Page 79 of The Lord's Compass
“Actually,” Faith said, leaning up to look at him contemplatively, “that was the strangest thing…”
Eric could hardly believe the story she told him, and he was shaking his head by the time she finished.
“First the return of the necklace and now the map,” he mused. “Someone out there is helping us – or Ashford. But who?”
“That’s a good question, but not one that anyone appears to have an answer to,” Faith said. “We were waiting until you were well enough to look at the map with the compass. Madeline is joining us soon to help Cassandra with the baby, and then I suppose it is time for us to go home.”
Eric smiled at her, loving the way “home” rolled off of her tongue – especially when it meant the place they would live together.
“I can hardly wait,” he said, hating how heavy his eyelids had become, for all he wanted to do was stare at Faith and the love in her eyes that was looking back at him.
“That, however, can come later,” she said. “You should sleep now.”
“As you wish,” he said, holding her close. “Stay with me?”
“Forever,” she said, snuggling closer.
It was all he had ever wanted.
And this time, he would never let her go.
CHAPTER27
It was another few days before Eric was healed enough to join the rest of the party, although managing his way around Castleton still took significant effort. The groundskeeper had made him a walking stick which did help considerably, although the pain was still obvious when he walked up and down the stairs.
Faith admired his determination to continue on and not complain, even though she knew he must be hurting tremendously.
“Ferrington, so glad to see you up and about,” Lord Ashford said when he joined them in the drawing room. Cassandra, her husband Lord Covington, and Madeline were all there as well, and Faith sat on the sofa beside Eric, ready to help him with whatever he might need, although he waved her away.
“I am up, although not moving especially well,” Eric said with a short laugh. “Feeling something of an invalid at the moment.”
“But you’re alive,” Faith said quietly. “That is what matters the most.”
Eric nodded. “From the looks of things, I should be able to keep the leg, although it will probably never be the same again. My adventures just might be over.”
“You’re married to Faith now,” Madeline said with a mischievous grin. “Your adventures are just beginning.”
They laughed at that before Ashford stepped forward, placing the map they had found in San Sebastian on the table in front of them.
“Before you return home I thought we should take a look at this together,” Ashford said, lifting his eyebrows in question before smoothing out the edges. “I can tell from the terrain that this is likely Castleton, but I am having difficulty determining to where the map is pointing. Perhaps a fresh set of eyes will help.”
“A fresh set of eyes,” Eric said, pulling out the compass from his pocket and passing it to Ashford, “or by using this instrument.”
Ashford’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“That is the piece of necklace.”
“It is,” Eric said with a grin. “It is also a compass. A compass and an ocular device. It all fits together.”
He passed the compass to Lord Ashford, who held it in his hands almost reverently before putting it up to his eye and staring at the map while the rest of them watched him, nearly holding their breath.
“It is not only a compass,” Lord Ashford said with an inhale, “but it adds dimension to the map. I think this shows the way to the treasure.”
There was more excitement in his voice than Faith had ever heard before, and Cassandra sat for just a moment before her anticipation was obviously no longer able to be contained and she stood and walked over to her brother, waiting impatiently until he was finished before taking the compass from him and looking through it herself.
“That’s incredible,” she breathed after looking for a few moments before lifting her eyes to stare at her brother. “Oh, Gideon, I can hardly believe it. We’re finally going to recover all that we have been searching for.”
“As long as the Spaniards do not get there first,” he said darkly.
