Page 73 of Four Promises to Love

“It moved,” Manderly shouted. “Put your backs into it, fellows!”

The boulder rolled a few inches forward. Finn hurried over as Owen went to his knees, digging into the newly exposed ground.

“There is something buried here,” he said.

He yanked an object from the dirt. An oilskin pouch.

Pulse racing, she crouched next to him. “What’s inside?”

“Would you like to do the honors?”

He offered her the pouch, and she took it like sweets from a babe. Her guilt turned to apprehension as she felt how light it was—far too light to contain a fortune in jewels. Untying the strings, she peered inside.

Blooming hell.

“It’s a piece of paper,” she said.

Gingerly, she removed the yellowed scrap and unfolded it.

“What does it say?” Owen asked.

She scanned the familiar handwriting and read the words aloud:

What was stolen cannot be given back, but restitution can be made to the living and the blood that follows. I dared not keep my gift where grasping hands would find it. Seek it where the two of you were most yourselves: where the water runs pure and together you were unafraid. This is not the end of my penance, only the next step toward it.

—F. P.

“Who is this ‘F. P.’?” Owen drew his brows together. “What in blazes does this note mean?”

Finn gave him the only truth she could.

“I don’t have all the answers,” she said tightly. “But apparently the quest to uncover Rose’s secrets has only begun.”

Twenty-One

When Finn exited her bedchamber, Tansy was waiting in the corridor.

“Caleb’s called a meeting,” the girl said. “He said to fetch you.”

Blooming hell, I don’t have time for Caleb’s tantrums.

He’d simmered during their journey back to Pell House. Since their arrival, Finn had avoided him on the pretense of preparing for the evening’s mission, but apparently he would hold his tongue no longer. The timing was inconvenient—Owen would be escorting her to the stream soon—but postponing the conflict would only worsen Caleb’s temper.

Finn sighed. “Let’s go.”

They headed for the attic.

“You look different,” Tansy said.

Finn slanted her a glance. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“There’s a ribbon in your hair.”

Finn had decided to style her hair differently. She’d tied the top part back with a bow, leaving the rest to fall to her waist.

“It keeps my hair out of my eyes.”

“Is that lip dye?”