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“I’ll gather our things and tell Ella to hurry.” Lena rushed back inside.
Within a few minutes, their carriage pulled up to the front. Norah explained to Samuel, the driver, where they wanted to go as Ella and Lena joined them.
“Please hurry. This is an urgent matter,” Ella told Samuel before he could protest. He wouldn’t dare contradict her.
“Very well, miss.” After handing them up, James, the footman, hopped onto his post at the back, and they were off at a fast pace through the dark streets.
“I have to think Leo and Worley will come to the museum once they find Vanbridge isn’t home.” Ella glanced out the window before turning to look at Norah and Lena, her determined expression visible in the dim carriage light. “But until they arrive, what is our plan?”
Norah had already considered the possibilities—either he was still working or had forgotten something there. “We’ll check his office first.”
“Will we be able to get inside?” Ella asked.
“Excellent question.” Norah hated to think they couldn’t find a way in. “We’ll soon find out. I would think his carriage and driver would be waiting for him if he’s there.”
“True. We’ll have additional assistance then.”
“I’m so pleased you’re both with me,” Norah said. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Ella managed a smile. “We shall get through the situation together like we have done countless times before.”
Norah reached for both their hands, appreciating her sisters more than ever. “Together,” she agreed. She only hoped Simon was well.
The remainder of the brief trip was completed in silence. Norah imagined Simon looking up from his desk, startled at the sight of the three of them in their ball gowns as they invaded his office. Yet, somehow, she was certain that wasn’t what would happen.
“Remember what Mother always told us,” Ella said with a firm look in Norah’s direction. “Don’t borrow trouble.”
Norah nodded. “There’s no purpose in thinking the worst.”
“Exactly,” Lena murmured. Her lack of conviction had Norah glancing out the window again to see how much farther they had to go, though it was difficult to tell even with the gaslit streets.
Soon the carriage slowed to a halt before the museum. The footman lowered the step and opened the door before Norah had scooted to the edge of the seat to alight.
She stepped out to see Simon’s carriage just ahead and hurried toward it. Though the horses’ reins were tied off, the driver was nowhere to be seen. Her stomach tightened as she hurried up the steps to the museum. “The driver must be inside with Simon.”
James followed them up the stairs and reached the door first. “Allow me, please.”
Norah nodded, grateful he’d thought to bring one of the carriage lights along.
As she’d suspected, the front door was unlocked. James stepped inside, then held the door for them. “The place is quiet as a tomb.”
Norah tightened her lips, not appreciating his choice of words. She considered calling out, but the silence kept her from doing so. Where were Simon and his driver?
“I don’t remember the museum being this eerie, do you?” Lena asked in a whisper as she looked about.
“Definitely not. Although we’ve never been here in the dark.” Ella gestured toward the stairs. “We’ll follow you, Norah.”
Norah led the way with James directly behind her, holding the light aloft. The swinging glow was welcome yet made their surroundings even more unsettling as the shadows danced around them.
They reached the first floor of exhibits and Norah paused briefly. “Simon?” For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to call for him too loudly. Whether a part of her feared someone was in the building who wished them ill or fear of finding something was truly wrong with Simon, she couldn’t say. Neither option was appealing.
After a moment of listening, she continued up the next flight of stairs to where their father’s exhibit was. Again, she paused. “Simon?”
An odd sound reached her, almost animal-like. Goose pimples ran over her flesh as she looked at her sisters. Their startled expressions confirmed the noise hadn’t been her imagination.
Though she couldn’t think of what might make the sound, there was only one way to find out. With James at her side and hands clenched, she moved toward their father’s exhibit, dread and hope filling her in equal measure.
Chapter Fourteen
