All was quiet as she slowly descended, her candle casting ghoulish shadows on the walls. Drawing a shaky breath, she turned and stepped toward the old wooden door reinforced with iron straps. As she reached for its ring handle, she heard something. Pulse stuttering, she stopped short of touching it. Who or what was in there?
With a groaningcreeeakthe door began to open. Anne shrieked and leapt back.
An answering gasp met her from the other side of the door. Katherine Fitzjohn appeared in the opening, a lantern in hand.
“Oh!” Anne grasped her chest. “You gave me a fright!”
“The feeling is mutual! What are you doing creeping about down here? I thought you were sitting vigil.”
“I was, but I kept thinking about Jasper. He told me he was locked down in the cells once, and since we haven’t seen him, I thought I would go down and make sure he’s not there. You will no doubt think me a ninny for even contemplating such a thing.”
Katherine’s eyes glistened in the lantern light. “Not at all. For I had the very same thought. I just looked to reassure myself. He’s not there, but I’ll go back down with you if you want to see for yourself....”
Anne sighed in relief. “No. I believe you. I’ll go back upstairs. Sorry I’ve not been very faithful in keeping vigil tonight.”
“That’s all right.”
“Rosa will be relieving me soon. No sense in both of us staying up until she does.”
“I couldn’t sleep, worrying about Jasper,” Katherine said. “Why don’t I sit with Mamma until Rosa comes down. I won’t sleep anyway, while you look exhausted.”
“If you are certain? I admit the sound of a warm bed sounds heavenly.”
“You go on, Anne. I’ll see you later.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. Good-night.”
Anne retired to her room, but recalling the sounds she had heard, it was a long time till she fell asleep.
21
The next day, Katherine asked Anne to take Louie out for a walk. Miss Fitzjohn had clearly adopted him, moving his little blanket-filled basket into her room and doting on him, but she said she did not think it would be proper to be seen strolling along with a pet so soon after her mother died. Nor was she ready to face curious passersby while her grief was still so fresh.
Anne agreed and set out with the dog, leaving Rosa and Katherine reviewing Katherine’s old mourning gowns of black crape and bombazine.
The walk took longer than expected, as everyone from the druggist, Mr. Greaves, to the postmistress stopped Anne to ask about Lady Celia’s passing and express their condolences.
When Anne returned to Painswick Court at last, she took Louie belowstairs for food and water. She found the kitchen in an unusual state: utensils spread on every available surface, cook and maids bustling about.
“We are counting and cleaning everything,” Mrs. Pratt explained. “Still trying to find the missing knife. It’s been a few days now, and we still haven’t found it.”
“I did look upstairs but saw no sign of it. Sorry.”
“Not your fault, Miss Anne. And hardly the most important thing at a time like this.” The older woman’s eyes glistened. “So sad about Lady Celia. I wish I had gone up early, just to let her know we were all praying for her down here.”
“I am sure she knew and appreciated that,” Anne said to reassure her. She knew all about regrets.
Jane was there in the kitchen helping. She offered to take Louie up after he’d finished eating. Anne thanked her.
On her way back up, Anne started toward the main stairway. Hearing muffled voices, Anne paused outside the closed billiard-room door. This door had always been left open in the time Anne had been living there, so she wondered why it was closed now. She leaned her head near and heard Mr. Dalby speaking. Who was he talking to? When she’d left the house, Rosa had been in Miss Fitzjohn’s room, so hopefully he had not trapped her in there with him. She pressed her ear to the wood.
“Stop worrying. It’s safely hidden.”
His voice was the only one she could hear. Was he talking to himself? More likely whomever he was speaking to stood on the far side of the room, while he remained near the door.
“I wanted to keep it at least until after the inquest. Maybe until she’s buried. In case it needed to be found in someone else’s room....”
Mr. Dalby’s words raised gooseflesh on the back of Anne’s neck.Whatwas safely hidden?Whatmight need to be found in someone else’s room?
