Lucy slipped out of the conservatory, wiping her hands on her dress.  As she closed the door behind her, she heard a throat clear behind her.<br/><br/>"Might I help you, Miss Durst?"<br/><br/><em>Drat!  </em>Lucy looked at the matronly dragon who peered at her through thick spectacles.  The head housekeeper.  She had been introduced earlier.  "Nay, Mrs. Potter," she mumbled, her eyes downcast.  "I seem to have gotten a bit lost.  I was certain that this was the library, and I do know that Lady Katherine enjoys a bit of reading before retiring."  The lie rolled off her tongue, but then they always had with her.  She was an accomplished actress.<br/><br/>"The library is two doors down.  Now, get your book and off with you, girl, before you get in the way of the kitchen staff.  They are quite busy preparing for tonight, and the rest of the week will be just as hectic."<br/><br/>As the stately woman turned on her heels and walked away, Lucy's smile turned mocking.  She knew exactly where the library was.  She had, after all, already searched it.  And the music room, and just now the conservatory.  Where to next?  Lord Covington's personal suite?  She did not think even she was so daring as to sneak about the family's housing.  How would she explain her presence in that wing?  No matter, though, for her Katie, she would do it.<br/><br/>But first, his study.  She turned the handle on a door, hoping this would be it.  Her candle flickered, but she did not hesitate, instead shutting herself into the room.  Delighted, she looked around; a large fireplace was lit with burning wood, casting the space in a warm glow.  She could imagine him here, Katie's Lord Hugh, his legs crossed atop his desk as he peered over bookkeeping or whatever he did to occupy his time.  He had seemed so very debonair when she'd spied him from the window that one time, but even from that brief glimpse, she could easily imagine him among all of this leather and rich wood.<br/><br/>Tarrying to admire her lush surroundings was not an option for Lucy, though, and so she hurried about, searching through his Lordship's desk first.  Nothing again.  Frustratedly, she blew at a wisp of hair that had escaped the bun atop her head.  Not knowing what one was looking for did make the looking rather difficult.  Perhaps it was time to give up.  Perhaps the rumors were for naught, and there was nothing to find.<br/><br/>She would not give up, though, not until she was certain.  She was doing this for Katie, after all.  Finishing with the desk, she wandered to an armoire next, opening the door.<em>Nay, nothing here either, </em>she thought after giving the contents a cursory glance.  She shut the door, frowning when it caught on something.  What was this?  She felt around, intent on shoving the door closed by force if she needed to, and then she gasped.  A hidden panel!<br/><br/>Lucy was on to something, she knew it!  Blood coursed through her in excitement as she pried open the door again.  The panel unlatched easily, and she audibly gasped when she saw what was inside.<br/><br/>Her fingers ran along a contraption she did not understand.  There were several bits of leather and a length of rope.  And a crop, the kind used with horses.  Full lips curved into a frown.  This was, she knew intuitively, Lord Covington's secret.  She did not know what it meant, but she'd discovered what she'd come looking for.  Now, to put it all back and wait for Katie.  She would be sure to tell her mistress all.