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The sun, now shi utterly still as it bathed the village in a final blaze of color Fiery rays swept inland, revealing a pair of gently rolling hills situated directly before Aurora's widening eyes As she stared transfixed, the rays converged into one solitary beam that pierced the space between the two identical crests, illu a third hill nestled just beyond and directly between the others—a hill that soared taller than either of its counterparts, its grassy slope heralded by a line of hedges for an arch at its base

"Julian," she began, her heart ha like a drum "That hill…"

"I see it" His ansas a terse whisper, rife with excitement and discovery

Aurora tore her gaze froard her husband "It's ht Even es upon it There's so about it…"

"Such as the fact that those hedges are arranged precisely like the ones on Geoffrey's drawing?" Swiftly Julian extracted the sketch, unfolding it and pointing to the line of hedges his great-grandfather had sketched—hedges that opened into the thick rounds of Morland Manor

The fading sunlight flickered over the drawing and Aurora stared froht—they're identical" She inhaled sharply "So it's true This was our great-grandfathers' plan What we're seeing now proves it 'Twould be ile to view the base of that hill It's shielded by the slope of the land and the houses at its forefront No one could spot it unless they were standing where we are, at precisely this time of day And even if someone were to defy all those odds to stand upon Merlin Rock at low tide just as the sun set, they'd have no notion what they were viewing—not unless they held this very sketch in their hands"

"I'd be willing to bet there's an opening in that hill, Rory"

"And I'd be willing to bet you're right"

As if to substantiate the validity of their words and proclaim the fact that its mission had been achieved, the sun relinquished its hold on Mousehole, slipping slowly beneath the horizon, giving way to dusk

"Let's row to shore" Julian tightened his hold about Aurora's waist, hoisting her onto the boat, and, after untying the rope about hisdown beside her

"We'd better hurry," Aurora advised, taut as a bowstring as they propelled the craft toward the coast "I knoe brought a lantern, but it will be far easier to find the opening in that hill with the aid of soht"

"Agreed" Julian rowed in quick hard strokes, taking them closer and closer to shore

Aurora juh several feet of ankle-deep water to tug the boat onto the sand "Let's go," she urged her husband

Julian needed no second invitation By the ti her hand to lead her onward

They h the narrow path leading inland Once they passed the houses and reached the unbroken stretch of hills, they abandoned the path altogether, trudging over the rolling tracts of grass on a oal