The Lass Who Kissed a Frog by Lee, Caroline (big ebook reader .TXT) 📗

“I am—”

“Aye, ye’re verra beautiful, but ye’re more than that, Vanessa. Dinnae allow her to shape ye into a vain, self-centered being.”

Too late.

Vanessa swallowed. “Aye, well, the point is, I didnae have the chance to excavate it, but I’m certain if I returned to Fangfoss Manor—and I have to be the one to go, because only I can recall where it was—I could find it again.”

“It was part of a dig, was it no’? It was likely excavated shortly after Mother stole ye away.”

Vanessa had been thinking about this, and she countered with a slow shake of her head. “I dinnae think so. I recall the men had already shooed me away, and I was digging off by myself, away from the rest of the excavation. There was a pile of dirt—I think it was the dirt removed from the trenches—and I was digging well beyond that.”

When she glanced at her sister, she was surprised to see Bonnie studying her.

“What?”

Her sister squeezed her hand. “Ye’re considering going all the way to York? To…what? To find that spot and dig down and hope to find a golden sphere?”

“Aye.” Why was that so hard to believe?

“And if ye can, ye’ll sell it to Phineas Prince and have more money than Mother could ever hope to provide for yer dowry?”

Her brows drawn in another frown, Vanessa shook her head. “I dinnae— I’m no’ planning on marrying any time soon.”

“What about Roland?”

What about him?

It was clear, after tea last week, the man wanted nothing to do with her. Vanessa waved away her sister’s words, trying to sound breezy and uncaring, when she said, “I have changed my mind about him. Clearly we will no’ suit. Besides, I am beautiful enough to need no dowry, aye?”

“That’s Mother’s words, coming from yer mouth,” Bonnie grumbled.

“Bonnie, pay attention! Once we’ve sold the ball to Phineas, ye’ll have the money Mr. Grimm is asking for his publishing house! Ye can own it! Ye can publish no’ only yer own works, but books and stories written by other women! Ye can publish books for women, as ye’ve always dreamed. What will ye call yer business?”

To her surprise, Bonnie burst into laughter, tugging her down into a hug. “A name? A name for my non-existent publishing house?” Still chuckling, she shook her head. “Tell ye what, if ye can manage this, sister, I’ll no’ only allow ye to name the publishing house, I’ll make ye a full partner as well.”

“Och, nay!” Vanessa pushed herself upright, grinning at Bonnie’s enthusiasm. “I have nae interest in books.” Her dream had always been more domestic in nature. “I’ll happily turn it over to ye and ken ye’re living yer dream.”

“Ye really are remarkable, ye ken that?” Bonnie whispered.

Before Vanessa could think of a way to answer without blushing, her sister continued.

“Now, I suspect Mother would absolutely forbid ye to go on this journey, aye?”

“Of course. I have enough of my own money saved in my top drawer for two train tickets and accommodations, but I ken she’d still rant about wasting money.” Or maybe, if Mother knew about the potential to earn so much money, she wouldn’t object at all. “Besides, I dinnae want her kenning of it, because surely she’d object to my plans for the windfall.”

Bonnie chuckled dryly. “Of course she would. I’ve never fit her idea of what a perfect young lady should be. Can ye imagine her reaction if we told her I wanted to buy a publishing house?”

“Nay.” Vanessa mock shuddered. “Nay, she cannae ken of our plan.”

“And it cannae be our plan, sister, although I love ye for thinking of it.” Bonnie squeezed her again to soften the sting of her admission. “We cannae both go, because one of us has to stay and lie to Mother about the other’s absence. And that will have to be me, because I cannae find the correct site to dig at Fangfoss.”

It was Bonnie’s easy acceptance of the scheme which had Vanessa pushing herself upright once more, almost bouncing with excitement. “Ye think it will work?”

“I think it is worth the cost of a train ticket. But, Vanessa, ye cannae travel alone. Ye ken that, surely? Is there anyone we could ask? Mrs. Oliphant, the cook, perhaps?”

“Nay, Mother would surely notice her absence.” Vanessa frowned thoughtfully. “I could wear a disguise—maybe borrow some clothing from Annie or one of the other maids?”

“Ye’re far too beautiful to go unnoticed, even in homespun.”

“Well then, I’ll—I’ll rub dirt on my face or something! And I’ll find a companion to travel south with me who willnae draw attention! We’ll be just two travelers, booking passage to York, then a stay in a hotel. It shouldnae require more than a few hours of digging to locate the sphere. Maybe allot an extra day for travel once we’re there, so one more night in the hotel, then we’ll return. Surely ye can cover my absence for three days, nae more.”

In her excitement, as she spoke, Vanessa had swung her legs off Bonnie’s bed, stood, and scampered across to her slippers, which she could now see in the dawn light. As she pushed her arms into her dressing robe, she turned back to her sister.

“I can do this.”

“Ye certainly can.” Bonnie pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. “Ye can organize and plan like a general.”

“It was what Mother raised me to do: be a lady in a grand household.” Dinnae think of Roland. “And besides, it isnae so hard.”

“Well, ye ken I’ll no’ object to ye traveling. I think it is a wonderful idea, and I dinnae ken how I’ll contain my curiosity, waiting to hear if ye’re successful! Just imagine…having enough money to buy my own publishing house!”

It was the wonder in her sister’s voice which had Vanessa beaming. “I’ll do everything in my power to help ye achieve yer dream, Bonnie.”

Bonnie nodded smartly. “And I’ll love ye all the more for