Page 64 of A Treacherous Treasure

“We decided not to open it. It was so dark, we couldn’t see. Benjamin and Thomas could only feel the wooden chest. They said it was about three feet this way and two feet this way.” Margaret used her hands to show the size of the chest. “We don’t know how deep it is yet. Oh, Rebecca, isn’t it wonderful? You’re going to be so rich.” Margaret laid her hands over her chest, sighed dramatically, and fell down on a chair.

“Don’t sit there, dearest. You might get dirt on the upholstery.” Mother waved her hand to tell her to get up.

“They even let me help dig. Benjamin and Thomas are such gentlemen, and they treat me as if I’m a lady. I think I may grow up and marry Benjamin. What do you think of that?”

“I think that sounds very good, if he makes you happy and you are both in love with each other.” Rebecca couldn’t help smiling.

“You told me yesterday that you weren’t planning to marry at all,” Mother said. “You said you would just live with Rebecca and me and do as you pleased, not as some husband wants you to do.”

“A woman can change her mind.” Margaret said, arching her eyebrows as she slowly left the room to change for dinner.

“Margaret is in love with Benjamin.”

“She could do worse.” Mother smiled.

Rebecca laughed. How quickly people changed their minds sometimes.

~ ~ ~

Rebecca awoke the next morning and her ankle already felt somewhat better and barely looked swollen at all.

The footman had helped her up the stairs after dinner the evening before. She’d worried that she might not be able to go to the ball, and certainly wouldn’t be able to dance. But this morning her heart felt quite light and hopeful. Would they discover the contents of the mysterious pirate treasure buried in the woods?

Margaret was fully dressed and had eaten her breakfast when Rebecca went downstairs.

“This just arrived for you.” A servant handed her a folded piece of paper.

The writing on the outside had Rebecca’s name in Mrs. Westbrook’s handwriting style, but inside, the note was obviously written by Thomas, and was signed simply with aT.

I don’t feel comfortable opening the parcel without your presence. When your ankle is healed, we shall proceed. In the meantime, rest, and Caroline and Mother shall visit you soon.

Rebecca handed the note to Margaret to allow her to read it.

“Oh, but Rebecca!” Margaret slumped in her chair. “That is so unfair.”

“It’s not unfair, it’s just disappointing. But I’m heartily sorry.”

“What can it hurt for us to open it, just to see—”

“Margaret,sh.” Rebecca gave her a look and pressed her finger to her own lips.

Margaret frowned and crossed her arms, her brows lowering into a scowl.

“You will be happy to know that my ankle is feeling much better.”

“Oh!” Margaret’s expression transformed immediately. “Write him back right now and say that your ankle is better.”

“I don’t want to make it worse, and it’s not healed. I only said it was better.”

“I will help you walk,” Margaret said. “You can lean on me and I can get you a walking stick.”

Rebecca laughed. “You are so determined sometimes. But give me one more day to heal. Will you do that?”

Margaret huffed out a breath. But before she could say anything else, Mrs. Heywood entered the room.

“Heal?” Mrs. Heywood’s mouth hung open as she placed her hand over her heart. “Are you sick? There is no contagion in the house, I hope?”

“No.” Rebecca resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I injured my ankle.”