Page 32 of The Swan Detective (The Swan Syndicate #2)

Stella found a chair in one of the sitting rooms and dropped into it. Her feet were killing her. She knew the shoes hadn’t fit properly, but they were the only ones that went with her new dress. One that Beckworth had delivered the day before and never got to see her wear.

Well, she’d wear the dress again the following week as long as her new shoes arrived in time. She’d been following Lady Ashby around for the last hour, and not a hint of a thief or a distraction. She glanced up when someone plopped down next to her.

“I thought this would be the perfect party for a thief.” Elizabeth waved a fan over her pale face.

“Are you alright?” Stella asked.

“Not really.” When Stella looked around for a footman, Elizabeth patted her hand. “I just need some food.”

When a footman passed by, Stella called him over. “Can you please have someone bring a plate of food for Dame Ellingsworth?” Once he’d scurried off, she admonished Elizabeth. “You need to keep up your strength. Maybe you should take tomorrow night off.”

“Perhaps. But if there’s something I can do to help catch the thief, even if I never see my necklace again, I have to do it.”

Stella considered her friend. There was fire in her eyes, but it didn’t change the pallor of her skin. They watched the guests, and Stella remained by her side until Elizabeth had eaten every item on her plate, though she helped when Elizabeth insisted it was too much food.

Before they went back to the ballroom, Stella had an idea.

“Look, we have one more ball and another luncheon over the next couple of days. Why don’t we have a sleepover at Templeton’s manor? We have plenty of rooms, and you can bring your lady’s maid. I’ll ask the other women to join us.”

When Elizabeth didn’t appear interested, Stella pushed on.

“It would be like coming to Waverly for a few days. Just because we’re all in London doesn’t mean we can’t do the same thing here.

We can send letters in the morning and see if the thief showed up at a different ball.

If we missed him, we’ll have more time to consider our plans.

You know, like what items are still left on our list, whether we should change our tactics, that sort of thing.

It would have been a miracle for us to find the thief on our first two attempts. ”

At some point during her rambling, the dowager’s expression changed from disinterest to thoughtfulness. Stella held her breath as Elizabeth slowly nodded her head.

The dowager suddenly stood, startling Stella.

“Let’s go find Mary and Flora and see what they think.

Agatha’s mother is in town now, so we’ll only see her at the balls and luncheons.

” She marched out of the sitting room, and Stella had to increase her pace to keep up with her, wincing each time the shoes pinched.

“Will Eleanor agree to this? It seems it might tax an already light staff.”

“To be honest, I think the staff would be thrilled to have more to do. Barrington hired a few temporary staff when we arrived, but from what Eleanor tells me, they get excited whenever they have an opportunity to serve dinner parties.”

When they found Flora and Mary, who were still watching Lady Taylor, Elizabeth announced the plans to overnight at Templeton’s manor as if she’d thought of it.

Stella didn’t correct her. If that’s what it took to make sure the dowager was surrounded by friends while they tracked down the thief, she didn’t care who got credit for it.

Mary was excited for an adventure, and Flora was on board as long as her husband didn’t have other plans.

Stella hoped Barrington and Eleanor would be alright with the unexpected guests.

It wasn’t until she was in the carriage and on her way back to the manor that Bart came to mind.

She sighed. She could ask Lincoln and Eleanor to keep an eye on the old man so he didn’t offend anyone, but this had been her idea.

It was up to her to ensure the old doc remained on his best behavior.

S tella woke in a good mood and earlier than usual. It was the first night she’d slept without Beckworth in a long time, and while she knew she was being silly, she already missed him.

Libby must have picked up on it because the woman would not stop talking.

Stella let her ramble because it kept her mind off Beckworth and what the men were doing.

The good news was that Barrington had already received messages from Elizabeth, Mary, and Flora of their pending arrivals in time for lunch.

At first, Barrington seemed put out with the extra guests, but once she’d explained her concern for Elizabeth, he’d agreed it was a sound decision. Now, as she looked at herself in the mirror while Libby brushed her hair, his change of heart seemed a little too quick.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Libby asked.

Stella wasn’t sure if she should ask the question that had abruptly come to mind. She hated pitting Libby between herself and Beckworth, but she had to know. “Did Beckworth ask you to watch me while he was away?”

