Sophia returned to the manor the next day, her satchel brimming with tools to preserve and study the artifacts. Despite the cold January morning, the west wing felt warmer than she remembered, as though the room was alive with a hidden energy.
She set up her workspace, laying out gloves, magnifying glasses, and her laptop. Liam was already there, leaning against the doorframe with a mug of coffee in hand.
"Back for more?" he teased.
Sophia glanced up with a smirk. "You sound surprised. I told you, history doesn't uncover itself."
He chuckled and stepped into the room, setting his mug on a nearby table. "Fair enough. Found anything else in the letters?"
"Not yet," she admitted, "but I have a feeling there's more to this story."
She picked up the next letter, handling it with care. The words were faint, but Eleanor's emotions were as vivid as ever:
> *James,
I dreamed of you last night. We stood in the garden beneath the magnolia tree, and for a moment, the world was ours. But the dream slipped away, leaving only this ache in my heart. How cruel is love, to bind us together only to tear us apart?
Sophia's voice faltered, her own emotions catching her off guard. She took a deep breath and looked at Liam. "She was deeply in love with him. But something—or someone—kept them apart."
Liam nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You know, the manor has a garden out back. Maybe that's the same magnolia tree she wrote about."
Her eyes lit up. "Can you show me?"
They walked through the winding halls of the manor, emerging into the overgrown garden. At the center stood a towering magnolia tree, its bare branches twisting into the gray sky.
"This must be it," Sophia said, stepping closer.
Liam joined her, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. "If trees could talk, I bet this one would have a lot to say."
Sophia crouched near the base of the tree, brushing away leaves and dirt. Her fingers grazed something hard and cold. She dug deeper, revealing a small, rusted box.
Liam knelt beside her, his eyes wide. "You've got to be kidding me. What is that?"
"I don't know," Sophia said, her heart racing. She pried the box open, revealing a stack of faded photographs and a crumpled note.
The note was barely legible, but one line stood out clearly:
> Find me where the stars meet the water.
Sophia and Liam exchanged a glance, the weight of the discovery settling over them.
"What do you think it means?" Liam asked, his voice low.
Sophia stared at the note, her mind racing. "I don't know yet. But I think Eleanor left us a trail."
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