“You’re not surprised to see them,” Zander said, studying her face. He wasn’t rattled or concerned about her sanity.
“Edmund had talked to Esther for years. When she passed, he appeared to me.”
“You are full of surprises, Little girl.” Zander smiled at her, completely accepting Essie’s statements. “Are they happy?”
An almost physical wave of love and contentment wafted over Essie. “They are. I’m so glad they’re together. Wait!”
She stared at the couple, trying to believe her own eyes.
“What’s happening, Little girl?”
The wrinkles on their faces faded out as their hair color deepened from gray to deep brown and black. “They’re not old anymore.” She gasped as Esther’s clothing changed subtly, becoming an adorable skirt and stylish top that suited her sweet nature perfectly.
“What now? Did they grow another head?” Zander asked.
One peek at his face told her he wasn’t making fun of her but trying to lighten the moment. “No. We need to check upstairs.”
“Come on then.” Zander tugged her upward.
Essie breathed a bit harder by the time they reached the top floor. Zander stood back as she fit the large key into the lock. With a click, the door swung open. Before she could step forward, Zander scooped her up in his arms. He carried her over the threshold and paused to kiss her tenderly before setting her feet back down on the carpet.
The scent of lemon cleaner and fresh air greeted them. Essielooked around at the gleaming woodwork. Sara had worked so hard to get this room prepared. Essie bet the housekeeper had accomplished this by herself. She hadn’t enlisted the help of the extra cleaning staff Essie had hired to help her on a several times a week basis.
They stood in a beautiful sitting room. Old-fashioned chairs and couches filled the room. To her delight, the furnishings weren’t delicate antiques Essie would have been scared to sit on. The sturdy furniture was oversized, as each piece was designed for two instead of one. She ran her hand over an elegant, upholstered chaise lounge and imagined lying in Zander’s arms as she devoured a book or he read to her.
“I’d love to snuggle here,” she whispered.
“Spending time together will be incredible.”
“Let’s see what’s inside. There are two more keys.” Essie practically skipped to another set of doors. She tried the handle, and to her surprise, it turned. “It’s open. Sara mentioned she’d never found the locks they fit.”
“We have a mystery to solve,” Zander told her as he pushed the door open.
They stepped into a gorgeous blue bedroom. The gigantic, four-poster bed was draped with silk and piled with pillows. Essie walked forward to wrap her hand around one wooden support.
“It’s a princess bed,” she whispered in disbelief. She’d get to sleep here? The entire room was so romantic.
Zander chuckled when he joined her. “Edmund was obviously ahead of his time. Look up.”
Essie shot a glance at the underside of the canopy. Faded pieces of antique mirror fit together to reflect the bedding below. She sat on the bed to get a better view and popped back to her feet. Lovers in this bed would see the sensual reflection of their bodies moving together.Uncle Edmund!A second scandalized thought hit her.Aunt Esther!She’d never considered her aunt having sex.
The memory of the young couple downstairs rebounded intoher mind. Of course, they’d been young and in love. No wonder her aunt had never married again. Finding a replacement for someone she cared so much about would have been impossible.
“When he died, she couldn’t stay in these rooms and remember. She missed him too much,” Essie whispered.
“Perhaps she understood a love like theirs only came once in a lifetime.”
Like our relationship.Essie nodded, wondering if he was thinking the same thing she was. Zander was right about Esther. Her aunt wouldn’t have settled for anything less. She turned and scanned the room. Her eyes were drawn to a panel in the corner. The details in the decoration signaled her to examine it closer. Two elaborate E’s intertwined together. The last section of one E appeared arrow shaped. Did it point to a darker spot?
“Zander! There!” She pointed toward a small opening built into the wood grain. She raced over to check the slot and held her hand out for the key ring as he joined her. Her fingers trembled as she fit the medium-sized key into the hole.
“How did you spot that?” he asked in amazement, running his fingers over the carved wood.
“The pattern drew my eye. That E seemed to point to something.”
She turned the key and heard a click. The panel slid away to reveal a dusty wooden floor. “Sara really didn’t find this room,” she whispered. “She must not have known about this extra space.”
“Let me go first, Little girl. I want to make sure the floor is safe.”
