The rhyme ended with my finger pointing at the passageway. “So be it,” I said, and stepped up on the first tread.
Seconds later, I arrived at the landing where another decision waited; down the other side of the stairs or straight-ahead, across what I assumed to be the wide hallway dividing the chambers below. Rather than reciting more verse, I decided to go straight for no other reason than to avoid the tunnels and the risk of ruining my slippers if the ground happened to be muddy.
On the other side of the hallway, the passage turned sharply to the right, leading back toward the interior of the house. I followed along, until this too ended in a staircase. Descending to the bottom, I froze at the sound of voices—female for certain, though the muffled words eluded comprehension. From the distance traveled, the room belonged to either Nora or Lucy, and the voices were those of two housemaids.
I walked on tiptoes, hardly daring to breathe lest that insignificant noise give me away. Their voices faded after a minute, along with the anxiety of being caught like a mouse in a trap. A rush of pure excitement passed through me from the newfound ability to move around undetected. Encouraged by this first success, I pressed forward, more reckless than wise, until, in truth, I began to feel uneasy about how far I had traveled.
The most recent of several staircases stood some ten paces behind me. Grudgingly, I turned and began to retrace my steps, while making a mental accounting of the various twists and turns that had led to this point.
Over the stairs to the end of the passage, then a right turn and one to the left. I paused to reflect, and gave my head a quick shake. No, left first, then right to the next set of stairs. Follow the passage to—
My toe cracked against something hard. “Ahh!” I cried, as I stumbled forward headfirst. Instinct prevailed, and my hands shot out to break the fall. Stair risers came into view, then disappeared a second later when the candle fell to the ground, and I was plunged into total darkness.
I managed to stop before my face made contact with anything hard, though my shins were not so lucky. Wincing from the pain, I turned around, and planted my behind on one of the steps.
“Blast it all to hell!” I cursed, momentarily forgetting the need for silence.
Footsteps sounded nearby. I clamped my mouth shut, heart hammering as I waited for them to pass. No such luck. They drew closer and stopped right next to me.
Go away, I silently pleaded. Just keep walking—
A few sharp knocks rapped near my head. I jumped, bumping my elbow into the plaster.
“Did ye hear that, Joe?” a man asked, his excitement obvious, even through the wall. “That weren’t no mouse in there.”
“I ain’t heard nothing,” a gruff voice responded.
Knocks sounded again, though a little higher. This time not a muscle moved other than the rapid rise and fall of my chest.
“I swear I heard something,” the first man said. “Think we aught to tell her ladyship?”
I flinched from what sounded like a resounding slap to the head. “And let her know we ain’t fixed the baluster yet? Get away from that wall afore I crack yer nob.”
“But, there could be—”
“I said get away.” Another slap followed, much harder than the first.
“Criminy! I’m coming. Ain’t no need to spill m’wits.”
Their slow, lumbering footsteps joined with the pounding of my blood to create a resounding din in the blackness. It seemed an eternity passed before silence settled over me once more, though it lasted but a moment before a long, shuddering breath shook my entire torso. Only then did I realize the full extent of my folly.
Dear Lord, I’m lost in the walls.
A small groan escaped as I slouched forward in dismay. The situation was bleak at best. I could pound on the walls like a mad woman for help, or try to find the way back by myself in absence of a light and, to be entirely honest, a clear memory of the previous route. Having a strong aversion to public humiliation, I pushed to my feet, and ever so carefully, started up the stairs. On the other side, the passage continued a dozen paces before coming to a rather abrupt end.
“Damnation!” I cursed softly, while rubbing the sore spot on my forehead that had first discovered the adjacent wall.
Pushing the pain away, I forced myself to focus on the task at hand.
Left turn to the next set of stairs...That had to be it. Or was it a right?
This went on for what felt like the better part of an hour, stumbling over stairs and along passageways, until left, right, up and down all blended together, and I was unequivocally lost.
My eyes glistened with tears from running head first into yet another wall. My dress was ripped in at least two places, and the skin on one hand stung like the dickens from where I had scraped it against the rough plaster. Turning another corner, I caught my shoulder on a wooden beam, bringing on an even greater onslaught of tears.