“Yes, yes, of course I remember. But who would risk their position in such folly? Servants are always the first suspects when anything is lost, so if any of them did it, they’d be putting as much distance as possible between themselves and here. All the servants are still present.”
“Then where are my earrings and the wretched teaspoons?” her ladyship demanded.
“Probably in your reticule, or in the wrong jewel case.”
“Lawson is checking now. But I wouldn’t have put ten used spoons in my reticule, would I? Nor in a jewel case!”
“I’d be surprised,” her husband allowed. “The teaspoons will be somewhere else entirely.”
“Can I be of assistance helping you look?” Helen asked. “Or would you rather I simply taught the children?”
Lady Overton scowled in Helen’s direction. “You are very good, Miss Milsom. But tell me, am I right in remembering that Cecily Verne lost her necklace the night after the ball at Steynings?”
Helen nodded. “And Mrs. Cromarty couldn’t find the candlesticks she wanted.”
“You think the two can be connected?” Lord Overton said doubtfully.
“Perhaps we should be talking to the Marshalls’ servants,” said Lady Overton heavily. “Since they were at Steynings, too. Or perhaps that horrid band of thieves that stole from the Laceys is back.”
“They’re in prison,” Lord Overton said. “But I suppose another opportunistic thief in the area could be entering big houses how and when he can.”
“Forgive me,” Helen said, “but you have many items worth stealing. Why settle for a pair of earrings and a mere ten teaspoons?”
“Perhaps,” Lord Overton said slowly, “because people will then assume—as we are more than half-doing—that such items are merely displaced. This way, he avoids a hue and cry, and can sell things on at a better price.”
“Perhaps we should call on Mr. Lacey,” Lady Overton said. Mr. Lacey was the squire and the local magistrate.
“Let’s be sure, first,” Lord Overton said curtly. “Look everywhere, including the children’s chambers. They may have picked them up without thinking or be playing some jest.”
“I will do that if you wish?” Helen offered, although from the children’s reactions this morning, she doubted their involvement.
An hour later, with none of the items found, Lord Overton declared a discreet family outing to Seldon Manor to discuss matters with Mr. Lacey.
Chapter Ten
Lord and Lady Overton took the carriage, while their offspring and Helen rode on horseback. They played at being postilions guiding a post chaise, and then outriders, pretending to shoot imaginary highwaymen. Which kept everyone entertained until they reached Seldon Manor—where they were obstructed by the absence of all the Laceys except the eldest son, Matthew.
“Might we catch them up somewhere?” Lady Overton asked from the carriage when Matthew ran down from the house to speak to them.
“Well, my mother and the girls went to call on old Miss Blenkinsop,” Matthew said doubtfully. “My father went to the Hart. Something about stolen property. Sometimes the Hart seems really unlucky, despite what Villin says!”
The Overtons exchanged glances. “Thank you, Matthew,” his lordship said with a pleasant nod. “John! Drive on to the Hart.”
The children were delighted with their longer ride. While Helen prevented them from galloping too far ahead, she mulled over Matthew’s news that things had been stolen from the Hart, too. It began to look as if Lord Overton’s theory of the opportunistic but wary thief was correct.
She couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Hart was in uproar.
Helen’s first surprise was the presence of Mrs. Marshall, whom she had expected to be still in bed at Audley Park.
“This is a madhouse,” Phoebe declared, advancing from the parlor door to greet the Overtons’ party. “I’m almost sorry I came, although poor Anne needs me, caught in the middle of it all as she is.”
“Middle of what, ma’am?” Lord Overton asked, bewildered. “What is the racket upstairs, and where is Mr. Lacey?
“Overton, is that you?” called a harassed voice from the top of the stairs. Mr. Lacey.
“What the devil’s afoot?” Overton demanded.
“I don’t suppose her ladyship is with you?” Mr. Lacey’s head peered over the banister. “She is! Excellent. Ma’am.” He turned to someone behind him. “If you would be so good as to go downstairs to Lady Overton, taking your daughter and your son with you, then this whole matter might be cleared up immediately. I will be able to apologize profusely and get out of your way.”
“You are a gentleman, sir!” came the agitated voice of Mrs. Robinov. “You must see how insulting this is! I should not have to put up with your louts rifling through my things! And my daughter is ill. I will not have your men disturbing her, and I will not drag her from her sickbed for your convenience.”
“What?” Lady Overton exclaimed in outrage. Clearly preparing for battle, she charged upstairs, the fascinated children and Richard at her heels. Helen bolted after the children to detain them, but halted, frozen for a crucial moment by the sight of Sir Marcus at Mrs. Robinov’s side.
“Have you run mad, Mr. Lacey?” Lady Overton demanded.
“Of course not,” Mr. Lacey replied, dragging one impatient hand through his hair. “I have received a complaint which it is my unpleasant duty to investigate.”
“What sort of complaint?” Lord Overton asked, coming up behind Helen.
There seemed to be an awful lot of people on the landing, spilling down the passage. Scowling and fierce, Kenneth stood guard before one of the doors. Mrs. Robinov and Sir Marcus blocked Mr. Lacey and two of his men from entering the passage. It would have been funny to Helen if she hadn’t known everyone concerned.
“Theft,” Mr. Lacey said heavily. “I have received information that certain stolen items will be found among the possessions of the Robinov family. No, don’t eat me, Dain, I don’t believe it either! But you must see that it’s my duty to look. And then we may all be easy, although I accept, I shall not be invited to dinner in the foreseeable future. Mrs. Robinov, in allowing me to dismiss this, you will actually help in the eventual apprehension of the thief. And you also have reported a missing item.”
“And I will not find it in our trunks!” Mrs. Robinov said indignantly.
“Then let us open them, and we may revile my informant afterward,” Lacey pleaded.
“Oh, the devil,” Sir Marcus said impatiently. “Just let him into Kenneth’s chamber, Dorothea, and be done with it. Kenneth and I will accompany him while you sit with Carla. It’s the only way to resolve this.”
Slowly, Mrs. Robinov stood aside. “I never thought to find this kind of thing in my own country.” She stalked off toward Kenneth, who opened the door he guarded, clearly his sister’s, to let her in. Then he strode across the passage to the door opposite and threw it wide. With an exaggerated bow, he grimly invited Lacey and his men to enter.
Sir Marcus pushed through them and led the way in. The children drifted curiously toward the bedchamber, and Helen followed with the main aim of pulling them back. Richard stood beside Kenneth in a show of solidarity.