a short time ago I asked Aunt Olympia if she was ruined and she said she was feeling quite fit."
"I am pleased to hear that," Jared said.
"It appears there's more to it than that, sir." Robert shifted uneasily. "Mrs. Bird says that the only way to set things to rights is for you to marry Aunt Olympia and that you are hardly likely to do that."
"I fear that Mrs. Bird is wrong on that last account," Jared said. "I have already asked your aunt to marry me."
"You have?" Robert looked startled and then hope dawned in his eyes. "Sir, we are not precisely certain what is going on but we do not want anything bad to happen to Aunt Olympia. She has been very kind to us, you see."
Jared smiled. "She has been very kind to me, too. And I intend to see that nothing bad happens to her."
"I say." Robert grinned with relief. "If you're going to look after her, then there's no problem, is there?"
"Well," Jared said slowly, "there is one slight difficulty remaining to be resolved before matters are settled to my satisfaction, but I am certain I can deal with the issue."
Robert's face crumpled with renewed concern. "What is the difficulty, sir? Perhaps we could help."
"Yes, we'll help," Hugh said eagerly.
"Just tell us what needs doing," Ethan added swiftly.
Jared stretched out his legs, leaned back, and braced his elbows on the arms of the chair. He touched his fingers together. "I have asked your aunt to marry me, but she has not yet consented to do so. Until she agrees, matters will remain a trifle unsettled, I fear."
Ethan, Hugh, and Robert exchanged uneasy glances.
"There is," Jared continued smoothly, "some urgency about the situation. Your aunt really ought to make up her mind to marry me as quickly as possible."
"We shall speak to her," Hugh said at once.
"Yes," Ethan agreed. "I'm certain we can convince her to marry you, sir. Mrs. Bird says only a madwoman would refuse to marry under these circumstances."
"Aunt Olympia is not really a madwoman," Robert assured Jared. "Just a bit preoccupied at times. She is actually quite intelligent, you know. I'm sure we can convince her to marry you."
"Excellent." Jared sat forward and picked up his pen. "Go to work on the task, then. I shall see you at dinner."
"Yes, sir." Robert made his bow and led the way back to the door.
"We'll handle this for you, sir," Ethan told Jared. He sketched a quick, polite bow and dashed after Robert.
"Do not concern yourself, sir," Hugh said confidently. "Aunt Olympia is very reasonable about most things. I'm certain we can get her to marry you."
"Thank you, Hugh. I appreciate your assistance," Jared said gravely.
Minotaur rose from the floor, wagged his tail enthusiastically, and trotted after the boys.
Jared waited until the door had closed behind his small band of trusty supporters before going back to his letter.
Dear Sir:
By the time you receive this letter I intend to be married to Miss Olympia Wingfield of Upper Tudway. I hesitate to describe her other than to assure you that she will make me a suitable wife.
I regret that the wedding cannot be delayed until such time as you might be able to conveniently attend. I shall look forward to introducing my bride to you at the earliest opportunity.
Yrs ever,
Jared
Another knock sounded on the door just as Jared was in the process of sealing his letter.
"Enter."
The door opened and Mrs. Bird took one step into the room. She stopped and regarded Jared with wary belligerence. "I come to see what was going on here for meself."
"Did you, Mrs. Bird?"
"Is it true what ye told the boys? Did ye ask Miss Olympia to marry you?"
"Yes, Mrs. Bird, I did. Not that it's any of your business."
Mrs. Bird appeared momentarily stunned. Then her expression turned to one of deep suspicion. "If ye asked Miss Olympia to marry ye, why ain't she actin' like a woman who's about to be wed?"
"Probably because she rejected my offer."
Mrs. Bird stared at him in horror. "She turned ye down?"
"I'm afraid so."
"We'll see about that." Mrs. Bird shook her head. "That young lady ain't never had a proper attitude toward some things. Not her fault. Miss Sophy and Miss Ida raised her up with some strange notions. Still and all, she's got to be made to see reason on this."
"I shall trust you to guide her in the matter, Mrs. Bird." Jared held out the letter. "By the by, would you kindly see that this gets posted?"
Mrs. Bird slowly took the letter from his hand. "Are ye a real viscount?"
"Yes, Mrs. Bird. I am."
"In that case, we'd best get Miss Olympia married off to ye afore ye change yer mind. She ain't likely to do any better than a viscount."
"I'm glad you feel that way, Mrs. Bird."
Chapter 11
Olympia put down her pen and gazed thoughtfully at the mysterious phrase she had just unraveled.
Seek the secret beneath the
Siryn's surging sea.
It made no sense, just as the warning about the Guardian made no sense. But Olympia was virtually certain it was another piece of the puzzle.
Before she could consider the problem further, a knock sounded on the study door.
"Enter," she called absently, her attention still on the new clue.
The door opened. Mrs. Bird, Robert, Ethan, and Hugh filed into the study and arranged themselves in a line in front of her desk. Minotaur ambled in behind Hugh and took up a position at the end of the column.
Olympia reluctantly looked up from the Lightbourne diary and found herself faced by a row of determined faces. She gazed back in bemusement.
"Good afternoon," Olympia said. "Is there a problem?"
"Aye," Mrs. Bird said. "There be a problem all right."
Robert, Ethan, and Hugh nodded in agreement.
"Perhaps you'd better see Mr. Chillhurst about it then," Olympia said, her attention still on the phrase that she had just finished transcribing. "He's very good at sorting out problems."
"Yer forgettin' that he be the Viscount Chillhurst now," Mrs. Bird said brusquely.
"Yes, Aunt Olympia," Ethan said helpfully, "You must address him as his lordship now."
"Oh, yes. You're quite right. It slipped my mind again. Very well, take the problem to his lordship." Olympia smiled distractedly. "I'm sure he'll deal with it. He always does."
Robert drew himself up stiffly. "Begging your pardon, Aunt Olympia, but you're the problem."
"I am?" Olympia looked to Mrs. Bird for explanations. "What is this all about?"
Mrs. Bird made fists of her hands on her broad hips and set her mouth in an inflexible line. "That bloody pirate says he's asked you to marry him."