Brianna hurried out of the room to finish polishing the silver in the dining hall. Then the library settled into silence. Malcolm listened, expecting mischief. Children tend to explore. They lift lids. They tug at drawers. They drift toward forbidden treasures. Yet Milo stayed still.

Minutes slipped by. Then Malcolm sensed movement. The faint shuffle of fabric. Gentle, hesitant steps approached his chair. He kept his eyes closed…