That was more like it. I smirked and returned my attention to the cairn. If the old map was correct, the jewelled ceremonial dagger was buried underneath it. I adjusted my footing and knelt to begin the search.
One month, three days, five hours and thirty-eight minutes since I’d last swallowed any spider’s silk pills. Not that I was counting.
It took far lesstime to climb down the side of the hill than it had to climb up it. The small team of Primes who were waiting at the campsite must have been watching our descent because they had mugs of steaming hot tea ready for us when we returned.
‘Well?’ Becky asked. ‘Did you find it?’
‘Do you even have to ask?’ Hester enquired.
Hugo produced the dagger and held it up for their perusal. Rizwan beamed. ‘Brilliant! Well done, Hugo!’
‘Daisy found it,’ Hugo said calmly. I raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s the truth. I can admit it,’ He passed the dagger to Rizwan then leaned down and whispered in my ear, ‘And that admission proves that I’m the bigger person, Daisy.’
I choked. Hugo grinned serenely, although I was well aware he was still annoyed that I’d not waited for the rope. ‘Bigger, sure,’ I retorted. ‘But not better.’ I stepped back so I could look into his eyes. His grin widened.
‘This is an incredible specimen of sixteenth-century workmanship.’ Rizwan pointed to the dirt-encrusted jewels on the dagger’s hilt. ‘Look at the way these stones have been cut.’
‘I can feel the magic bound into the blade,’ Becky breathed. ‘It’s an extraordinary item.’
Miriam took a sip from her mug of tea then peered over their shoulders. ‘The British Museum will be pleased that it’s been found after all these years. I suspect the finder’s fee will be impressive.’
‘Yay!’ Otis’s fist pumped the air. ‘Go, Daisy!’
Hester rolled her eyes, but when Hugo glared at her she cleared her throat. ‘Yes. Well done, Daisy. You did a good job.’
I eyed the group. ‘You don’t have to overdo your enthusiasm on my account.’
Becky jerked and guilt flashed across Rizwan’s face; Miriam, however, tilted her mug towards me in a toast. Hugo didn’t react at all, which only confirmed my suspicions.
I sighed. ‘What’s it really worth?’
‘Itisfrom the sixteenth century, dear,’ Miriam said. Her eyes twinkled.
‘These gems are real,’ Rizwan said.
‘It’s an important historical item,’ Becky added.
I put my hands on my hips and looked at them. ‘Don’t make me start tapping my toes,’ I warned.
Hester gasped in mock horror. ‘Oh no! Not toe tapping!’ Otis elbowed her sharply.
Hugo grimaced. ‘Fine. Its value probably extends to five or six hundred pounds.’
Uh-huh. I was no financial expert, and I didn’t oversee the Primes’ budget, but I wasn’t completely stupid. Between campsite fees, wages, research hours, petrol and equipment costs, this venture had probably cost several grand. Treasure hunting was supposed tomakeus money, notcostus money.
‘You can’t measure worth solely in monetary terms,’ Hugo added quietly. ‘Nobody has seen this dagger for hundreds of years. Its historical value is immense.’ I waited. He gave me a long look. ‘And if it helps distract you and occupy your mind, then it’s priceless.’
There we go. I pushed away the surge of frustration. ‘You don’t have to invent treasure hunts to keep me busy.’
‘We didn’t invent it, Daisy,’ Becky burst out. ‘It was a real treasure hunt.’ She pointed to the dagger. ‘That’s real treasure.’
Arguing with this lot was a waste of time. ‘I appreciate the thought, truly I do, but you can’t walk around me on eggshells. You can’t create treasure hunts out of thin air just to please me and keep me busy. I’m doing okay. I’m managing.’
I turned my head and met Hugo’s eyes. ‘I will tell you if I’m not coping, I promise.’ I forced the corners of my mouth into a smile.
‘It’s not just for you,’ Hugo said. ‘Even if the dagger isn’t very valuable, searching for items like it is a great way to keep up our skills until a larger treasure hunt presents itself. We didn’t do this just for you, Daisy.’ I gazed at him until a muscle jerked in his jaw. ‘But okay,’ he admitted. ‘It was mostly for you.’
I considered his words and my reaction to them, then pushed myself up on tiptoe and planted a brief kiss on his cheek. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘I appreciate your good intentions. But don’t do it again, not on my behalf.’
