CHAPTER SIX: THE EMPTY COTTAGE

Elias reached the north cottage before the carriage.
The building looked ruined from the road, but a new support beam held the rear wall upright.
Someone had concealed the repair beneath dead vines.
He heard a horse approaching and slipped through the broken doorway.
Inside, the floorboards had been lifted in a neat square.
A lantern stood beside the opening.
Ralston’s hired man was already below, searching the shallow space with a shovel.
Elias could see the man’s boots through the gap.
He could also see the support post that kept the rotten floor from collapsing.


He had no intention of trapping anyone beneath it.
Instead, he called through the doorway in a voice loud enough to carry to the road.
“Mr. Ralston, the room is empty.”
The hired man climbed out with a startled curse.
Ralston appeared at the rear window.
“You should be asleep in your quarters,” he said.
“You should not be here either,” Elias replied.
Ralston smiled without warmth.
“The master knows I am inspecting an old building.”
“Then he can explain why you came after dark.”
Ralston stepped through the doorway.
“You think the mistress will protect you?”
“I know she will not.

”
“Then you are learning.”
Elias moved toward the road, keeping the opening between himself and Ralston.
The overseer followed with measured steps.
“Where are the children?” Ralston asked.
“Which children?”
“The ones who vanished while I was responsible for this estate.”
“You mean the ones you failed to sell.”
Ralston’s face hardened.
“Careful.”
“You came here looking for people you still believe you own.”
“I came looking for property that was stolen from my employer.”
Elias heard another horse approaching.
He hoped it was Ruth, but the rider who emerged from the trees was Thomas Voss.
The landowner held a lantern high enough to illuminate the open floor.


“Explain yourself,” Thomas said.
Ralston immediately pointed toward Elias.
“I caught him searching the cottage.”
Thomas looked at Elias.
“Is that true?”
“I came because he took the key,” Elias answered.
Ralston laughed.
“You have no proof of that.”
A woman’s voice sounded from the road.
“I gave him the key myself,” Adelaide said.
She stood beside Ruth, one hand braced against the carriage rail.
Her husband stared at her.
“You were told to remain in your room.”
“I have spent too long remaining where I was told,” Adelaide replied.