The Alchemist's Key

by Traci Harding

  Stage two of Glenoak’s expansion plans was getting Wade’s financial advisors, Robert Hapwood and Tunstan Wilks, to agree to the massive outlay of funds. For although the final decision was Wade’s, he couldn’t feel comfortable about investing a large part of the family fortune without the full consent of those who had also been advisors to his grandfather. Still, between Wade and Hannah’s presentation and the Contessa’s aptitude for arguing the business side, Wilks and Hapwood had to agree that, by all appearances, the project was a sound investment. It was decided that the funding should be split into three stages: building construction, interior decoration and furnishing, and equipment, the last of which was estimated to be the largest outlay of them all. If each stage progressed according to the schedule and budget, then Wilks and Hapwood would have no just cause to deny the project their full ongoing support.

  By the time of Hugh’s next visit to Ashby, all the plans for the college had been finalised, and Wade was of a mind to celebrate. Louisa had also been invited to the get-together, along with Hannah and the Contessa.

  Hugh arrived at the manor ahead of Wade’s female guests, but the Baron was not present to greet him.

  ‘You’ll find the Baron around the side of the manor.’ Talbot, who sounded most disenchanted, directed Hugh towards the gazebo.

  ‘Thank you, Talbot.’ Hugh left his luggage with the butler, and headed off to investigate.

  To Hugh’s great astonishment, he was confronted by some major types of machinery as he rounded the house. The gazebo had been completely disassembled, and was piled up in pieces out of harm’s way — the only part that still remained was the large metal spike that arose from the centre of the site. Wade was there, overseeing the dig-in-progress, which looked as if it was in its latter stages.

  ‘Whoa!’ Wade motioned to the man in the giant earth-mover to cease action. ‘We’ll continue the dig manually from here, thanks mate.’

  ‘What are you doing?’ Hugh was horrified by the desecration of the beautiful grounds. ‘Have you taken leave of your senses?’

  Wade had expected this reaction from Hugh, and so remained in good spirits. ‘Well, you said you wanted to know what we were dealing with, and I figured this was the only way to be sure.’

  ‘It’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?’

  ‘Not at all.’ Wade was confident. ‘If I’m wrong, I can erect the gazebo again … no harm done.’

  ‘But …’ Hugh was lost for words.

  ‘I know it looks bad, but the garden will grow back. Right, Dougal?’ Wade referred to his gardener, who was in the earthen hole digging away madly.

  ‘Yes, indeed, Mr Prescott. Have no fear of that.’

  ‘See.’ Wade placed his shovel aside and removed his gloves. ‘You look as if you could use a drink.’ He slapped Hugh on the shoulder to lighten his mood. ‘We’ll call it a day,’ he advised his workers. ‘Grab yourselves a drink, and I’ll see you all at the same time on Monday.’

  ‘Yes, my Lord,’ they all confirmed with glee.

  ‘It’s been good, this dig,’ Wade remarked as he escorted Hugh into the house. ‘It’s given me the chance to get to know a few of the locals.’

  ‘Well I’m glad it’s been of some benefit,’ said Hugh, still outraged by the fact of the dig. ‘I mean, that gazebo was a memorial to one of your great forefathers. Have you no respect?’

  ‘Now, don’t be like that. If I discover John Ashby’s time machine you’ll be the first to start patting me on the back. Besides, he wants me to find it.’

  ‘How do you know?’ Hugh stopped in his tracks, thinking that perhaps Wade might have experienced another historical episode in his absence.

  ‘The dream,’ Wade explained. ‘I wouldn’t have had it if he didn’t want me to find the third level.’

  ‘If there is a third level,’ Hugh stated with a good serve of cynicism.

  ‘Gentlemen!’ Louisa breezed in through the front door, seeming delighted to see them both. ‘Wade, darling.’ She kissed his cheek. ‘Going for the rugged ditch-digger look, are we?’

  ‘You could say that,’ Hugh answered for him.

  ‘Hugh, you look well.’ She shook his hand. ‘How goes all at Oxford?’

  ‘No Doctorate yet,’ he jested, ‘but I’m working on it.’

  ‘Mighty fine.’ She backed up to follow Andrew and her luggage to her room. ‘I’m just going to freshen up. Meet you for drinks in your drawing room?’

