Ask Lord B about door in library.
Fielding’s odd notation echoed in her mind. Door. Notdoors. The library entrance consisted oftwosolid double doors. Was there another entrance to the library?
“Miss Collins?”
Edwina gasped at the voice so close to her ear, turning her neck to see a pair of pleasant, if slightly vacant, brown eyes. A young man, built like a bull, stood before her. A thatch of blond hair, ends sticking out over his ears, covered his head.
“Thomas, I assume?”
The giant nodded. “Yes, Miss Collins.”
“Goodness, you startled me.” She came to her feet, a bit awkwardly, and brushed off her skirts. “There’s quite a bit of dust beneath the desk.” A sneeze threatened, and she pushed a finger to her nose. “I lost a button,” she lied.
“Sorry, Miss Collins.” Thomas spoke slowly, as if considering each word with care. He was square-jawed, with a thick neck and massive shoulders. “I’m done with the roof,” he said by way of explaining his appearance. “Lord Bascomb told me to pick up the bookcase and books.” A tentative smile crossed his lips. “And I’m not to disturb you.”
“You won’t, Thomas. I would appreciate your assistance.” She tucked the leaf in the palm of her hand. “Thank you.”
Thomas lumbered over to the bookcase, steps echoing in the quiet of the library. He kept his eyes averted from the portrait of the abbess.
“I’m not sure what happened, exactly,” she said, watching as he lifted the heavy wood with ease, as if it weighed nothing. “Lord Bascomb thinks the bolts may have loosened over time.”
“Rose Abbey is very…old. Things break. Holes in the roof. I fix everything with my tools.”
There was something childlike about Thomas, as if his body had far outgrown his mind. “I’m sorry we weren’t properly introduced when I arrived, Thomas. Lord Bascomb must keep you quite busy.”
“Yes, Miss Collins.” Thomas proceeded to move the bookcase back toward its original position. “I like to be busy.” He began stacking the books neatly on the floor, running his hands over the rug, possibly searching for the mysterious bolts that had come loose.
Edwina knelt next to him, helping pick up the books. “Let me help. It’s the least I can do. I’m sure the bolts merely rusted after so long. The vibration from the storm helped—”
“You should leave,” Thomas interrupted her, one broad hand stretched over the stack of books in front of him. “It isn’t safe for you.” Soft brown eyes flitted to hers, the pleasant, vacant smile gone to be replaced by trembling lips. “She doesn’t like new people,” Thomas whispered. “Especially not the secretaries.”
“Who? Mrs. Page?” Edwina hadn’t thought Mrs. Page’s dislike of her to be so glaring.
“No.” Thomas shook his head. “The abbess.”
Edwina looked him directly in the eye. “I don’t believe in ghosts, Thomas. And you shouldn’t either.”
“You will,” he said under his breath.
Edwina stood and went back to the desk, unsettled by Thomas and his words. He seemed a simple, kind man. Concerned for her. But she was not about to tolerate any more nonsense about the abbess haunting Rose Abbey, despite what she’d experienced.
Thomas said nothing else as he picked up the remainder of the books. He bowed before Edwina, informing her he’d be back later with tools to reattach the bookcase.
She went back to work, focusing on the ledgers, going through each column carefully. After a few hours, Edwina stretched her arms back, wondering at the inconsistencies. Reaching into the depths of the desk, she retrieved the small book containing the notes of her predecessors. The book fell open to Fielding’s entry about the door.
She’d meant to ask Bascomb but forgotten. The note probably meant nothing, but Edwina didn’t quite believe that. She glanced around the room and took the wet leaf out of her pocket where she’d stashed it when Thomas arrived. The leaf shouldn’t have been in the library at all, let alone beneath the desk. According to Bascomb, he thought Lady Renalda had faced off with the soldiers in her office deliberately, to give the other residents of Rose Abbey time to flee. She must have known the soldiers would kill every last one of those under her care in their search for what gold they assumed the abbey possessed.
Edwina walked to the longest wall, running her hand along the bookcase. Ancient castles and old homes such as this were riddled with passages, priest holes, and hidden rooms. It wasn’t far-fetched to think there would have been a secret passage from this room that led to the abbey or the church outside.
Or possibly the beach below the cliffs.
Edwina looked at the ruins sprawled out toward the edge of the cliff. She would bet her best petticoat that the way out of Rose Abbey led to the beach or possibly into the woods. The original builders of the abbey would have considered how best to hide themselves or escape if faced with a fleet of Viking longships.
Fielding must have found a hidden door. Pity he hadn’t bothered to mentionwherein his notes.
“I would have imagined after your last encounter with a wall of books you’d avoid them entirely.”
Edwina turned to see Bascomb, leaning against the doorjamb, watching her. His earlier annoyance seemed to have faded; in fact, Edwina would have said he appeared pleased to see her.
