Chapter 190

Inside, the housekeeper began rummaging through the trunks and worked methodically through the room. She lifted folded garments, inspected the drawers and checked beneath the bed. Her assistant followed suit, examining the belongings that remained untouched.

Ruth’s stomach twisted itself into knots as the minutes passed.

Then came the housekeeper’s voice.

"I found something!" She exclaimed.

Ruth felt her heart plummet. Still she forced herself to remain calm as the housekeeper emerged from the room.

In her hands sat an elaborate gold bracelet set with diamonds and deep blue sapphires.

"You will come with me." The housekeeper’s gaze settled on one of the maids standing beside Ruth.

The young woman’s eyes widened. "Ma’am?"

"This bracelet was found among your belongings. Do you care to explain how it came into your possession?"

The maid stared at the jewellery, her face draining of colour. She opened her mouth, closed it again, and then began to tremble.

"I can explain," she said hurriedly. "Please, ma’am, I can explain."

"Then do so." The housekeeper said coldly.

The maid’s gaze darted towards the other servants for help, but none came. Her body shook terribly, and the confession spilled out in a rush.

"I took it while cleaning Lady Cassandra’s old room. It was among her belongings, and I thought..." She swallowed, her eyes filling with tears. "I thought she would never return for it. I never meant to cause any trouble."

The housekeeper’s expression hardened. "You stole from your mistress and expected the matter to go unnoticed?"

"I am sorry, ma’am. I am truly sorry. I only thought I might sell it, and—"

"That is quite enough." The housekeeper cut her off sharply.

The maid fell silent, quacking as fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

The housekeeper had no desire to entertain any further excuses. Whatever led the woman to believe she could take something so valuable without facing repercussions, it did not excuse the offence.

She motioned for her assistant to remain with the others while she led the guilty maid away to report the discovery to Lord Ashford.

Before leaving, she turned to address the remaining servants.

"Nothing further has been found. You may return to your duties, and I expect you all to conduct yourselves with respect and dignity. Your actions are a direct reflection of this house. If I learn that anyone has concealed information or went against the house rules, the matter will be dealt with accordingly."

The housekeeper went on her way after that, dragging away the guilty maid.

Relief passed through the line. The maids began to disperse, some exchanging uneasy glances and others hurrying away so they don’t get scolded for loitering aimlessly.

Ruth heaved a quiet sigh of relief. The bracelet was entirely unrelated to the missing documents, but its discovery had brought the search to an end without exposing her. She could not have arranged a more convenient outcome.

Still, Ruth did not mistake luck for safety. Nathaniel would not stop until he found his culprit, and today’s search had only demonstrated how far he was ready to go to discover the truth.

She would have to be very careful from now on.

As she returned to her duties, she became determined not to give anyone reason to suspect her any further.

---

The housekeeper found Nathaniel in his study shortly afterwards, accompanied by the maid whose offense she had uncovered.

The young woman stood near the door with her head bowed, clasping her hands together as though she might keep herself from falling apart by sheer force of will. Her knees wobbled, nearly buckling under her.

Nathaniel looked up from his desk, and regarded them with a stare harsh enough to scorch the earth.

"Well?" He prompted.

The housekeeper inclined her head. "We have completed the search of the female servants’ quarters, my lord. Nothing was found that appeared connected to the items you are looking for."

Her report barely did any to quell his temper.

"Nothing?" Nathaniel asked, discontent. He was an intimidating sight when he was like this, and the housekeeper had to resist the urge to edge away from him.

"Nothing, my lord. We examined every room and inspected their belongings. However, we did discover this." She presented the bracelet. "It was concealed among this maid’s possessions."

Nathaniel took the jewellery and examined it briefly. The diamonds and sapphires were valuable, and he recognized the bracelet as Cassandra’s.

The discovery displeased him, though not for the reason the housekeeper might have assumed. He cared little if one of the maids chose to pilfer his wretched daughter’s belongings. A stolen bracelet was of little consequence. Missing documents, however, were an entirely different matter.

Still this unchecked rage was in desperate need of an outlet.

"So the girl has been stealing from my family while someone else removes papers from my study." He set the bracelet on the desk with a sharp click. "And you expect me to consider the matter resolved?"

"No, my lord. We found no explanation for the missing documents."

"Then it is not resolved."

The maid’s breathing became uneven. "Please, my lord. I am sorry. I made a terrible mistake, and I beg you to forgive me."

Nathaniel turned his attention to her. He was in no mood for tears or appeals to mercy. A servant who stole from the family could not be permitted to remain, particularly when he was already dealing with a far more troubling breach of security.

"You are dismissed."

The girl looked up in alarm. "My lord?"

"You will leave this household today. You will receive no reference from me, and I will make it known that you were dismissed for theft should any prospective employer inquire about your conduct."

The colour drained from her face. "Please, my lord. Without a reference, I may not find another position."

"That is a consequence you ought to have considered before you decided to steal."

She began to plead again, but Nathaniel had already turned away. The housekeeper understood the dismissal and took the maid by the arm, leading her from the study while the girl struggled to contain her distress.

A servant’s reference could determine whether she found another household willing to employ her. Without a favorable account from Lord Ashford, her prospects would be grim, and the accusation of theft would follow her wherever she sought work. Nathaniel knew this perfectly well. He simply did not care.

When the door closed, he picked up the bracelet again and set it aside.

The discovery had accounted for one offence, not the disappearance of his documents. He remained no closer to learning who had entered his study, what they had taken beyond the papers he had already noticed missing.

The uncertainty gnawed at him.

Nathaniel returned to his papers, but could hardly focus on anything. The missing documents had become a problem he could neither ignore nor easily contain, and he disliked problems that weren’t difficult to get rid of.