  Wade confirmed this with a nod as she vanished into the downstairs guest quarters.

  ‘She seems fresh enough already,’ commented Hugh.

  ‘Well, thank God somebody is, or I might end up becoming a monk.’

  ‘I was under the impression you were more interested in Miss Martin.’

  Wade waved this off as he walked up the stairs towards a much earned drink. ‘Miss Martin is already seeing someone.’

  ‘Well, what’s he like? Surely he’s not a Baron!’ Hugh encouraged him to pursue the matter anyway.

  ‘Who knows? He’s away on business, so I’ve never even met the guy.’

  ‘Then you have the perfect opportunity to steal her out from beneath him, so to speak.’ Hugh followed Wade through the studio and into his drawing room.

  ‘Nah, it’s a complete waste of time. We’ve built up a pretty good rapport over the last month or so, and still Hannah is not even the slightest bit interested in me,’ Wade announced in exasperation, as he poured a couple of bourbons. Then, noting the worried look on his friend’s face, he felt he’d best reassure him. ‘Don’t worry, Hugh. I’m not going to seduce Louisa just for the hell of it.’

  ‘It certainly wouldn’t bother me if you did.’ Hugh accepted his drink. ‘I just think that she’d make a highly dangerous bedfellow, that’s all.’

  ‘And you like a bit of danger do you, Hugh?’

  ‘Hey.’ Hugh held up his glass to Wade. ‘I have nothing to lose, you do. I’m just watching out for you, old son.’

  ‘How very considerate.’

  ‘What are friends for?’ Hugh clinked his glass against Wade’s, and they both drank the shot in a couple of gulps.

  Wade had invited Hannah to stay the weekend at the manor, and much to his surprise she’d accepted.

  She looked a complete knockout in the slinky black pants-suit she wore for dinner, and Wade placed a hand over his heart to confess: ‘I think it’s completely cruel of you to show up looking so stunning.’

  ‘This old thing.’ She waved away the compliment. Yet secretly she was delighted, having brought the outfit specifically to impress him. ‘I must say you look rather handsome yourself, Baron.’ She straightened the black bow tie that went with his new tail coat. Still, he hadn’t gone all the way with his Lord of the Manor attire, as he wore jeans and black boots to complete the outfit.

  ‘What? This old thing,’ he grinned, waving the comment away in the same fashion.

  Hannah smiled at this. Wade was so charming when he wanted to be. ‘So. Where is the infamous Lady Sinclair, and your good friend, Mr Prescott?’ she asked, hoping that Wade would tell her they’d been unavoidably detained elsewhere and had been forced to cancel.

  ‘They’re awaiting us in my drawing room.’ He held out an arm, inviting her to accompany him in that direction.

  Once the Contessa completed the party, they all moved into the dining room.

  Andrew didn’t join them on this occasion. The chauffeur claimed that he felt it would be rather inappropriate, since the Contessa was attending as guest of honour. But in truth, Wade knew Andrew just wanted to spend the evening with Grace. The Baron hadn’t seen much of his young friend since the girl arrived in the twentieth century. Wade didn’t mind too much, as he had plenty to keep him amused.

  Although there was some degree of contention between the women Wade had invited, they did manage to keep the conversation polite.

  Louisa didn’t much like the way the Baron was admiring Hannah, just as Hugh resented Louisa’s preoccupation with Wade
. The Contessa found the whole situation somewhat amusing, but nearly choked on her drink when Wade asked for her opinion of Hannah’s boyfriend.

  ‘The Contessa doesn’t know Simon very well,’ Hannah jumped in quickly, hoping the Contessa would play along.

  ‘Oh, Simon!’ The Contessa raised half a smile. ‘He seems a nice enough fellow … although he is rather elusive.’

  ‘I didn’t know you were seeing someone.’ Louisa’s mood boosted considerably. ‘How wonderful! What does he do?’

  Hannah was beginning to regret her little fabrication now. She’d grown rather fond of Wade over the past month. The thought of Louisa getting her hooks into him made her more jealous than she cared to admit.

