“Then it’s only the end of one chapter.”
Agreeing, Elsa resolved to focus on work. She had failed the Petrovics, no matter what Tatiana said. She couldn’t fail Mr. Chapman, too.
Minutes ticked by, and the room dimmed. Ivy fetched a kerosene lamp from Tom and placed it near Elsa on the table.
True to their word, Luke and Tom stayed away, presumably working in some other corner of the mansion. When the case clock struck nine o’clock, Ivy took the pencil from Elsa’s hand.
“Enough work for tonight. This is my first sleepover in a Gothic mansion. The fact that we’re so close to the legendary Sleepy Hollow makes it deliciously creepier. So come on, show me around, will you? I want to see everything.”
Elsa rolled back her shoulders and stretched her neck from side to side. “I gave you the nickel tour as soon as we got here.”
Ivy shook her head, her black bob swinging at her jawline. “Then give me the behind-the-scenes tour. Give me the heebie-jeebies.”
Elsa laughed. “Would you like to look out over the Hudson River by moonlight? We can climb to the turret. There are windows on all sides up there, and the wind positively howls as it whips by. You can watch for bats and tell me ghost stories.”
Ivy brightened. “Berries. Let’s go.”
By the time they reached the turret, Elsa’s legs ached, and her lungs screwed tight from the effort of the climb, but the thrill of being caught up in Ivy’s imagination made it worth it.
These windows didn’t open, but they were clear enough to see out. From this height, they could see the river shine silver with moonlight beyond the trees along the bank. Much to Ivy’s delight, bats darted through the night, their erratically beating wings easily distinguishing them from birds.
“There’s your heebie-jeebies.” Elsa shuddered.
“You don’t like bats?” Ivy moved from one window to the next and, without waiting for a reply, launched into the Revolutionary War history of this area of New York. Apparently there was a lot to say. She didn’t seem to notice when Elsa took the small kerosene lamp and examined the floorboards.
Minutes later, Ivy turned. “Let me guess. You’re looking for the aviary.”
“Only sort of.” Elsa scanned the space. “The turret is empty, unless something has been tucked beneath the floor. But I don’t see this as a good hiding place for a fragile manuscript. The climate in this room would fluctuate wildly between summer and winter, and the extreme temperatures and humidity levels would wreak havoc on the pages.”
Ivy agreed. “Besides, I thought you said Birdie hid it somewhere close by. This turret is still part of the house, granted, but it wouldn’t be close-at-hand for an aging woman who would have no other reason to come up here.”
“I’m stymied,” Elsa confessed. “It can’t have vanished.”
“Birdie hid it really, really well. We should keep looking. Aslong as we’re here, and as long as no one else is but us ...” Ivy angled back toward the window. “Wait a minute. I spoke too soon. Looks like we might have company.”
Elsa gasped. “What kind of auto is it?”
“No idea. All I can see are the beams from the headlamps. They’re coming down the county road and haven’t yet turned into the drive. Who would be coming here at this hour?”
Elsa could name a few people. None of them would be happy to find her already here, even though Mr. Spalding had given her the spare key.
Did this visitor have one, too? If not, would that stop them from breaking and entering?
“They’re slowing down,” Ivy said. “They’re definitely turning into the drive.”
“Time to find Luke and Tom.”
Nearly breathless, Elsa and Ivy found the men in the parlor moments later. “Someone’s coming,” Elsa said.
Luke’s face hardened into granite lines. With his hair cut short, he was even more intimidating. Tom’s knuckles went white around the flashlight he held. He shut off the beam.
A window shattered somewhere. The visitor had found a way in.
Luke nudged Elsa, then gestured toward the library. With pinched fingers, he turned his wrist, which Elsa took to mean she should lock the door once inside. She nodded her understanding.
With Ivy close at her heels, Elsa pushed on the panel beside the fireplace until it creaked open. They entered the secret room and locked the door behind them. “I’m sorry,” Elsa whispered.
“Are you kidding me? This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Who do you think it is? What do you think our men will do to defend the castle?”
