Free The Bluebeard Room by Carolyn Keene Page A

lost the night before.
    From her and the butler’s remarks, Nancy knew the bicycle had overturned near a huge old oak tree and clump of shrubbery just to the right of the path leading up to the castle gateway.
    To her surprise, she quickly sighted a lavender envelope. It bore the Crowned Heads monogram and was addressed to her at Penvellyn Castle in Lance’s handwriting.
    Nancy was eager to read the letter in private. Luckily she managed to get up to her room without encountering Lisa or Hugh. To her annoyance, her hands trembled as she opened the envelope.
    But there was no letter inside!
    Nancy could feel something else, however, smalland hard. She shook it out into the palm of her hand—and caught her breath.
    It was a tiny, glassy stone arrowhead . . . another elf-bolt!
    Surely Lance hadn’t sent her this! But if not, who had? Some other member of his group?
    Another explanation was possible, Nancy realized. The spook might have filched the envelope after Ethel Bosinny was helped indoors, then removed the letter and inserted the elf-bolt before putting the envelope back during the night.
    But why? As a warning to this young American busybody to leave Polpenny Castle and not pry into matters of witchcraft that didn’t concern her?
    Despite her normal commonsensical outlook, Nancy couldn’t shake off a chill of fear that trickled down her spine. Slumping in her chair, she let the elf-bolt and envelope fall into her lap and clasped her hands to keep them from trembling.
    What I need, Nancy told herself sternly, is to get so mad that I won’t have room to be frightened!
    Which was easy enough once she opened those London tabloids and read the leering accounts of her friendship with Lance. One paper ran a photo of them in his sports car escaping the fans outside her hotel. The implication was clear . . . that the American sleuth was the latest addition to Lance Warrick’s harem of groupies!
    Nancy was furious. What if those reports were tofilter back to America and be read by her dad and Hannah and all her friends in River Heights?
    Nancy felt a need to work off her churning emotional energy. Yet she didn’t want to be seen by the servants or risk facing Lisa or Hugh in her upset state. To calm herself, she began walking down the corridor, her thoughts in turmoil. No wonder Constable Kenyon knew all about her! Those hateful news stories might even partly explain the villagers’ coolness toward her!
    She slowed her steps as angry voices drifted toward her. Nancy realized that she was near the Penvellyns’ private suite.
    “I’ve told you before—what’s in that room is none of your business!” Hugh was saying stormily.
    “But why not, if I’m your wife?” Lisa pleaded.
    “Because I say so, and I’m your husband! What kind of a marriage do we have if you can’t trust me that far?”
    “Doesn’t trust work both ways? Oh, Hugh, I felt so foolish and ashamed, having to admit to Nancy that you wouldn’t even tell me why you keep that room shut up and locked!”
    “Nancy’s here as our guest, not as a detective!” Lord Penvellyn retorted. “Why I choose to keep that room closed is none of her business, either!”
    “I’m not a child! You’ve no right to treat me like one!” Lisa’s voice rose and quavered; she sounded on the verge of tears. “What can possibly be inthere that’s so terrible you can’t even confide in me, your wife?!”
    “Just take my word, that’s all! That room must remain locked to protect my family name and our happiness, do you understand?!” Hugh’s hot-tempered words turned cold and grim as he ended, “I want you and your friend to stay away from that room, is that clear?! From now on, I don’t even want to hear it mentioned!”

12
Danger in the Dark
    Nancy’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. It was bad enough to feel like a snoop whose prying had caused trouble between a couple she was so fond of. But to learn of this by eavesdropping, even unintentionally,