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“Secret compartments aren’t as uncommon as you might think,” Grace answered, as if it was commonplace then peered into the narrow opening.

“I suppose not.” Kane gave his head a shake, visibly regaining control. “My sister lived here for almost a year and never found this place. She always assumed her husband took solace in his library. Not in an entirely separate room.” He chuckled hollowly. “How clever.”

The space split the mantel from the wall, offering a small doorway only slightly taller than Zahra, but passable for taller individuals if they ducked. Frederick stepped forward, peering into the space. “I’ll go first.”

The space beyond was dimly lit by three narrow windows on the east side of the stone walls with a view of Angloss and Loch Ness and the east gardens a hundred fifty feet or more below.

More shelves lined the walls with additional books, mostly further exploration of Scotland, history, or lore, complete with further carvings to explore.

Several small slits carved into the other walls in the room, offered views into other rooms in the castle. “This isn’t just a hidden room,” Frederick murmured, his unease solidifying. “It’s a surveillance chamber.”

“Possibly how Alistair discovered the sneaky habits of his wife?” Grace whispered, as Zahra slipped passed them to one of the nearby bookshelves covered in sculptures.

Once the little girl set her mind to a task, she proved as focused as his wife.

“What a spot.” Kane emerged behind them, his earlier irritation replaced with admiration. “And the room is larger than I expected. At least half the size of the library.”

Grace ran her fingers along the wall, finding one of the peepholes and leaning in to look. Her breath caught. “I can see the dining room from here.”

Frederick followed suit, finding a peephole that granted a view of the great hall. His stomach twisted. “Whoever used this room could keep watch over the entire house.”

“And that’s the entry hall,” Kane muttered from another peephole. “Old Blair had more up his sleeve than I realized.”

Lillias lingered near the entrance, her eyes darting nervously around the space. “I always thought Grace exaggerated in her letters, but …” She swallowed hard. “This is real.”

Grace turned to her sister with raised brows. “I told you, I don’t exaggerate half as much as you think I do.”

“I imagine no one’s been in here since Blair died.” Kane’s grin spread too wide for his statement. “This has to be it!”

Frederick’s sentiments exactly, especially after Grace told him the hint Mr. Locke had given her.

Kane took the dusty oil lantern on the desk in the center of the room and, tugging a match case from his pocket, brought additional light into the room.

They all moved amongst the space, Kane and Lillias scouring the drawers and shelves, and Frederick, Grace, and Zahra pretending to look at the books, but attempting to locate more hidden items in the carvings.

It was Grace’s soft gasp that drew Frederick’s attention. She was standing before the largest carving: a delicate fairy whose features bore an uncanny resemblance to her.

“That can’t be you, can it?” he asked, stepping closer.

She smiled, tracing the fairy’s face. “It looks more like my mother.” Then her expression shifted, her eyes snapping to his. “Frederick.”

Her tone was all he needed. Moving to block Kane’s line of sight, he pretended to admire the carving while Grace’s hand moved with deliberate precision.

She ran her fingers over the sculpture until, with a faint click, the fairy’s head shifted, revealing a long cylindrical compartment hidden within.

It wasn’t empty.

Inside was a folded piece of parchment. Frederick couldn’t fully make it out from its position, but there was a very good chance from its style of paper and hidden position that they’d found the will.

Of course! From all Grace had said about Laird Blair’s love for his cousin, Grace’s mother, and with the knowledge Grace and Lillias were next to inherit, why wouldn’t the man hide it here for them to find?

“Finally,” he murmured under his breath. This was what they needed. Proof. Something solid to tie this infernal mystery together. Now if they could just locate Kane’s sister, the entire facade could unravel.

Grace glanced over her shoulder, her movements smooth and practiced as she slipped the parchment up the right sleeve of her day suit.

“You did that as if you’ve done it before,” Frederick whispered, leaning closer.

Her lips parted in mock offense before curving into a sly smile. “It’s where magicians hide things. Grandfather taught me.”

“Of course he did.” He shook his head, fighting a smirk. “Your enigmatic grandfather—full of useful tricks—”

A sharp intake of breath interrupted him.

He and Grace turned to find Lillias holding what appeared to be a photograph. Her face pale.

“What is it?” Grace asked.

“I don’t understand.” Lillias blinked down at the photo and then back to Grace’s face, before turning to Kane. “This—this is Mrs. James,” she stammered. “Why is my housekeeper in a photograph with you, Malcolm?”

Frederick’s attention snapped to Kane. The man had stepped back toward the narrow passage, one hand in his pocket. The other held a revolver.

“I’m sorry, my dear,” Kane said, his tone almost regretful. “I really didn’t want to have to kill you, after all, I have a great distaste for leaving children without parents.” He sighed, shaking his head as if deeply upset. “But you’ve left me no choice.”