They were still in the house. Those paintings of Sarah were the expressions of Birdie’s broken heart. The aviary pages were hidden behind the frames or mattes. It was the only answer that made sense.
And if Elsa didn’t get there tonight and deliver them to the Petrovics, they would all be destroyed tomorrow.
TARRYTOWN
Elsa had left the spare key for Mr. Spalding when she left Elmhurst last Friday morning. But thanks to Crawford’s breaking and entering, she knew exactly where she could get in without it if Spalding had still bothered to lock the mansion. She wished Ivy or Luke could be here with her, but both were occupied, and this wasn’t an errand that could wait. She’d left a note for her roommate before catching the train to let her know she’d be back by nine o’clock. All she had to do was test her theory, and if she was right, gather up the paintings of Sarah and transfer them to the Petrovics’ cottage. If Tatiana wanted Elsa to bring the paintings to Manhattan for safekeeping, she was prepared to do that, too.
The cab rolled to a stop in the circle drive, right behind a white Rolls-Royce Phantom, splattered by the country road. Elsa trapped a groan as Archer Hamlin got out of his auto, looking sharp in his grey suit and matching homburg. She paid her driver and asked him to come back for her at eight o’clock. That meant she had ninety minutes to do what she came here to do.
Archer wasn’t part of her plan. And judging by the glint in his eyes, he hadn’t factored her into his evening, either.
“I thought you were done here,” Archer said. “Still hunting? One last chance before it’s all torn down tomorrow?”
Elsa forced a smile, even as her palms began to sweat in their gloves. She tightened her grip on her cane. “I could ask you thesame thing. My work here is done, yes. But I’m still allowed to visit the Petrovics.”
Jane appeared on the veranda wearing a flaming orange sheath with handkerchief hem, black gloves to her elbows, and black feathers clipped in her hair. “Why, Elsa! Fancy meeting you here! If you had come twenty minutes ago you’d have seen Cousin Hugh. He spent all day poking around the estate but is finally going back to Pennsylvania. Wesley has dashed off to pick up some supplies for the party. I didn’t know you’d be coming with Archer.” She directed a pointed gaze at him.
“Oh! I came on my own. I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to intrude on your plans. Don’t let me bother you, I’m only here for a short visit to the Petrovics, anyway.” Elsa’s mind raced. If they saw her enter the house now, they’d want to know why. Could she possibly bring the paintings of Sarah to the Petrovics without arousing suspicion?
Not a chance. They would wonder what the Petrovics would want with dozens of paintings of a baby who wasn’t related to them. They might not guess the aviary pages were hidden inside them at first, but they could figure it out. That wasn’t a risk Elsa wanted to take.
Could she sneak in after the party started?
“You might as well come to the party, too,” Jane crooned. “Only, there’s going to be lots of music and dancing, and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
“Elsa doesn’t dance,” Archer said. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”
Ignoring him, Elsa asked, “Is Wesley providing the music?”
“Oh no. The piano was taken away three days ago, but all his friends are musicians, most of them with instruments that travel. We’re going to have a regular jazz band and plenty of gin to go with it. Father wouldhateit. He says jazz makes people disabled from the irregular rhythm.” She laughed.
“If we trash the place, no one will have to clean it up. It allgets torn down tomorrow.” Archer wiggled his eyebrows, clearly delighted at the lack of consequences for his upcoming actions.
“Gee, what fun.” Elsa’s sarcasm seemed lost on Archer and Jane. But actually, this all could play to her advantage. If the party was loud and the people were getting sozzled, it would be much easier for her to get in and out undetected. Depending on how many people were coming, and how many rooms they’d spill into.
“Chick-a-dee-dee.”
Elsa turned toward the woods. That hadn’t sounded like a bird. It had sounded like Danielle. Signaling danger?
“I’ll leave you to it,” she said, and headed for the Petrovics’ cottage, where she planned to wait until the time was right.
“Not so fast, Els.” Archer closed the gap and cupped his hand around her upper arm. “Before you go, I was hoping you could show me that secret room you told me about. The one used by the Underground Railroad? Jane here has no idea where that is, and it’ll be gone tomorrow. I’d love to see it. Please?”
The way he gripped her, she knew there was only one answer. “Of course.”
“You two have fun. I’ve got more to do before the guests arrive. Ta-ta, Elsa.” She blew her a kiss, spun on her T-strap heels, and slipped back inside.
Alone with Archer, Elsa led the way to the library, or rather, the gutted room that once held the library. With all the woodwork, fireplaces, furnishings, and even chandeliers gone, it felt more like a tomb. Evening light slanted through windows whose coverings had also been removed.
Elsa pushed on the door beside where the fireplace stood. It was so much easier to spot now, Archer really could have found it himself. “Here it is.” She stood in the doorway to the windowless room. “Not much to see if you don’t have a candle or kerosene lamp.”
“Fascinating.” Archer stepped closer and inadvertently kickedElsa’s cane out of her hand. It clattered as it fell to the floor in the secret den. “So sorry.”
Elsa went to retrieve it, irritated that he hadn’t done so himself. As soon as she bent, he shoved her farther into the room, slammed the door shut, and locked it from the other side.
“Archer!” Elsa gasped. “What are you doing?”
“I said I was sorry.” His voice was muffled as it came through the door. “But honestly, Elsa, your timing is truly terrible. We need you to stay out of the way during the party.”
