Simon exchanged a curious look with Nick. “It belonged to my mother. Why do you ask?”
“Wherever did your mother get it? May I see it, please?” She tugged on the key, which he had yet to relinquish. She gave Simon an exasperating frown. “I’m not going to steal it.”
“Well, the way you charged at me was a bit unnerving. Did you learn that lunge from Aethelred?” He released the key and let Kate lift it closer to her eye. “Why do you ask, if I may ask?”
She didn’t reply but started for the door. Simon leapt to his feet.
“Here!” he called after her. “You said you wouldn’t steal it.”
“Oh, just come with me.” Kate called over her shoulder and rushed from the library, followed by Simon and Nick. She strode down the main hall to the impressive grand staircase. Without breaking stride she swept up. Servants parted, some trying to ask questions, but were quickly left in her wake. Hogarth caught sight of her and followed silently.
Kate led the small phalanx of the curious toward the rear of the house, down a corridor where the lamps were set low. She paused before a door and reached into her pocket to remove a ring of keys. She unlocked the door.
The room beyond was a sizeable study filled with books and papers and more curios. In any other country house, this would have been an admirable library in and of itself. Simon followed Kate inside, then realized that most of the books on the shelves were, in fact, bound journals with written symbols on the spines.
Kate went to the far wall and began to pull books from the shelves, stare behind them, then slip them back into place. She shoved skulls aside and even shushed a dangling shrunken head before relocating it to a tabletop. Finally, she shifted a glass bell jar containing a small skeleton of a creature that resembled a bird with three heads.
“Aha!” She held the key out in front of her, comparing it to the wall behind the weird bird. “I knew it!”
Nick muttered, “I’m a bit frightened.”
Kate stepped aside and pointed at the wall. “Look here, Mr. Archer. Don’t just stand there. Look.”
“Careful,” Nick warned softly, which caused a crease of annoyance to appear in Kate’s brow.
Undaunted, Simon joined her at the shelf and peered at the wall. There was a strange mark in the plaster. It appeared to be a scorch mark. It was the same compass design that was on the top of the key.
“Odd,” he said.
“Odd?” Kate actually swatted him on the arm. “Your understatement staggers me. That symbol has been incised on this wall for years. I can’t remember exactly the first time I saw it. And here it is on this key. My father’s key.”
Simon started. “Your father’s key? I beg to differ. It was my mother’s, and I received it when she died. She had had it for years.”
Kate huffed in annoyance and began to scan the journals around her. “I’ll show you.” She ran her finger along the spines and read labels. “Eighteen eleven. Seventeen ninety-seven. Paris. The talking hound of Silesia. Just wait, I’ll find it.”
Simon looked at Hogarth, but the servant didn’t betray any uneasiness or curiosity about his mistress’s behavior. Nick leaned against a desk with arms crossed, looking confused.
She continued to lay hands on journals. “Where the hell is it? Automatrixes. Feasibility of an Arctic Canal. Damn it!”
Simon said, “We could help you look if you’d tell us what you are looking for.”
“If I knew that, I’d have it by now. Why don’t you stay the evening, gentlemen? It’s far too late now to leave for London regardless.”
Nick hesitated. “I think we should get back.”
Simon contemplated Kate’s request, then shrugged at Nick. “There’s nothing we can do tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough. Miss Anstruther, we would be honored to dine in Hartley Hall.”
Hogarth coughed lightly. “Shall I prepare rooms, miss?”
“Yes, thank you.” Kate waved a distracted hand. “Show them to their rooms and we’ll reconvene at dinner. I’ll have it by then.
“Would you mind if I had my key, please?” Simon inquired quietly.
“Your key?” She scowled and thrust it back at him. “Here, if you must.”
Simon raised a bemused eyebrow at her frustration. The woman was a panther when vexed.
Hogarth bowed slightly and extended an arm toward the door. “Gentlemen, follow me, please.”
As they departed, Simon glanced back over his shoulder to see Kate scrambling on top of a desk to peer at journals on higher shelves. She cursed loudly.
Nick muttered, “Maybe we should’ve left both of the Anstruther girls in Bedlam.”
Simon laughed and twirled the key. “I think this is turning into an enjoyable jaunt in the country.”
Chapter Fourteen
Simon and Nick were provided dinner clothes so perfect they might have been tailored for them. As they both descended to the dining room, they noticed a lampfly zip past.
Simon laughed. “Remarkable place.”