I reached up, my fingers gripping the dusty gold frame, and pulled it aside.

The small steel combination safe was embedded in the stone wall.

My hands were shaking so hard I could barely spin the dial.

*Fourteen. Thirty-six. Eight.*

I pulled the small lever.

The heavy steel door clicked and swung open.

Inside lay three thick, leather-bound journals and a manila envelope.

I reached in and grabbed the envelope, sliding the journals out behind it.

A floorboard creaked in the hallway outside.

The doorknob of the study jiggled, then rattled violently.

“Clara?” Celeste’s voice was sharp. “Open this door.”

I stuffed the envelope and the journals into my canvas tote bag.

The window behind the desk looked out over the back gardens and the path to the stables.

I unlocked the window latch and pushed the heavy sash upward.

The cold rain poured in, soaking the edge of the mahogany desk.

“Clara!” Celeste shouted, banging on the heavy wood of the door. “If you don’t open this door right now, I’m calling the deputy.”

I climbed onto the window sill, clutching my bag tightly against my chest.