Julia laughed. “No. We just stood in the middle of the path talking, and rather than pushing past us, the few that came this way took another path.”
“We do have polite people here at Camden House,” Mrs. Vance said.
Cecilia and Julia laughed.
They waved to Mr. Quetal and Mr. Hobart as they entered the house and continued on talking easily together. Cecilia didn’t feel particularly easy, and she doubted Julia or Mrs. Vance did either. Through unspoken agreement, they maintained a worry-free demeanor for the benefit of others.
In Mr. Montgomery’s room, there was no sign of Liddy.
“Do you think Liddy went upstairs,” asked Mrs. Vance. “Sometimes children forget what they are supposed to be doing.”
Cecilia shook her head. “No. I think she is doing exactly what she said she did the night Mr. Montgomery died. She is hiding.”
“In here?” Mrs. Vance said.
Cecilia smiled. “Yes, in here. No one found her that night. I think she wants to see if we can find her.”
They’d been all over the room as they’d picked up Mr. Montgomery’s belongings strewn everywhere. “We are obviously missing something. It has to be a space big enough for someone her size to hide. That leaves the wardrobe, walls, or floor. Remember, this used to be a monastery.”
“You’re thinking there would be a priest’s hole?” Julia asked.
“No, not a priest hole. I am thinking it has to be something older, like a closet of some kind where a religious house wouldstore or hide their valuable religious goods like gold goblets and crosses, their physical wealth.”
“And an inside wall,” offered Julia.
“Yes. This fireplace wall is shared with the room we found Mrs. Worcham sewing, correct?”
“Yes, it has beautiful windows like these, without a door leading outside,” said Mrs. Vance.
“And a fireplace in the same position,” said Julia.
“What about the opposite wall. What is that wall shared with?”
Julia narrowed her eyes as she thought. “I believe that is one of the staff gathering rooms,” she said slowly.
Mrs. Vance nodded. “Their dining hall, I think.”
Julia agreed.
“And this wall behind us is shared with the hallway and a trunk room,” Cecilia said, moving to the far corner of the room and its tall bookcase. She pushed against the bookcase. It was solidly installed. She started to examine the cornice work, wrapping against the wood in places for hollow sounds. Then they all heard a quiet, muffled giggle. Cecilia smiled and looked at Julia and Mrs. Vance.
“Maybe I’m wrong to think anything could be beyond this wall,” she said loudly. “Maybe she fooled us and hid in one of the treatment rooms until we were in here and she has run up stairs to share her giggles with others.”
“I wouldn’t put it past the clever child,” Julia said. “Let’s go see if we can find her upstairs.”
They all walked loudly to the door, opened it, then sharply closed it, staying by the door.
They heard another giggle, then slowly the bookcase swung away from the wall and Liddy came out.
“Found you!” declared Cecilia, coming over to Liddy and giving her a hug.
“You cheated,” Liddy accused.
“No, we didn’t. You giggled, and we heard you. Let me see this little space,” Cecilia said, going around Liddy to peer into a long, narrow space. There were narrow shelves along one wall and, at the end, Cecilia thought there was another doorway. This one would lead to the estate room. “So, this is where you hid your treasure box?”
“Someone with heavy boots is coming down the hall!” Julia warned.
Cecilia quickly shut the passage door and pushed Liddy before her further into the room away from the bookcase door.
