Page 65 of A Treacherous Treasure

“How did you injure your ankle? Have you been running down stairs again?”

Rebecca wasn’t sure what she was speaking of. “No, I went for a walk and stepped in a hole.”

“A hole? Where? The gardeners are letting the badgers dig holes in the garden?”

“No, all is well. I went for a walk in the woods. I shall be well, I dare—”

“In the woods? What were you doing in the woods?” Mrs. Heywood’s mouth was open again, then spread into an amused, incredulous smile.

The servant entered the room to bring Mrs. Heywood’s breakfast and his gaze moved from Mrs. Heywood to Rebecca, a shrewd look in his eyes. Or was she only imagining it?

“As I said, I went for a walk. I have enjoyed many good walks on our grounds.” Rebecca refolded her serviette and laid it across her lap, as if the conversation was boring her.

Mrs. Heywood made a little sound in her throat, as if to dismiss the subject, and began to talk of the good weather. “For March, the roads are very serviceable. I believe I may go out again tomorrow, call on some friends in town, visit some shops. I am sure your mother wouldn’t care to shop in our little town, since she has the London shops, or I would invite her to go with me.”

Rebecca made no reply, while Margaret sat staring into her tea cup, no doubt thinking of the treasure.

Had Thomas and Benjamin covered up the chest? She hadn’t thought to ask Margaret, but surely they wouldn’t leave it uncovered for anyone walking by to see. But there was no reason for anyone to be walking in her woods. Still, they all knew there were treasure hunters about.

“I think I shall speak with the constable about what he is doing to catch poor Arthur’s murderer. Someone should be doing something, asking questions, pushing the authorities to take action. A good man has been murdered, a gentleman of good standing in the community, loved by all. I should think they would have done something by now to catch the evil man who destroyed my life forever.” She sniffed, taking out her handkerchief from where she had stuffed it in her sleeve. “I don’t believe anyone has ever suffered a more terrible wrong.”

Rebecca stared down at her plate lest Mrs. Heywood read her thoughts. How could the woman think no one had ever suffered more than she had? But she said nothing, and as soon as she was finished eating, she and Margaret excused themselves, and Margaret helped her up to her room, insisting Rebecca lean on her shoulder.

“I want to go make sure no one has been there to dig it up,” Margaret said, as she helped Rebecca settle into bed with her foot propped on a pillow.

“Absolutely not. You know it’s dangerous to walk around. Did Thomas not tell you to never go out by yourself?”

“He told me.” Margaret’s tone was sullen. “But what if someone comes and sees where we were digging and gets the treasure out while we’re not there?”

“If they do then they are stealing, and a thief will be punished by God.”

“But I don’t want to wait for God to punish him, and I don’t want him to get our treasure.”

“You just have to be patient, Margaret.” The truth was that she wanted to send word to Thomas that her ankle was healed, wanted to run out there on her sore ankle and see the treasure for herself, but that would delay her ankle’s healing. The treasure was safe where it was, as no one knew about it except the Westbrooks, herself, and her mother and sister.

God, please let my ankle be healed by tomorrow morning.

~ ~ ~

Thomas slept very little the next two nights after they found the treasure chest. Early each morning he and Benjamin quietly walked over to make sure it was still there, hiding their shovel under a fallen tree and dead leaves.

“Hasn’t Rebecca’s ankle recovered yet?” Benjamin asked every morning.

And every morning Caroline went to call on Rebecca and came back saying her ankle was very little better. “She is being very careful. Probably tomorrow morning it will be all well.”

The third night Thomas went to bed early, leaving his window open, as it was an unusually warm night and the fire had been stoked too high.

He opened his eyes. He was in his bed, but something had awakened him.

A gunshot.

The sound came from the window, which opened toward Heywood House.

Thomas leapt out of bed, drew on his clothes, grabbed his hunting rifle, and ran out of the room.

Chapter Nineteen

Rebecca was startled awake by a noise. Someone was in her room.