  ‘I really don’t know how long it’s going to last,’ Hannah informed them. ‘He’s a lawyer, you see. His work keeps him away quite a bit, and I’m not too sure how I feel about these long separations.’

  ‘Are you concerned he might be unfaithful?’ Louisa teased her.

  Hannah gave a laugh at this. ‘Simon. Heavens, no. I’m more liable to be unfaithful than he.’

  The Contessa was forced to smother her amusement at this, and raised a glass to her host instead. ‘My, it is refreshing to dine with young people. It always adds a certain spice to the conversation. Thank you so much for inviting me.’

  ‘The pleasure is all mine, Contessa.’

  The stately woman placed her glass aside. ‘I, too, have a proposition for you.’ The Contessa mocked the younger female competition ever so slightly, as she spoke to the young Baron.

  ‘I am intrigued,’ he flirted, ‘and all ears.’

  ‘Well, after speaking with the college patrons, whom you completely won over with your presentation, it is their suggestion that I offer you a job as head of the new multi-media department at Glenoak.’

  ‘Do you mean teach? Me?’

  ‘Yes, you,’ the Contessa confirmed with a laugh. ‘Can you think of anyone more qualified? Not only teaching, but overseeing the hiring and firing of staff, and you would also be taking care of our clients and our business prospects. It would be your little baby. What do you say?’

  ‘Why … I’d be honoured,’ he decided finally, and congratulations were expressed by all at the table.

  Hugh shook his head, amazed. How far his friend had come in just a few months.

  The Contessa left after dessert, having achieved her objective. She said goodbye to everyone at the table, and Hannah walked her to the car.

  ‘Thanks for covering for me,’ Hannah was a little shy in saying.

  The Contessa raised both brows and gave a sigh. ‘Take a little advice from an old spinster … if you like him, my sweet, don’t play games. Life is far too short.’ She kissed her assistant’s cheek and climbed into the car.

  After the Contessa’s departure, it was a competition to see who could stay awake the longest. Hannah was not about to retire and leave Wade in Louisa’s company, and neither was Louisa going to excuse herself whilst Hannah was still awake. In the end it was Wade who gave in first. He was a little drunk by this stage and completely unaware of the female rivalry.

  Louisa and Hannah said goodnight to each other in the drawing room they were sharing for the weekend.

  ‘Bitch,’ Hannah uttered once she’d found herself in the privacy of her bedchamber. She pulled a slinky black nightgown from her overnight bag and smiled broadly. ‘After tonight, she won’t stand a chance with the Baron.’

  In the next room, Louisa was thinking exactly the same thing as she slid on a red silky number that she felt sure would win the Baron over.

  Wade stripped off and fell into bed. In his drunken state it didn’t take him long to settle into a comfortable position. He was just drifting off to sleep when he became aware of someone climbing into the bed beside him. Still, he didn’t fully stir until lips enfolded his in a kiss.

  ‘Wade?’

  He heard Hannah call for his attention, yet she sounded far away.

  The lights came on, and there were gasps of shock all round.

  Hannah was by the door, looking the very image of seduction, but it was Louisa who was on top of Wade in his bed.

  ‘Well,’ said Hannah, hurt into sarcasm by what she perceived. ‘Simon is looking pretty good after all.’ She abruptly turned and left.

  ‘Hannah, wait!’ Wade tossed Louisa aside to go after her.

  ‘Wade!’ Louisa smiled at him, all in a fluster. ‘You might want to put some trousers on first.’

  Noticing that he was butt-naked, Wade raked on his jeans. ‘What are you doing in here anyway? I thought we’d been through this.’

  ‘Well, Hannah is already seeing someone, so I hardly thought she’d be visiting you,’ Louisa explained innocently. ‘And as far as I could tell, it wasn’t like you were objecting.’

  Wade was going to argue, as his enjoyment came from believing it was Hannah. ‘That’s hardly the point,’ he stated diplomatically, before taking off in pursuit of the other woman.

  Louisa was slightly offended by the Baron’s obvious concern for what Hannah thought. She was also kind of pleased that she’d thwarted Hannah’s attempt at seducing him. Miss Martin was not the type of girl who would understand Wade’s story of mistaken identity, and thus Louisa was fairly confident she’d just eliminated the competition. ‘I am very patient, Baron, you’ll come round.’

