Pacing impatiently is what she was going to do.
But as the minutes passed, she did become curious and decided to browse those bookshelves.The books were mostly guides on farming, no doubt acquired when the old duke still retained some common sense and looked after the ducal properties.
There were also a few books pertaining to the Davenport family history that would be of interest to read.As she drew several off the shelf, she noticed something tucked behind them.It turned out to be a journal that belonged to Alex’s grandfather, judging by the dates written at the start of each entry.
He must have kept it hidden behind the other books.
Obviously, it had gone unnoticed all these years because none of the succeeding dukes had ever bothered with reading material.
“Definitely worth a closer look,” Tulip murmured and plucked it off the shelf along with others pertaining to the family’s history.
She had just settled in one of the plump, cushioned chairs beside the hearth when she heard Alex and Mr.Carver talking in the hall.
“What happened?”she asked, hopping to her feet and keeping the journal clutched in her hands as they strode in.“What did you find?”
She was surprised by their quick return.
“Nothing.”Alex smiled, but it felt to her like a forced smile.
She eyed him in confusion.“You found nothing at all?”
“The room was empty.There were scuff marks and patterns of shading on the floor.Also scratches and small holes on the wall.There might have been furniture up there at one time.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”Yet, his eyes were shadowed.
She knew Alex had to suspect something more.
“Do you think someone was kept up there against their will?”
His eyes widened, and then he let out a breath.“Yes, it is possible.Or more likely that one of the earlier duchesses meant to turn it into a sewing room for herself.There’s no reason to believe anything sinister occurred up there.Truly, no evidence of it at all.”
“Even if something had occurred, it would have been ages ago,” Mr.Carver said.“Certainly before the old housekeeper, Mrs.Dodge, came into her position or before Ernfield became head butler.”
“What if it was not all that long ago?”Tulip asked.
Mr.Carver frowned.“You mean, in recent history?Someone would have heard noises up there or cries for help, or odors of decay.I never gave that old tower room a thought, not even once the next dukes began dying in quick succession.In fact, neither Mrs.Granger nor I had the key or ever had permission to go up there.We hunted for it and found it after the last duke died.”
Tulip was surprised.“And you did not think to go up there until now?Why wait?”
He cleared his throat.“There was no sign of activity up there.It wasn’t our place to trespass.”
Of course, the entire staff held their positions at the pleasure of whoever happened to be the current duke.None of them could afford to gain said duke’s displeasure and lose their means of livelihood, all the more dire if they had a family to support.
Perhaps they were terrified of what they might find beyond that tower door.
Or they merely respected the odd quirks of each duke.If Alex’s grandfather wanted no one in the tower room and no one sitting under the willow tree, then so be it as far as the staff was concerned.
No questions asked.
They believed it was their duty to comply with their master’s wishes, even if they were odd.
She let out a shaky breath.“Is there a dungeon in this place?”
Mr.Carver’s expression lightened.“There was, but for the last hundred years it has been used as nothing more sinister than a larder.You’ll find potatoes and an assortment of root vegetables, preserved fruits, dried meats, grains, and the like stored there.Mrs.Crabbe keeps a tight account of whatever is in there.”
“Good, perhaps the ghosts will not be so angry then,” she said in jest, but there was a kernel of truth to her remark.
