Free The Hidden Window Mystery by Carolyn Keene

looked relieved. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. Thanks a million. But I must say, Nancy, you have courage!”
    Nancy told the Pattersons that if Susan had not made plans for them for the next two days, she, Bess, and George would be at Ivy Hall in the morning.
    “Thanks, darling.” Sheila hugged Nancy.
    As soon as the actress and her daughter left, Paul Staunton returned with fresh plates of food, and he and Nancy spent the rest of the evening together. After all the guests had left, the Carrs sat down with their visitors for a chat.
    “The party was super,” said George.
    “Dreamy,” was Bess’s comment.
    Nancy mentioned what a delightful time she had had, also how much she had enjoyed the Carrs’ friends.
    “And they all like you girls,” Susan said. With a chuckle she glanced at Nancy and added, “Particularly Paul Staunton.”
    Nancy blushed. “He’s a lot of fun.”
    “I noticed,” said Cliff, “that Sheila had you cornered. What was all the conversation about?”
    Nancy told the group of Sheila’s invitation, then asked Susan if she would mind their accepting.
    “Go ahead, by all means. But don’t forget Garden Week. We have some dates then, you know.”
    Cliff spoke. “How about Cumberland Manor, Nancy? Have you given up trying to persuade Mr. Honsho to open it for us?”
    “No. As a matter of fact, it’s because there may be a peacock in each place that I’m going to Ivy Hall. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a connection!”
    “That’s right,” Cliff agreed. “Nancy, you amaze me.”
    Susan offered the use of her car, telling Nancy to keep it as long as she wished.
    Bess sighed. “I was almost hoping you’d object,” she said. “Ugh! Ghosts and peacocks!”
    The three girls packed their suitcases before going to bed and were up early the next morning. At ten o’clock, after one of Anna’s special breakfasts, they set off for Ivy Hall. On reaching the entrance to the untended, overgrown grounds, Nancy turned in and drove up to the colonial red-brick house, the sides of which were thickly covered with ivy. It had an impressive front porch with majestic white columns.
    On the steps stood Annette Patterson and a young man. The girl, who was shaking her head vigorously, looked annoyed.
    “Well, what do you know!” Bess exclaimed. “That’s the same ‘cowboy’ we saw at Cumberland Manor—the one who wouldn’t talk to us!”
    Just then the young man jumped on his bicycle and pedaled quickly past them and down the driveway.
    “We’ll ask Annette about him later,” Nancy remarked, as the girls alighted from the car.
    Annette, who was wearing pink shorts and a candy-striped blouse, ran toward the girls with a happy “Hi!” Then, Sheila, similarly attired, hurried from the hall. Being more effusive than her daughter, she planted resounding kisses on the cheeks of her visitors.
    “You are lambs to come!” Sheila cried gaily, hooking one arm into Nancy’s and leading the girls into the house. “Isn’t this a heavenly place?” she asked.
    “Yes, it’s charming,” replied Nancy, admiring the large center hall with its graceful, wide stairway.
    “Let’s take the girls on a tour of inspection, Mother,” Annette said enthusiastically.
    Sheila led the way first into the living room to the left of the hallway, then the dining room on the right. They were sunny and spacious, but draperies and wallpaper were faded and in places badly worn. The chairs and tables were in need of repair.
    “I bought the house furnished,” Sheila said, “and intend to renovate when I can. But for now—” She shrugged, then went on. “Annette and I always lived in hotels until recently.”
    “But never again, I hope!” Annette said fervently. “I love Ivy Hall and never want to leave it.”
    “Unless we’re forced to,” her mother said sadly.
    “I’m sure it won’t come to that,” Nancy said.
    French doors at the end of the living room led to a walnut-paneled library, practically bare of