The Countess by Catherine Coulter

of course. I don’t want you to leave, Andy, but I know that you must be

frightened by all this.”

“I don’t want to leave, either. I am the mistress here now. Most would say that

I belong here.”

“Then, what are we going to do?”

It was we now, not just me and George. She stuck out her hand, and I took it. “Would

you like to come with me to The Blue Room? Perhaps we can find out who scared me

so badly last night. It was John’s knife the old woman had. Then later, the

knife was back in its place, in John’s collection, sitting in its velvet case.

How did that happen do you think?”

“Oh, no, you don’t believe it was John who disguised himself as that horrid old

woman and came into your bedchamber?”

“It was his knife. When I ran down the hall and pounded on his bedchamber door,

it took him time to open the door. I wonder why.”

“Oh, dear, you’re wondering if it took him awhile to shuck off that tangled gray

wig and that old woman’s gown?”

“And replace that Moorish knife of his back in its glass case.”

“But, Andy, if he was in your room and he didn’t chase you down the hall, then

how could he have gotten back to his bedchamber to answer your knock?”

“That’s an excellent question, isn’t it? There’s more, Judith. I locked my

bedchamber door before I went to bed.”

She cocked her head at me, a thick tress of blond hair falling like a curtain

down her cheek. “I don’t understand. No, wait.” Then Judith, that very proper

little girl who made wagers, whistled. “Another way into The Blue Room? A secret

passage? That’s what you are thinking, isn’t it? Oh, goodness, Andy, a dark

narrow passage that winds throughout the house. Oh, my.”

“There is another possibility. The ledge outside the windows. It’s wide enough

so someone could make their way along it and then climb back into another room.”

I wasn’t about to tell her that this was how her mother had escaped to make her

way to the north tower and kill herself.

“I would rather have a secret passageway,” Judith said, and bounded out of the

room with me following more slowly behind her. Actually, I thought, I would

prefer a secret passageway myself. Was it a mistake to take her into my

confidence? I didn’t think so, but nothing made sense here at Devbridge Manor.

At least since I had arrived here.

“You’ve never heard anyone speak of any passageways? Your father? Brantley?

Anyone?”

“No,” she said, clearly disappointed. “But if there is one that opens into The

Blue Room, we will find it. But you know, Andy, Father is the one to ask. Surely

he would know, would he not?”

“Very probably.” But I couldn’t very well ask Lawrence about secret passageways

and such. Of course he would know, but if I asked, then he would know that I

hadn’t changed my tale at all. He would know that I firmly believed the old

woman was as real as he was.

“Don’t you ask him, Judith. Let’s just keep this between ourselves for the time

being. Now, you and I can spend some time hunting up that passageway.

All right?” She agreed, very quickly. I couldn’t remember if a twelve-year-old

girl could be counted on to keep mum about anything.

I opened the door and walked into The Blue Room. George was sleeping in front of

the fireplace. He cracked open an eye, saw Judith, obviously remembered that she

adored him, and got lazily to his paws, taking his time to stretch out each leg.

But he didn’t bark.

“Evidently Brantley has been giving him more lessons,” I said, still amazed. “That

is why he isn’t barking his head off now.” I watched Judith walk to George, go

down on her knees, and say in the most worshipful voice, “Have you missed me,

George? Should you like to come and sleep with me one night? I’ll sneak down to

the kitchen and bring you anything you would like.” She raised her face to me. “Can

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