  Wade found Hannah in her room, tossing her clothes back into her bag.

  ‘Please don’t go. I honestly thought she was you.’ His words only seemed to infuriate Hannah, as she paused from her frenzied packing to inquire.

  ‘You didn’t even stop to look?’ She placed both hands on her hips. ‘And for your information, my Lord, I am not the kind of girl who would just jump into your bed uninvited.’

  ‘And I’m expected to know that?’ Wade asked, as Hannah grabbed her coat and pulled it on over her nightdress.

  ‘That says a lot for what you think of me.’

  ‘Well, you could be a complete nymphomaniac under that cool facade.’

  ‘Nymphomaniac!’ She slapped his cheek so hard it nearly bowled him over. ‘I think Louisa is the girl you’re looking for.’

  She exited with haste towards the front door.

  Wade raced into the Great Hall to make one final plea before she vanished into the night. ‘Come on, Hannah … don’t you know me better than this by now?’

  ‘In my experience, one should always trust a first impression … I don’t want to know you.’

  Wade’s head sank into his shoulders as the door slammed in her wake. ‘Perfect.’

  ‘What the hell is going on?’ Hugh paused at the top of the stairway to inquire. But when Louisa entered the domed picture gallery, wearing nothing but her slinky red nightdress, Hugh figured the answer out by himself. ‘Never mind, I can guess.’ He couldn’t help but shake his head.

  ‘What are you shaking your head at?’ Louisa didn’t like his cutting expression either. ‘We’re all adults here,’ she said, attempting to justify her appearance and crossing her arms to hide some of her cleavage.

  ‘That’s debatable,’ he commented, turning to head back to his bedroom.

  Needless to say, Louisa took offence. ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘You heard me.’ Hugh turned around. ‘Although I am sorry to say it. Louisa, I’m afraid that you make it plainly obvious that the “Lady” is just a title.’

  If Louisa had been closer to Hugh, she would have hit him. ‘How dare you!’

  ‘If I overstep the mark, Lady Sinclair, I do apologise … still, at least I can admit to it.’ Hugh resumed his course and vanished into the darkened shadows of his drawing room.

  For all he knows, I might have been invited up here? Louisa quietly resented his premise. Why does he just assume I am to blame? Then it occurred to her that Wade might have mentioned the car crash incident to Hugh.

  ‘You told him, didn’t you?’ she accused Wade as he traipsed back up the stairs, and for a moment he had no i
dea what she was on about.

  ‘About that day in the Rolls,’ Louisa clarified. ‘You swore to me you’d tell no-one.’

  ‘I never told him anything about that day,’ Wade asserted.

  ‘Then why does he think so poorly of me?’

  It was clear Louisa didn’t believe his plea; either that or she was just fishing for some more attention. ‘Since when do you care what Hugh thinks? He’s just a peasant, right?’ Wade moved past her, too exhausted and depressed to bother trying to figure out her mood.

  Being attacked by Hugh was one thing, but Wade’s cutting comment really hurt. ‘Obviously, Hugh is not the only one who thinks poorly of me,’ Louisa mumbled, as she ran back to her room.

  ‘Aw …’ Wade turned to go after her, then thought better of it. ‘In the morning,’ he decided, ‘when I’m sober.’ He returned to his bed.

  In the wake of his disastrous misadventures the night before, Wade felt the need to burn off a little frustration. So, shovel in hand, he climbed into his little backyard excavation and began to dig.

  About an hour later, Hugh tracked him down. ‘I had a strange feeling I might find you here.’

  Wade looked up at his friend, not really in the mood for talk. ‘Well, don’t just stand there, make yourself useful.’ He motioned Hugh to a shovel.

  After removing his tweed jacket and woollen vest, Hugh rolled up his shirt sleeves and climbed into the pit with Wade.

  ‘Go for around the pole,’ Wade instructed, not pausing from his chore.

  Hugh worked in silence for a time. ‘I suppose Louisa is still mad at me,’ he eventually had to ask.

  ‘I haven’t seen her this morning, so your guess is as good as mine,’ Wade replied. ‘But if it makes you feel any better, she’s probably still pissed at me too.’