A Little Bit Sinful (15 page)

“There have to be stairs,” he said.

“We should have asked Lady Manchester,” she said.

Justin stepped around the counter where the Lady Manchester’s cousin had stood. Behind there he found a door. “Chrissy,” he said with a nod.

She came around to meet him. They stepped through the door, which opened into a room that appeared to be a private office. A quick survey of the space showed another door at the far end. Justin opened it and there found a staircase that led downward.

“Finally,” Justin said. He grabbed Clarissa’s hand and together they descended into the darkness. Once Justin reached solid floor, he reached into his back pocket and retrieved a candle and match. He struck it and the flame hissed to life. He lit the candle and the small area around them illuminated.

It wasn’t an overly large space and filled mostly with boxes.

Clarissa stepped around him. “Shall we get started?” She stepped over to one of the boxes and pulled off the lid. Justin came over to meet her. Inside they found several of the books similar to the book kept at the counter upstairs, the ledger book where guests were logged in. She opened the book on top, but it was from 1872.

“There must be one book for each year,” he said. “Thank goodness for good record keeping.” He moved over to another box and opened it. The first book he came to was 1857. “Getting closer.”

Clarissa came over closer to him and opened another box. “1849. This must be the right box.” She withdrew the book and set it aside, and retrieved the one beneath. “1848?”

“I think we really need theppliNormal1">She nodded. The first floor was large. They found parlors and a library, and eventually wound their way back to the lobby they were in the other day.

“There have to be stairs,” he said.

“We should have asked Lady Manchester,” she said.

Justin stepped around the counter where the Lady Manchester’s cousin had stood. Behind there he found a door. “Chrissy,” he said with a nod.

She came around to meet him. They stepped through the door, which opened into a room that appeared to be a private office. A quick survey of the space showed another door at the far end. Justin opened it and there found a staircase that led downward.

“Finally,” Justin said. He grabbed Clarissa’s hand and together they descended into the darkness. Once Justin reached solid floor, he reached into his back pocket and retrieved a candle and match. He struck it and the flame hissed to life. He lit the candle and the small area around them illuminated.

It wasn’t an overly large space and filled mostly with boxes.

Clarissa stepped around him. “Shall we get started?” She stepped over to one of the boxes and pulled off the lid. Justin came over to meet her. Inside they found several of the books similar to the book kept at the counter upstairs, the ledger book where guests were logged in. She opened the book on top, but it was from 1872.

“There must be one book for each year,” he said. “Tha