How many people were up and wandering in and out of Angsley Hall?
As he dropped a handy box of matches back into his pocket, she thought she’d better explain herself, though she was dying to ask him where he was going on such a night and at such a late hour.
“I was awake,” she told him, “and I heard the shutter slamming against the house.”
He nodded. “Thank you, miss. I was just coming to do the same.” Then he looked down at the puddle. “I’ll get the maid to clean that up before someone slips.”
Poor maid, getting dragged out of her well-deserved sleep at this hour,Eleanor thought. But that was the way of it, and the butler wasn’t going to stoop to such a menial task.
“Good night, Mr. Stanley.”
“Good night, miss. I’m sorry to have startled you.”
“And I, you,” she said, taking a few steps before realizing she was leaving him in darkness.
“Shall I stay with the lamp until you—”
He lit one of the wall sconces. “No need, miss.”
She took another few steps away, then turned back, amazed at the play of shadows on the wall. Each of his movements was projected onto the wall as a long, spindly figure, stretching all the way up to the ceiling.
She shuddered again.
“Did someone arrive late tonight, after everyone went to bed?” she asked, trying not to stare at his Wellies, which were still dry.
“Not that I’m aware of, miss, and I believe I am aware of most everyone’s comings and goings,” he said pointedly, looking at her.
“Yes, I’m sure you are. However, there is rainwater in the front hall leading to the main stairs. You may want the maid to see to that, as well.”
“Thank you, miss.” He didn’t look happy about being told something was amiss in his well-run house.
“Good night again, Mr. Stanley.” She made a hasty retreat, pleased to return to her bedroom, which was still filled with lamplight and heat from the coals.
Shucking off her damp slippers and her wrap, she climbed into bed and snuggled beneath the covers.
Only then did she begin to wonder again about hearing a horse outside in the storm. As she drifted off to sleep, Eleanor had the absurd notion it was William Kidd looking for his long-lost treasure.
*
Gray was amazedto see what Eleanor had figured out by herself, almost exactly replicating the protagonist, William Legrand’s deciphering skills from Poe’s storyThe Gold Bug. When they met before breakfast and she excitedly drew out her work for his inspection, he nearly grabbed her to him and hugged her.
However, he did not want her to think every time they were alone he would paw at her. Though, truthfully, taking her in his arms was the first thing he thought of each time he saw her.
“If we can determine the next most common letter,” she proposed, “perhaps we can substitute it for the semi-colon characters in the puzzle.”
Considering her suggestion, he nodded. But it would be easier to take the route of Poe’s character, since Grayson knew it would lead to the puzzle’s solution.
“We might more easily use the most common word in the English language, and I’ve used it twice in this sentence already.”
She frowned, thinking a moment, then her lovely face broke out into an even lovelier smile. “The.”
“Yes, I believe so. Fill it in and see if youre’s line up.”
She checked, and they did. It seemed there were six instances ofthe. She clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling up at him.
“That was very clever of you, Grayson.”
He felt like a fraud since she’d worked out her clue on her own, whereas he had simply followed the text ofThe Gold Bug. Still, it was getting them closer to the outing he had planned, one which had caused him to go out in the storm to set up the night before.
