Free A Daughter's Inheritance by Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller Page B

her feet into her slippers and padded to the window. She peered into the garden and then looked at her cousin. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”
    “Do you see old Henry whitewashing that fence out near the far flower garden?”
    Fanny nodded. She wished her cousin would come to the point. Her brain was still fuzzy from lack of sleep. They’d stayed up last night talking and giggling until the wee hours of the morning. Now Amanda wanted her to wake up and immediately solve some silly puzzle about one of the servants whitewashing the fence.
    “I’m going to have Henry give me some of that whitewash. After my brothers sneak out of the house tonight, I’ll convince Marvin to help us rig it up above the back door. When they return home, they won’t need sheets to turn them into ghosts.” Her eyes sparkled. “What do you think?”
    The plan delighted Fanny, but she doubted whether Marvin, the butler, would be inclined to help them. The man was as rigid as the bristles on a brand-new scrub brush. “I like your plan, but what if Marvin won’t help? We could be the ones who end up doused in whitewash.”
    “Don’t fret. Marvin will help us. Now let’s get dressed and go tell Henry to make certain he has plenty of that whitewash left over for us.”

    The entire day had been filled with the excitement evoked by a mixture of fear and anticipation. As Amanda had predicted, Marvin agreed to lend his help and meet them in the kitchen at exactly ten o’clock. Thankfully Aunt Victoria and Uncle Jonas had retired to their rooms earlier in the evening. Now that the designated hour had arrived, the girls silently picked their way down the back stairs. Fanny struggled to stifle the laughter bubbling deep in her throat. She clung to Amanda’s hand until they finally reached the kitchen, where Marvin stood at the ready.
    “Well, ladies, are you prepared for this bit of folly?” His shoulders were stretched into formal alignment as he addressed them. “Not rethinking your decision, are you?”
    The girls shook their heads in unison. Amanda pointed to the bucket of whitewash. “My brothers deserve to receive their comeuppance. Frightening small children isn’t humorous in the least. The next time they consider such a plan, I believe they’ll remember what happened to them tonight.”
    Marvin nodded and pulled a ladder near the back door. “As you wish, Miss Amanda. Once I’ve secured the ropes and this board to the transom, you can hand me the bucket.” The two girls craned their necks and watched as Marvin fitted a board between the knotted sling he’d created with the ropes and secured them above the doorway. He stepped down and tested the device several times before making his final ascent on the ladder. After retrieving the bucket from Amanda, he placed the pail of whitewash strategically atop the board.
    After descending the ladder, he tipped his head back for one final look and then gave a firm nod. “I believe that will serve your purpose quite nicely, miss.”
    Amanda agreed. “Now all we must do is wait.”
    “Which is sometimes the most difficult thing of all,” Marvin said. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe I’ll turn in for the night and permit you ladies to maintain your watch.”
    “Yes, of course,” Amanda said. “And thank you for your help, Marvin. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
    Marvin grinned. “Let’s make that our little secret, shall we? I wouldn’t want to incur the wrath of your father for aiding in this tomfoolery.”
    Amanda glanced at her cousin. “Our lips are sealed.”
    “Absolutely,” Fanny agreed and touched her index finger to her lips.
    After a final instruction that they should turn out the lights, Marvin retreated up the stairs, and the girls began their vigil in earnest. The minutes ticked by slowly as they listened for any unusual sounds near the back of the house.
    “You don’t think they’ll return and use the front door of the house, do you? Or