2
The pantry room was as dark as always, and a little colder than I liked. Not that it mattered, I wouldn't be here long. Mother thought this way out of the tower was a complete secret to me, but she was wrong. I'd seen her use it often enough to have worked it out for myself. If she hadn't wanted me to know about it, then she should have made sure I was unconscious before she left.
I pushed on the secret door and waited for it to swing open. Before stepping through, I slipped my hand into the pocket of my simple dress to make sure I had the key still. The last thing I wanted was to get trapped outside the tower with no way of getting back in. Then I'd have to work out how to run away with no money, and no means to make it, or I'd have to wait for Mother and she'd learn my secret.
Neith
