Under a patchy gray sky with a peek of blue trying to push through, Sophia gripped the edge of the small carriage window as the horses trotted up the promenade to the grand entrance of Montagu House. Together, the four ladies alighted before the British Museum and strolled across the courtyard, Sawyer and Gorman one step behind them. The museum’s main façade held seventeen bays with a prominent three bay center and three bay ends, which bordered the service wings. Sitting two stories high with a basement and a protruding mansard roof, Montagu House held a regal and elegant dome over the center. So stunning, and of clear French design. The museum was sophisticated and stately with an open field at the rear and extensive gardens all around, which visitors to the museum could enjoy at their leisure.
Sophia entered the front door of the building and as she did each time she arrived in this most wondrous of places, halted to admire the sheer beauty of the main floor’s immense interior. Groups of visitors mingled before paintings and exhibits, all here enjoying a day immersing themselves in all the museum had to offer. A wide staircase wound around the side of the central saloon and swept upward to the next floor, where high latticed windows at the front of the house allowed light to stream in. A high ceiling rose overhead with painted artwork gracing its entirety—a stunning centerpiece.
“Oh, look at these beautiful murals on the walls.” Maria gasped as she caught sight of the featured paintings to their left, the murals on show painted by both by Italian and French artists.
“Let’s admire those first.” This was Maria’s day and she’d do all she could to ensure her friend enjoyed herself. Drawing Maria along, she perused paintings both donated to the museum, and purchased by the trustees to ensure the fine pieces wouldn’t be lost to the public.
An hour later, they finally ascended the stairs, which in itself took time as one couldn’t simply wander past each high window along the stairway without halting to admire the extensive view of the gardens spread outside.
At the top, they wandered underneath an elegant arch framing a double doorway and into the first of dozens of upper rooms. Each well-crafted display caught their attention and they admired table after table.
Captain James Cook’s exhibit took Sophia’s breath away. So many pieces were on display from his travels across the South Seas, each item giving a glimpse into previously unknown lands. Next to her, Ellie smoothed one hand over an animal skin and read the documented entry about it to them. Olivia marveled over the pieces of rock, sculpted marble and ornamentation from the islands which Cook had discovered within waters that had never been chartered before. Across from her, Maria gushed over the well-handcrafted pieces gifted to Cook from several island chiefs who spoke in languages unknown.
Goodness, but their world was so vast, far greater than Sophia had ever believed it could be. How incredible to undertake such an adventure. She trailed one finger along a piece of the foremast of Cook’s ship, HMS Resolution, which had been damaged by the rough seas after he’d left the Hawaiian Islands.
She stood quietly, reverently, as she read the plaque detailing Cook’s unfortunate demise. After leaving Hawaii, Captain Cook’s expedition of 1779 had been forced to return to the islands after only a week at sea. As they arrived where they’d been greeted with great respect only a few days past, this time they were set upon by the some of his remains were returned to his crew and once they had been, his men set sail after repairing their vessel, then officially buried Cook at sea, within the waters he’d cherished exploring.
Cook’s life had come to such an abrupt and sad end.
Dipping her head with respect, she stepped away and followed Maria and her sisters, who’d already continued on.
Maria and Olivia halted before a marble statue, Sawyer remaining close to Maria.
Ellie perused a series of oil paintings next, Gorman keeping an eye on her.
Sophia smiled and veered toward an enticing collection of books. She’d always adored the written word and she took her time thumbing through the volumes, some tomes Winterly actually had on his study shelves.
At the table next to her, a man
“My apologies.” Cheeks flaming, she turned her gaze back on the tomes. Never had she been caught staring so openly at a man.
“Apology accepted.” He smiled, his lips lifting, his blue eyes brightening even further. “Would you be Lady Sophia Trentbury, by chance?”
“Ah, yes.” Baffled, she frowned. “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”
“No, although we share two acquaintances, one being the Earl of Donnelly, the other the Duke of Ashten, your sister’s husband.” He stuck one hand in his inner jacket pocket and removed a piece of thick parchment. Unfolding it, he continued in a low murmur, “Donnelly handed this drawing to me earlier this morning. You will of course be aware of it since you’re the lady who discovered it in the earl’s library. He has informed me about what happened, of course.”
“Oh, you must be Captain Bourbon.” Her heartbeat raced. “You’re aiding the earl in his investigations?”
“Yes, and I hope I’m not being too forward in introducing myself.”
“We don’t exactly have someone here to perform an introduction for us.” She also wished to speak to this gentleman. A quick glance about as she checked to ensure no one paid too much attention to them, and since her sisters and Maria were still immersed in other displays, she faced the man again. “We shall introduce ourselves. I’m Lady Sophia, the Earl of Winterly’s sister.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sophia.” Drawing tucked away, he caught her gloved hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I have something to show you, an item from the treasure chest which I’ve spoken to Donnelly and Ashten about.” He removed a piece of jade from his inside coat pocket and carefully held the treasure toward her. “This is the actual jade mask portrayed in the drawing you found.”
“Oh my, how did you come by it?” She held the mask carefully in her hands, the piece’s mouth and eye sockets open and carved with an exquisite eye for detail. By a master carver for certain. Shaking at the immense find she now held, she murmured, “This mask is beautiful, extremely beautiful.”
“Priceless too.”
“Yes, I imagine that is so.” She handed the mask back, which he accepted and returned to his pocket.
“I would like to speak to you further, in private if I may?” Extending one crooked elbow, he continued, “Would you take a short walk with me, into the next room?”