Libby laughed and nudged Stella’s shoulder. “He knows we’re too close.” She brushed a few more strands, then pointed the brush at her through the mirror. “But I bet he asked Barrington.”

Of course, he would have done that. She should have known, but like everything else, her attention was solely on the thief.

If only she had surveillance equipment. Did any of Ethan’s security equipment work off solar energy?

She chuckled to herself, picturing Beckworth holding duffels filled with security equipment for their next time jump.

Libby laid down the brush, added a couple of clips to pull her hair back, then tapped her shoulder. “Let’s get you dressed. You’ll want to check with Eleanor and Mrs. Evans after breakfast to make sure the rooms are prepared and lunch is on time.”

Stella sighed. “Do you know what Bart is up to today?”

Libby picked up Stella’s robe and returned it to the dressing room with one of the day dresses Stella had decided against wearing.

“You’re safe for today. Lincoln has a couple of interviews, so he and Bart won’t be back until dinner.

A late afternoon tea with plenty of food is being planned in the garden, so you have little to worry about for one day. ”

“Thank heavens for small favors. I hope the staff is alright with this.”

“The staff is thrilled to have something different to do. Don’t worry. Everything will be perfect.”

S everal hours later, Stella watched the women as they gossiped over their afternoon tea in the sunny backyard.

Eleanor had been particularly pleased to have the women in the manor, which had been a surprise to Stella.

The woman must have grown tired of Bart and Lincoln as her only companions, which was most likely the reason she spent so much time with Mrs. Evans.

Mary was in the middle of juicy gossip when Libby hustled out of the solarium doors, performed a quick curtsy to the ladies, then whispered in Stella’s ear.

“We have a problem.” Libby glanced toward the manor and bobbed her head to the side, evidently wanting to speak with Stella privately.

“Excuse me, ladies. I have something I need to attend to.”

The women barely gave her a glance, too interested in Mary’s story.

Once they were inside the solarium, Libby led her to a far corner. Her gaze flitted toward the door they’d come through and then to the door leading to the inner hallway.

“What’s wrong?” Stella asked.

“A kitchen maid from next door came over with fresh eggs and told Nellie about a theft at Lady Dorsey’s.”

“What?” That was the woman who owned the diadem.

One of the few items they didn’t believe could be stolen at a party.

“How is that possible? Was it done right in front of everyone? And how did the kitchen maid from next door hear about it?” She was surprised one of Mary’s maids hadn’t heard about it, or maybe they had, but Mary was here.

Libby shook her head. “The kitchen maid is friends with a housemaid at Lady Dorsey’s.

She’d been sent over to trade some baked goods.

Lady Dorsey hadn’t been feeling well, so she didn’t attend a party last night.

” Her voice lowered. “Someone broke into the manor during the night and took the diadem from a locked box in her bedroom.”

“While Lady Dorsey was sleeping? What about her husband?”

Libby shrugged. “Apparently, Lady Dorsey was given something to help her sleep, and from what I hear, the lord of the manor takes one too many nips from the bottle each evening. He was most likely passed out asleep.”

Stella moved to the closest chair and sat.

“The timing seems somewhat suspect. How would the thief know she wouldn’t be at the party?

” That didn’t make sense. She still believed the diadem would have been problematic to take from a party.

“Maybe the thief always planned to take it from the manor. He’d probably been watching it, but when the couple never left, he had to wait until everyone was asleep. When did they discover it missing?”

Libby glanced at the doorways again. “They discovered it sometime before lunch. Her lady’s maid was preparing her attire for tonight’s ball.”

“Was Inspector Littlefield notified? Did she know to call for him?”

“That part wasn’t mentioned. I imagine they would have called a constable, but I doubt they’d connect it to the other thefts.” She lifted her chin like a noblewoman. “They’re not that bright.”

Stella hid a grin. “Well, that puts a new twist on things.” She tapped her chin. “I wonder if the thief is monitoring all of their targets to ensure they leave for the ball? Or was it because they’d already planned on stealing the diadem from the manor?”

“I think they follow them from their manor. It’s not always easy to find someone in a crowded ballroom. If they see them leave, they’d know exactly what the lady was wearing, her hairstyle, and possibly get a glimpse of the jewelry.”