“And the woman in blue, her sister,” he murmured.
In a blink of an eye, the scene vanished. Startled, they stared into the cold empty room, its soaring stone walls rising to the galleries above, stark and bare, with the once grand fireplace now an empty shell. A chill descended and coiled around them like a giant hand.
Harry took a firm hold of Cecily’s hand, and, slightly dazed, they abandoned the mansion.
Chapter Four
Dusk had fallen,casting deep shadows. There was no sign of the caretaker as they burst out into the lilac haze. Harry took grateful breaths of fresh air. He kept searching behind him, but no specters pursued them. No lilting music wafting out of the house. Just silence.
They left the ruins of a once fine loggia and crossed the courtyard to the gatehouse, hurrying into its dark archway.
“Dear God! They’ve shut the gates!”
Muttering a curse, Harry bent to inspect it. A strong chain and lock held the gates fast. “The caretaker has locked us in. He knew we were here. Why didn’t the fellow come and find us?”
Cecily’s face went moon pale in the fading light, her brave demeanor crumbling. “Mother will know, now,” she murmured, pulling her handkerchief from her pocket. She blew her nose. “I shall be in the most dreadful trouble.”
“What did you tell your mother?” he asked, more exasperated with himself than with her.
“Just that we were going for a walk together. And I would be home before dinner.”
He hunched his shoulders. “Then she doesn’t know where we are.”
“No.” Her shoulders drooped. “Does your family?”
He shook his head.
“What will they think?” she asked, her voice thick with unshed tears.
“I don’t know, but it won’t be good.” He put an arm around her trembling shoulders. “Never mind.” He tried to sound hearty. “We can straighten it out when we arrive home. Come on. There must be another way out.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Bound to be,” he said robustly. “We’ll check the boundary walls. Maybe there’s some loosened stones or one low enough to scale.”
She slipped her gloved hand into his, making him painfully aware of how young and vulnerable she was. He’d got her into the worst scrape. This would not hurt his reputation, but to spend the night here with him would certainly damage hers. Gossip was always running hot in a small village.
They found no breaks in the high wall running the length of the courtyard. “No good.” He might manage to climb it, but he would have to leave her here alone. And in any event, he suspected there was a long drop on the other side. “I’m sure we’ll find a way out somewhere. Let’s keep looking.” His forced optimism sounded hollow to his ears, and his spirits lowered with each step.
Hours later, exhausted, hungry, and cold through to the bones, they had searched without success. The moon had risen, and the clear, cold sky was full of stars.
Harry began to worry about Cecily. “No sign of rain, at least. Let’s find some shelter.”
She rubbed her arms and sagged against him. “It’s freezing.” She suddenly pulled away and stared up at him. “Should we have taken those jewels?”
“It would give credence to our story. But I’m not about to go back for them.” Harry flinched, recalling the deafening shrieks and howls that followed them through the tunnels. Facing that again sent a frisson of fear racing through him. “No sign of ghosts. They might remain in the dungeon. Best we find a sheltered corner to wait for morning when the gate will be opened.”
There was little shelter to be had. Harry discounted going up the gatehouse stairs. He didn’t want to be cornered and unable to escape. Nor did he wish to venture too far into the ruins again. They settled in a small room, which must once have been the bakery, with a good view over the courtyard. They’d see anyone coming through the gates, should the person who locked them in realize they’d been overlooked. Removing his overcoat, he laid it on the floor for them to sit on. Niches in the wall would have been meant for ovens. “If I can find some wood, I’ll light a fire.”
“Won’t that attract the ghosts?” Her eyes filled with dread. “Please don’t leave me here alone.”
He sank down beside her. “No, don’t worry. I doubt there’s anything but stone in this God-forsaken place.”
“Shush. Don’t curse. You might offend the ghosts.” She shivered. “I’msocold.”
He put his arm around her and drew her against him. “For bodily warmth,” he murmured, but she offered no resistance. He could smell her sweet perfume, lily-of-the-valley, and would like to kiss her but considered it a bad idea in the circumstances. “Lean on me. Try to sleep.”
“I won’t sleep a wink.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “But I feel better now.”