Page 74 of A Treacherous Treasure

He and Rawson discussed what happened to Fogg and what Fogg had said, then they looked through the absent butler’s room.

“It certainly seems as if the butler did it.” Rawson looked up from inspecting the man’s small and tidy room—tidy except for the small cabinet where he kept his clothes. It hung open, with items of clothing hanging half out and strewed on the floor.

“I will make certain to tell the Lord Chancellor the particulars. I believe he will send the Bow Street runners here to investigate, and Strader, as well as Adler the butler, will be apprehended.”

When Rebecca came downstairs, she invited Rawson and himself to break their fast with her.

He couldn’t imagine she’d slept much the night before. Even so, she looked as pretty as ever, her dark blue eyes shining every time she looked his way. Was she thinking of their kiss as much as he was?

When they were finished with their morning meal, Rebecca began to describe the events of the night before for Mr. Rawson. She had barely begun when they heard Mrs. Heywood’s grating voice coming down the stairs.

“What has happened? What has happened?” she kept saying. When she finally entered the breakfast room, her eyes were wide and her mouth slack. “I am astonished. My servant has told me the constable is dead and Rebecca shot him during the night. I demand to know what has happened?”

Rebecca introduced Rawson, then she began again to explain everything that happened. It was unfortunate that Mrs. Heywood was there, as she kept interrupting and making little remarks, barely veiled contempt for Rebecca in every one. But Rebecca carried on until she’d finished, and he marveled at her patience.

Rawson did not tarry, no doubt eager to get away from Mrs. Heywood.

Wishing he could have had even a moment alone with Rebecca—and knowing that was probably not wise, simultaneously—he left with Rawson, but not before his eyes met Rebecca’s and he imagined he saw a bit of longing in them, mirroring his own.

~ ~ ~

It was the day before the ball, and Rebecca leaned on her walking stick as she and Thomas escorted the coroner Pursglove, with Benjamin, Caroline, Margaret, and Mrs. Heywood into the woods to see what they had found.

Pursglove had examined the letter written by Arthur Heywood’s grandfather and commented that it looked legitimate. He said little else as they walked through the garden and into the trees.

Now that they were able to carry two shovels with them and did not have to keep their find a secret, Thomas and Benjamin worked together to move the dirt and uncover the chest.

Their shovels made a sound of metal on wood, and Rebecca’s heart fluttered. They used their hands to brush away the last of the dirt and reveal the top of the chest.

“There was no lock on it,” Thomas commented, and he and Benjamin grasped the lid and lifted it.

Everyone leaned in, the men crouching on their knees. Benjamin stuck his hand down into the dark chest and brought it up full of gold coins.

“It’s real,” he said. “The pirate treasure is real.”

The coroner took one of the coins and held it up to catch a ray of sunlight coming through the leaves of the trees.

“It appears to be a gold doubloon. If the chest is full of them, this treasure will be worth a great deal.”

Pursglove stood back and allowed them to dig through the coins. Margaret examined several coins with wide, bright eyes. Thomas, Benjamin, and Caroline each took a turn digging in the chest, finding a few silver coins out of all the gold ones.

“This treasure belongs to the Heywood family,” Mrs. Heywood said in her most imperious tone. “It does not belong to anyone else, as you can plainly see from old Captain Heywood’s letter. The Heywood family are the rightful owners.”

“As I have said before, and as is well known, I will have to hold an inquest with a jury, who will decide who the rightful owner is of this treasure trove. It is the way things are done, and no one can change that.” He gave a cold stare to Mrs. Heywood. “Two men have died over this chest of gold, and from now on, things will be done decently and in order.”

Rebecca could assert that the estate belonged to her, and since it was found on the estate, it rightfully belonged to her. But she wanted to do what was right. Captain Heywood’s descendants could also have rightful claim to the treasure, but when Arthur was killed, there were no more direct descendants. He was the last.

Pursglove had brought a couple of strong men with him, and with the help of the grooms, they began getting the chest ready to lift from the hole using thick tree limbs, ropes, and a strange-looking contraption that they called a winch.

Thomas moved toward Rebecca. His eyes were so warm and kind. Was he thinking of their kiss? Her cheeks grew warm.Stop thinking about it,she scolded herself.

He drew near and said softly, “Pursglove will have to take the treasure back with him until the inquest is finished. May I escort you home?”

She hesitated, desperately wanting to spend whatever time with him she could. “I would like that. Thank you.”

Benjamin was more interested in the treasure than in her, thankfully. He hadn’t glanced in her direction since they opened the chest.

They started walking toward the house and he asked, “How is your ankle faring? I hope it is not paining you.”