“Of course.” Somewhat dazed, she accepted his offered arm and he guided her into the side room where two people stood admiring an exhibit along the far wall. “What did you wish to speak to me about, Captain Bourbon?”
“The sunken treasure chest. I’ve learnt it doesn’t belong to the Spanish, but to the Portuguese House of Braganza.”
“It does?”
“Yes, and as I’ve informed Donnelly and Ashten, two and a half years past, when the entire Braganza Dynasty of Portugal fled into exile, the treasure within the chest was left behind with the Spanish royal family, of which the Spanish promised to send the chest along when all became safe. The ceremonial mask I’ve shown you was recovered in the early hours of this morning from the town office of Mr. Blackburne, a wealthy solicitor. He bought the piece for a large sum from a contact of his at the eastern docks. I’ve yet to uncover who that contact is, but I shall. It’s only a matter of time until I discover exactly who stole the chest, but I can only do so with your aid.”
“How so?”
He looked into her eyes. “My lady, I captain a vessel called The Cobra, which goes by the same name as my gaming hell, and a year ago I sailed into Algiers and while there visited a wise woman who is very dear to me. Her name is Shira Shira is known to read the palm of your hand, or offer you one of her special coffees and read the remains she spills onto a saucer. She is a foreseer, whom I’ve mentioned to Donnelly and Ashten.”
“How intriguing.” Captivated, she couldn’t look away. “Did she read your future?”
“Yes, although not only mine, but yours as well.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Shira told me of my past, my present, and my future.” His words were soft, gentle, reverent. “She informed me that one day I would meet two ladies, all in regard to a drawing and certain events that would unfold with stolen treasure. The name of the first lady would be Sophia, the name of the second, Olivia, which of course is your name and that of your sister.”
“How incredible. Please, tell me more.”
“Indeed, I do.” She couldn’t deny that, not when Donnelly held her heart.
“Shira also shared with me that the lady who found the drawing would not be aware of all she knew, that I’m to keep her close until all is unraveled, that throughout the days ahead I shall be her guardian. My duty will be to keep you safe.”
“What of Olivia?” She fluttered a hand over her heart.
“The lady named Olivia would one day offer me an olive branch, the symbol of peace.”
“Olivia’s name is derived from the olive branch.”
“Shira insisted Olivia would one day be my saving grace, an angel sent to me at a time when I would need one the most.” He set a hand at her back and steered her to the next display. “One doesn’t take Shira’s words lightly, and so I must ask that you turn to me whenever you have need of aid. Send me word to my gaming hell and I shall come when you call.”
“What else did Shira say?” Deep intrigue pulsed within her. She would dearly love to meet this foreseer.
“She issued a grave warning, one I’d best not share as yet. When the time comes, I shall though. For now, I would like you to use my given name. Please, call me Anteros, if that is not being too forward of me to ask?”
“Very forward, but these are unusual circumstances, so yes, I shall call you Anteros, provided you call me Sophia.” Goodness, they hadn’t been introduced formally and now they’d invited each other to use their given names. Mama would be shocked at her behavior, although Mama had also said just this morning that one couldn’t live their life in fear, which she intended to take directly to heart.
She walked with Anteros into yet another side room toward a new display, one showcasing a lifelike series of large sculptures, one ironically of Anteros, the Greek god of love and passion. Wings sprouted from the statue’s back, a cloth draped over the sculpture’s shoulder and around his lower body, his chest exposed and muscles flexed as he held a bow with an arrow on the verge of being released. Another couple admired the statue, their heads bent together as they spoke in low tones. “It appears there is another Anteros in the room,” she whispered to Anteros.
“Yes, which is a clear sign that you and I are where we should currently be.”
“How did you come by the name Anteros?”
“
She waved out and Olivia hurried across.
Under his breath, Anteros murmured,
Olivia halted before them, worry clear to see in her eyes. “Is everything all right, Sophia? Sawyer informed me that someone might be detaining you.”
“Not detaining,” she corrected. “I’ve been enjoying a delightful conversation with—well—Olivia, allow me to introduce you to Captain Anteros Bourbon. Captain, this is my younger sister, Lady Olivia Trentbury.”
The captain removed his hat and tucked it under one arm, his black hair shimmering a vibrant blue on the ends, the color an exact match to his blue eyes. “Piacere. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Olivia.” Bourbon lifted her sister’s gloved hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “This is a meeting I have both longed for and feared.”
“Bourbon? As in the man my sister has spoken of, the spymaster aiding the Earl of Donnelly in his investigations?”
“Yes, that is exactly who I am.”
“Oh, well, it is a pleasure to meet you. A surprise, but still a pleasure.” Olivia stepped closer to Bourbon, her voice hushed so it didn’t travel any farther than the three of them. “Have you made any progress with your investigations?”
“I have, and will continue to do so.” Bourbon’s voice became a low drawl and Olivia stared at her hand still in his and dropped it quickly to her side.
“My apologies. Pardon me.” Olivia pinched her lips together.
“You are pardoned.” A teasing smile from the captain as he stuck his hat back on his head and straightened to his towering height. “Ladies, I do believe luncheon is being served in the tearoom. Would you allow me to escort you both there?”
Since Sophia wished to learn more about Donnelly’s mysterious spymaster, she nodded enthusiastically. “Kind sir, we’d be honored.”
“Wonderful.” He extended crooked elbows to both her and Olivia. “Except the honor is all mine. I can assure you of that.”