Page 34 of A Treacherous Treasure

“Yes, that would be safest. Thank you.”

Thomas left as Benjamin and Caroline talked of the likelihood of finding treasure today.

Rebecca’s eye was caught by the large Bible that Benjamin was still holding. What would Mrs. Heywood say if she could see it now, if she could know what had been found in it, and if she knew two Westbrooks had been in her own bedroom and had taken the Heywood family Bible?

Mrs. Westbrook saw her staring at the Bible and said, “Darlings, please return Mrs. Heywood’s Bible to her room.”

“But Mother, we have to make sure nothing else is hidden inside.” Benjamin set the large tome on the desk and flipped through the book, and though he was probably being careful, Rebecca wished he would be just a bit more careful.

After a few minutes of searching its pages, Benjamin conceded that he did not think there were any more hidden maps or clues in the Bible, so he went to return it to where he’d found it, and Caroline went along as his lookout.

Thomas returned with his hand hidden under his arm under his coat, no doubt concealing his gun there. Benjamin and Caroline joined them and they set out to find the place indicated on the map.

As they walked through the structured garden behind the house, Rebecca hoped they looked like they were simply taking a walk, as she had told the housekeeper as they left. She wondered for the hundredth time since Mrs. Heywood left what the servants would tell their long-time mistress when she returned. For she had left many of her personal belongings, including much of her clothing.

Caroline slipped her arm through Rebecca’s as they walked. “What shall you do with the treasure when you find it?”

“I don’t know. I suppose I should invest it.”

“Buy land,” Benjamin said.

“Land? That is very uninteresting,” Caroline said. “I think she should buy a house in London. Wouldn’t that be a wonder, a woman owning the biggest house in London?”

“She could never own a house bigger than the royal palaces in London.”

“Well then, she could own the biggest house that was not a royal palace.”

Mrs. Heywood had always complained about not having a house in London, although they often rented some very opulent rooms when they went there. Arthur and his mother spared no expense when it came to indulging themselves. But she should not think such thoughts, now that her husband was dead.

“I wouldn’t need the biggest house,” Rebecca said.

“But you would buy a house?” Caroline’s smile was triumphant.

“Land, a grand estate that you could lease to someone else, would bring you a profit, and that’s surely worth more than a house that would only cost money.” Benjamin was adamant.

“Before you two help Rebecca spend her fortune,” Mrs. Westbrook said, winking at her, “You should make sure you can find it.”

“Someone may have already dug it up years ago,” Rebecca said.

They walked on in silence for a few moments before the lively conversation started up again.

Truly, Rebecca knew she shouldn’t spend money, even in her head, that she might never have, but there was something she wanted more than she wanted a house in London. She wanted to help her brothers and sisters in whatever way she could, to help her brothers make their fortunes, and to help her sisters be able to marry whomever they wished to. That would be the greatest luxury, knowing she had brought good fortune to her beloved siblings.

And then of course, she would want to help the poor. Wouldn’t it be wrong to not share a good portion of whatever treasure God provided to her?

They approached the rocky area where she imagined the map indicated as the spot where the treasure would be found.

“Are we looking for a large tree?” Caroline asked. “But the trees end where the rocky hills begin.”

“I think we’re looking for a large rock near a large tree,” Benjamin said.

They wandered around looking at rocks, then going back to the trees and searching around them, then taking another look at the maps.

“Keep in mind,” Thomas said, “these maps were drawn at least fifty years ago, and the chest was buried even longer ago than that, when Captain Heywood came home from the sea.”

“How long do trees live?” Caroline asked.

It was a good question.