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"Perhaps," Lisette said "But I’m sure that he will be a fine candidate for an apprenticeship"

"Tobias does not need an apprenticeship," Villiers stated

"Of course he does," Lisette said, not really listening "He’s a clever boy You could apprentice hiht create wonderful instruive him an estate worth ten thousand pounds a year"

Eleanor took a sip of her wine Apparently, Leopold had forgotten to share a few details of his anticipated hoed She was always easygoing--unless you crossed her

"Tobias will not participate in the treasure hunt," Villiers stated

Lisette’s brows drew together "Of course he will He’s just the right age to win, and he’s already excited about it You can’t disappoint the boy I was in the nursery thisbut the hunt"

"Tobias talked of nothing else?"

Eleanor knehat Villiers meant Tobias was eminently his father’s son: he would never babble

"In his own particular fashion," Lisette said airily

"It’s not appropriate for hiainst orphans to win fifty pounds," Villiers pointed out

"I know!" Lisette exclai her hands "If he wins, you can simply tell Tobias that he can’t keep the ht want to inform him of that salient fact ahead of time," Anne noted It seeood deal more than she herself was

"I will instruct him that it would be i a partridge served on a croustade from the footman

Lisette huffed but went back to her list

"What sort of things are the children supposed to fetch?" Anne inquired

"I told you An egg fro" I the egg ho it!"

"And ill the treasure hunt begin?"

"As soon as Aunt Marguerite arrives," Lisette said "And my father, of course"

Eleanor resolutely turned up the corners of hera suerite about the Duke of Astley’s clandestine visit," Lisette said, turning to her "Though of course you’ll want to tell everyone, I’m sure"

"Actually, no," Eleanor said Villiers’s head swung up and she avoided his eyes "His Grace’s whereabouts are his own business"

"You’ll disappoint the gossip lovers," Lisette said, looking back and forth between two pieces of foolscap "Do you think that the winning orphan should be crowned in gold or with laurel leaves?"

"Gold?" Eleanor asked, still avoiding Villiers’s eyes "How on earth would you e that, Lisette?"

"Well, there is an old crown in the ing," she said "It’s locked up, but of course I could get it out I think Queen Elizabeth left it here when she was on progress years ago So like that"

"Your family never returned it?" Anne asked "You’d think that Queen Elizabeth would have missed the crown"

"Apparently there is so for the crown back, but my ancestor pretended he’d never seen it I’irls, Leopold Do come with e "I’"