Eighteen

I knew of no Rolingbroke who would dream of tearing it down.

After the treasure story had been spread about, Fibbens, several footmen, and other servants had taken turns keeping an eye on the Banes. None of them had yet been seen at the only tower entrance-the only entrance they would know of. In addition to it, there were two means of reaching the tower by secret passage. The one we were in ended on a sturdy, wide, stone platform, about halfway up (or down, as it seemed) the tower. Above us, a relatively new wooden staircase led to the tower entrance, off one of the Abbey hallways. Below us, at the foot of a crumbling stone staircase, was the other. As boys, Lucien and I had explored it, half-hoping, half-dreading we’d encounter the Headless Abbot. We found damp stones and little else.

Charles and I waited in relative comfort, hidden from view, our lantern shielded. We soon knew who the first of our arrivals would most likely be-Lucien came to report that within a few minutes of one another, Henry and Fa

But it was William who opened the door at the top of the stairs, carrying a candle. He had opened the door and was halfway down the stairs when the door opened a second time. He turned to see Fa

“What on earth are you doing here?” he asked her.

“I might ask the same of you.”

“I’m looking for Henry. Do you know where he is?”

“I haven’t the vaguest. Where are Edward and the brat?”

In the darkness of our hiding place, I laid a finger to Charles’s lips. He nodded his understanding.

“How should I know?”

“I should have known it was all a Banbury tale,” she said.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t try to gammon me, dear brother. You’re here looking for the treasure, too!”

“I’m not worried about any treasure-”

“Not worried about any treasure! That’s a loud one! You who’ve been punting on River Tick for I don’t know how long!”

“If Mama could hear you using such terms-”

“Mama is sound asleep. Go on, deny that you’re one step ahead of the bailiff.”

“All right, I deny it. I’m not in debt. I’ve come about-thanks to Cousin Lucien.”

“What!”

“I never told you or Henry, but it’s true. He helped me, Fa

“Why you?”

“Because he cared about the family, you bacon-brain! Wasn’t just the money-he talked to me. Made me think, I tell you. So if anyone is pla

“Help Charles? Mischief? What on earth are you talking about?”

“My horse is in the stall next to Fine Lad. I think you know what that means.”

“That he’s eating his head off at his lordship’s expense.”

“Fa

She eyed him malevolently. “Enough of your nonsense, William. Let me by. Edward and the brat will be down here any minute-probably working their way through the secret passage now.”

“Secret passage!” William said. “What secret passage?”

“The place is full of them. Don’t you remember me telling you that when we were here that last Christmas?”

William frowned. “No.”

“Well, maybe I told Henry, then. Which is of no importance in any case! Move off this staircase before I have to shove you off!”

“Touch me, and I’ll tell Mama that nothing pleases her spinster daughter so much as to dress up like a man and ride astride!”

“Oh! You won’t be alive to tell her! They’ll be burying you next to Lucien!”

“Now!” I heard Lucien say, and I pulled the shield off the lantern.

The sudden light caught the attention of the two Banes. But it was Lucien who caused William to give out a blood-curdling scream.

Charles clung to me, apparently more frightened by the scream than anything that had gone before.

“Lord Almighty!” Fa

William, the color gone from his face, pointed a shaking hand toward Lucien.

“What?” Fa

“The Headless Abbot.”

“Headless Abbot! I don’t see any Headless Abbot! It’s just a light coming from one of those passages I told you about.”

“Don’t you see him?” William cried. “In riding clothes!”

“Are you back to giving me trouble over that? What’s it to you if I find men’s clothes more sensible for riding?”

Lucien tried moving closer to her. But while William swayed on his feet, Fa

“William?” she said. “Are you feeling quite the thing?”

In frustration, Lucien materialized completely.

“Lucien!” William said, and fainted. Unfortunately, he was still on the stairs when this happened. Lucien tried to make a grab for him, but William fell right through him, tumbling down to the ledge.

Now Fa

“Fibbens, please take his lordship to safety,” I said, over Charles protests. “Ask Bogsley to bring some men with a litter to me.” And picking up a lantern, I limped out as quickly as I could to the landing, where William lay in a heap.

“Edward!” Fa

She stood nervously watching me. William made a groaning sound, and opened his eyes. “Edward?” he said dazedly. “Was it you all along?”

He then caught sight of Lucien standing behind me, though, and fainted once again.

I did my best to make him more comfortable. “Help will be here soon, Fa

“He’s broken his arm,” Lucien said, “but I don’t think he has any more serious injuries. Why do you suppose he could see me, but she can’t?”

“I don’t understand it,” I said.

Fa

We heard a sound then, a faint cracking noise from below.

Fa

“Henry,” I called, “are you down there in the dark eating walnuts?”

A long laugh echoed up the tower.

“Henry!” Fa

“Get help,” I said to Lucien.

“I’ll stay here, thank you,” Fa

“Oh it is, dear Fa

Lucien made a wild banshee sound, and swooped toward Henry. Nothing.

“Never mind the brat,” Fa

“I wouldn’t trouble yourself too much over William, Fa

“Will no one talk sense to me?” Fa

“Your brother Henry wants to be an earl,” I said. “So he murdered Lucien-right, Lucien?”

“Right.”

But Henry laughed and said, “Don’t tell me you think you can try that ghost business on me at this age, Edward! Now where’s that treasure? I warn you, I’m armed.”

“You’ll never own the Abbey’s treasure,” I said. “The Abbey’s treasure then, as it is now, was in the good men who have lived here-Lucien, and his father, and Charles.”

“Henry,” Fa

“Lucien? Oh, not just Lucien. Don’t forget his father and his ni