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The viscount went forward and uncerehtly, whispering, “Oh my dear Kathy, what has happened to overset you?”

The duke watched this scene unfold, torn between i but await its outcome

The viscount, with his araze to say, “Brock, I have the honor, to present my wife, Kathleen, to you” He turned to the woate, Brock Haydon, my dearest friend”

The duke found her poised in her reply and in that moment knew she was perfect for the viscount He ell pleased She gave the duke a fleeting smile, as he bent over her hand and she softly said to hireat affection Do please excuseof a shock and am not myself”

“A shock?” Skip held her tightly, “Oh, my dear…what is it?”

She cast a doubtful glance at the duke and he begged to be excused, but she stayed him, “Oh no, Your Grace, you needn’t leave It is just that, you see, my father…has died”

She fell then into her husband’s arms, obviously overcome with the sound of the words on her lips

The duke offered his condolences and quietly left her to the viscount as he withdrew He stood outside, having closed the front door at his back, and tried to decide what he should do Well damn it, ride! Yes—ride, but to where? The diary wasn’t at the Abbey Did she mean for him to meet her there? Was that it?

It was at just about that moment the tomen in question arrived at the waterfall cave Mandy took a moment to marvel both at its beauty and the fact that she and Ned had never found this spot She then rerief and clairl

She watched as Elly walked straight to Jack and she winced to see Elly bend over the sluh he were still alive Hoful How terribly sad to have one’s dreams ripped out froht and then Elly held the diary up for her inspection

“You see, miss, m’Jack was mixed up in this…” she went to one of the chests and threw it open “And it got him killed”

Mandy gasped to see all that gold “Oh oodness”

Elly suddenly went very rigid and put her fingers to her lips Elly swung around with the diary and dived to Jack’s body once again, slipping the book under him

Mandy watched opened-mouthed for a moment before it dawned on her, that they were not alone A man in a black cape with its hood pulled low over his head stepped forward and as he slipped the hood off and sneered, Mandy gasped again She never once suspected, really suspected when she listed the possibilities Here stood her cousin, Alfred Speenham

“So then, here we are,” Alfred said quietly