They took the stairs and walked up to the first floor, where they ran into Mrs. Hemlock. “What are you two doing here?” Mrs. Hemlock asked, looking none too pleased to see them together.
“Mr. Fairbanks accompanied Miss Eagle and her servant to her room so Miss Eagle could lie down, then he found me in the hallway. I lost track of my uncle. Where did Mr. Ludlow go?”
Mrs. Hemlock shrugged, eyeing Mr. Fairbanks. “I’ve no idea. He said he wanted to investigate something downstairs and never came back. It’s unusual. I’m not used to men leaving me.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Mr. Fairbanks.
Mr. Fairbanks nudged Violet, but she ignored him. He said, “Miss Thorn saw a ghost.”
Violet felt her cheeks warm. “Probably just a servant playing tricks. But it did give me a fright.”
Mr. Ludlow appeared from downstairs. “How interesting. Why would a ghost want to haunt you?”
“I can think of a few good reasons,” Mrs. Hemlock said.
Violet rolled her eyes. “Anyway, we were going to the attic. That’s where she went, or at least in the direction of it.”
“Jolly good,” Mr. Ludlow said. “We’ll join you. Better as a group, anyway. These old houses make my blood run cold, honestly.”
Mrs. Hemlock tossed her curls over her shoulder. “Well, I’m not waiting for a ghost to scare me half to death. It wants us to go to the attic, I say let’s meet it directly.” She took the first few steps on the stairs and paused. “Are you coming with me? Miss Thorn, you can always stay behind if you’re too scared.” Her smile was sickly sweet.
“I’m fine. I’ll go with you.”
“Pity.” Mrs. Hemlock led the way up, her hips sashaying from side to side. Violet saw her motion did not go unnoticed by the men, who were practically transfixed by it.
Violet let out a little noise of disgust. “Wait. We should check in on Miss Eagle and make sure she’s all right. What if she sent the maid away to her own quarters?”
“I’ll go with you,” Mr. Fairbanks said.
“No need, old boy,” Mr. Ludlow said. “I’ll stand guard with Miss Thorn. No ghosts will get past me.”
“Oh, yes, Mr. Fairbanks, join me,” Mrs. Hemlock said. “I may need your protection.”
“As you wish.” He shot Violet a look. “You’ll be all right?”
She nodded and the group split up.
Alone together in the corridor, Mr. Ludlow said, “I think her room is the first one on the left.” He showed her the way. He knocked on the door. “Miss Eagle? Are you awake? Miss Eagle?”
He looked at Violet. “Open it,” she told him.
He opened the door and walked in. “Miss Eagle?”
Miss Eagle was gone.
Mr. Ludlow and Violet rejoined the others, who seemingly had not moved from where they’d been moments prior. Violet told them of Miss Eagle’s absence.
“Where could she have disappeared to?” Mr. Ludlow wondered aloud.
“I don’t know. The kitchen, maybe?” Mr. Fairbanks said.
“It’s possible.” Violet gripped her candle tightly. “We should find her maid’s quarters. Maybe Miss Eagle went looking for her.”
“But the clock is almost at midnight,” Mrs. Hemlock said. “I don’t like this. Let’s all stick together.”
“Very well. Let’s go to the attic, then search for Miss Eagle.” Mr. Fairbanks led the way. They followed as a group up the stairs, just as the clock began to strike.
One.
The wooden floorboards creaked beneath their feet as they climbed the stairwell. Violet’s skirts swished around her smart, polished boots. She held up her skirts with her left hand, her right hand on the railing as she climbed after Mr. Fairbanks.
