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Dusk was giving way to darkness when they approached the twin crests flanking their goal.
Coming to a halt, Aurora squinted through the hills to the taller peak beyond and beheld the shadowy outlines of the hedges looming before her. She shivered—whether from excitement or the cold night air, she wasn't certain.
"Are you all right?" Julian asked, drawing her mantle more closely around her. Without awaiting an answer, he shrugged out of his coat, wrapping it about her for added warmth. "Better?"
"You'll freeze," she protested.
"Not a chance." He flashed her that devastating grin. "I promise. Besides, you can warm me later—at the same time that you best me." He captured her hand, guiding her to the base of the hill they sought.
Aurora caught her breath as Julian held up the lantern and scanned the hedges for an opening.
His answer came in the form of a dark hollow cloaked by greenery, hovering directly before them.
"There," Julian proclaimed, indicating the shadowy cavern with a triumphant flourish. "That's it, soleil. We've found it." His forearm shot out, precluding Aurora's immediate—and anticipated—rush forward. "Wait. Give me a minute to glance over this sketch. It will be dark in that cave—very dark. 'Tis best if I get my bearings before we enter, lantern or not."
Impatient though she was, Aurora recognized the prudence of her husband's actions. Forcing herself to stay still, she peered over Julian's shoulder, channeling her impatience into something productive. "Let me study the sketch with you. I know you're a superb navigator. But it can't hurt for us both to have a sense of where we're headed."
"Good idea." Julian lowered the drawing so they could both see it, angling the lantern to maximize their light. "For the first time in my life I wish I were more familiar with the grounds of Morland Manor," he muttered.
"You don't need to be." Aurora's forefinger traced the portion of the sketch depicting the area where they stood. "Geoffrey's drawing is very straightforward. These are the hedges closest to the manor. Behind them, the other rows of hedges sprawl back into a maze of sorts."
"The gardens are here, to the right," Julian concurred. "To the left are the tenants' quarters, the carriage house, and the stables."
"And look what's just behind the stables," Aurora exclaimed, eagerness lacing her tone. "Two barns—one large, one small. The large one is merely labeled 'livestock'. But the small one is specifically marked 'hunting dogs'." Aurora raised ebullient eyes to her husband. "And we all know what hunting dogs pursue."
"Foxes." Julian gave his wife a quick, hard hug before turning back to the sketch, scrutinizing the area surrounding the smaller barn. "Look. There's an opening in the hedges right here, alongside the dwelling. That's it, Rory—that's what we're looking for." Swiftly Julian reviewed the route they needed to take, committing to memory the curves and bends in the path.
"Now can we go?" Aurora demanded, shifting from one foot to the other.
"Yes, soleil, now we can go."
They plunged into the cavern, remaining still only long enough to assess their surroundings. The walls and ceiling were granite, the ground a rutted combination of dirt and stones. The ceiling, not more than five and a half feet high, cleared Aurora's head by a good five inches, but didn't come close to admitting Julian's towering frame. He compensated for that by stooping from the waist, keeping his head straight and his eyes fixed on their intended course.
"It's a natural cave," he announced, holding out the lantern so Aurora could see. "We've got a few feet on either side of us, which is good, but no room above us—or, I should say, above me." A frown. "That's going to make it difficult for me to maneuver the lantern and myself at the same time, not to mention consult the sketch. And that, unfortunately, means our progress is going to be slow."
"It doesn't have to be." Aurora gripped her husband's arm. "I have nearly half a foot of space over my head. I can move freely—even run, if need be. Give me the sketch and the lantern. Let me lead the way. You've already studied the drawing. If I take a wrong turn, you'll stop me."
"If I can catch you, you mean," Julian retorted dryly. R
egarding Aurora's avid expression, he sighed, relenting with more than a touch of uneasiness. "Rory, I'll let you do this under one condition. Promise me you'll control that bloody reckless streak of yours. No running—the ground is rough and uneven, and you could trip and break your neck. No venturing more than a few feet in front of me. Most of all, no exploring unknown sites that pique your interest. Agreed?"
Laughter bubbled up in her throat. "You know me well, don't you, Merlin? All right, agreed. I'll be disgustingly boring and obedient."
"And I'll be right behind you to ensure that you are." He handed her the sketch and lantern. "Remember—go slowly. The ground is broken and embedded with rocks."
"I'm too excited to trip." Despite her quip, Aurora complied, knowing that to do otherwise would be sheer stupidity. Besides, they were so very close to their goal.
Clutching the lantern, she scanned the lower portion of the sketch, then struck off, veering to the left.
Their path wound in serpentine fashion as they walked past numerous passageways that led to parts unknown. Some minutes later, Aurora stopped to consult the drawing. "How much farther do you think we have to go?"
"If our course stays true to scale, we're more than halfway there," Julian supplied from just behind her. "Curve twice more—each time following the passage to the extreme right—then veer sharply left. Walk about ten or twelve feet, I should say. Then stop. The opening on Geoffrey's sketch is somewhere in that vicinity."
Aurora sucked in her breath. "Splendid." She continued as Julian had instructed her, following the precise course the drawing depicted, stepping gingerly over sharp pieces of rock and cracked sections of dirt. She could feel Julian's presence behind her, his excitement as palpable as her own.
"We're here."
Julian's terse words sent shivers down her spine and Aurora halted, holding out the lantern and surveying as much of the nearby area as she could. Below them, the same ragged path. Above them, the same low granite ceiling. And to either side of them…
