But it wasn’t Lady Irving’s hall, or her quest—and therefore she need not be silent. “Empty, eh? That’s a spoke in your wheel, Rutherford.” Her voice echoed on the stone walls, bouncing to the ceiling dozens of feet above. “It might seem empty to your daughter-in-law, my lady,” said Richard. “But if we could examine it—if your daughter-in-law doesn’t mind, that is—Giles might be able to open it. For, ah, posterity’s sake.” “Sophy won’t mind. She doesn’t mind anything except being around the dogs.” Lady Dudley reached into a pocket of her dark gown and pulled out a handful of tea biscuits. A canine ecstasy of panting ensued as she dropped a treat into each dog’s mouth. “But what do you think you’ll find?” With a lift of his brows, Giles looked to his father. “That’s a fair question. What do we think we’ll find in an empty box?” Richard clapped his son on the shoulder, his handsome features brightening. “One never knows, son. That’s the adventure of it!”
