There were the usual parlors, as well as a drawing room and a small study, but it was the library that intrigued Maggie and made her forget that she was an outsider in this household. There were books of every kind, all neatly cataloged and carefully dusted. There was a chess table with a board of inlaid ivory, and two leather-cushioned chairs to attend it.

Maggie sank into one of those chairs, stunned by the beauty of the chess pieces themselves. They were tall and ornately shaped, one side of a shimmering, iridescent white, the other of the rare black opal. The set was surely priceless.

Maggie admired the pieces for a long time, but to her, books were the greater treasure. She caressed their fine bindings with wondering hands, delighting in the scent and weight and texture of them.

She was just opening a remarkable volume of drawings when Mrs. Lavendar startled her with an eloquent, “Ah-hem!”

Maggie blushed guiltily, like a thief caught in Ali Baba’s cave, holding the book of drawings close to her bosom. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say in her defense.

“I see you’re preparing lessons for the lads,” Mrs. Lavendar said, surprising Maggie almost as much by her kindness as by her sudden appearance. “Mr. Kirk would like that, I daresay. Take any books you want, and there’s paper and pens and such in the desk drawer.”

“Thank you,” Maggie managed to say.

“Nonsense. Books are a part of your job. Just see they get back to their proper shelf when you’re through with them, miss. Mr. Kirk is somewhat choosy about how they’re treated!”

Maggie let her eyes wander over the staggering wealth of reading material and sighed. “I should think he would be,” she replied, and then, like a child given free rein in a toy shop, she began dashing about, choosing books on botany and history and other subjects she wanted to share with her charges when they returned. She took paper and pens and inks from the desk, too, as well as the book of drawings she had been examining in the first place.

Like a pirate with loot, Maggie dashed up the front stairway, eager to be alone in her room now. On the small table near the fireplace she spread out her booty and sighed with pleasure.

Mrs. Lavendar found her making out a lesson plan for a study of botany when she entered some minutes later, bringing tea. This gesture of friendliness caught Maggie quite off guard—for the second time that evening she found herself thanking the housekeeper for an unexpected kindness.

Any hopes Maggie might have had of striking up a conversation with the woman were dashed, however, when Mrs. Lavendar simply nodded and hurried out of the room.