Charlotte released him immediately, heat rushing into her cheeks. ‘I beg your pardon.’
‘Think nothing of it,’ he said quietly. ‘What is it?’
She explained quickly. ‘The night Mrs Dent died, Sarah claimed she saw a man standing in Tom’s bedchamber. I thought it was imagination. But now—’
‘Now it seems entirely possible,’ Lord Stanley finished darkly. ‘We must see whether the passage reaches the nursery.’
It did.
After another winding staircase, the hidden corridor opened directly behind the fireplace in Tom’s bedchamber.
The instant they emerged, Sarah screamed.
Footsteps thundered outside the room as the guards burst inward, whilst Tom woke with a shriek beneath his blankets.
‘Calm down, everyone, please. It is only us,’ Charlotte cried quickly.
Lord Stanley barked orders to the footmen to withdraw. Charlotte gathered Tom into her arms and soothed him gently whilst Sarah stared in horror at the opening behind the fireplace.
‘I owe you both an apology. It seems you were not imagining a man standing in this room,’ Charlotte admitted.
‘Good Lord above,’ Sarah whispered. ‘That thing has been there the entire time?’
Charlotte looked towards the dark passage, suddenly seeing the house in an entirely different light.
‘You kept insisting the servants heard footsteps within the walls,’ she murmured. ‘Why did I not think of a hidden passage sooner?’
‘Oh! Uncle Henry, this is splendid,’ Tom cried, recovering from his fright with surprising speed. He leapt from the bed at once and began swinging the concealed doorway open and shut with delight, all thoughts of danger apparently forgotten.
‘Tom,’ Lord Stanley said sternly, ‘you must not speak of this passageway to anyone. Not even your mother. Do you understand me?’
Tom straightened immediately beneath his uncle’s tone. ‘No sir, I won’t. I promise.’
Though the solemn promise was somewhat undermined by the unmistakable gleam of mischief in his eyes.
‘Come, Miss Lucas,’ Lord Stanley said at last. ‘We need to let them sleep. You and I have much to discuss.’
Charlotte tucked Tom back into bed and returned to the passageway with Lord Stanley. Together they retraced their steps to the library in silence.
By the time they emerged once more, both appeared steadier than before.
He carefully shut the fireplace entrance behind them.
‘It appears the passageways extend around the west wing. They connect to a few of the family bedchambers and the rooms beneath them—namely the study, morning room, parlour, and library—as well as Mrs Dent’s room in the servants’ quarters below and the nursery above.’
Charlotte frowned. ‘Then Hamilton and Boulton must have entered through Lord Boulton’s room. He insisted upon taking chambers in the family wing for the sake of Lady Boulton’s health.’ She gave a soft scoff. ‘A convenient excuse, it seems.’
‘I think you are correct,’ he replied. ‘They also had access to my study, which explains how they obtained the Ottoman dagger in the first place. The entire scheme was carefully arranged.’
He shook his head slowly in disbelief.
‘These passages ought to be sealed immediately. Heaven alone knows what mischief they may cause with unrestricted movement throughout the house.’
‘But we cannot seal them yet.’ Lord Stanley pressed his temples. ‘If we do, they will realise... that we know.’
He continued, ‘I shall station additional footmen near the connected rooms instead. If the Odd Fellows attempt to use the passages again, we may yet catch them.’
Charlotte tapped a finger thoughtfully against her lip. ‘Perhaps this way... Falcon will finally reveal himself.’
