ShouldI be doing this?
But I had always been a sensible person. If I wanted to see if my hypothesis was correct, this was the way to do it.
I had never been in her chambers before, and my eyes flicked rapidly around her high bed, luxurious carpets and curtains, and the elaborately carved bureaus.
Where would she put it?
What kind of woman was Lady Catherine?
Autocratic, confident, sure of herself.
I headed for her jewel box and there, barely hidden by a pearl necklace, was the acrostic one Lady Catherine claimed was stolen.
What a bold move, to put it where everyone had already looked multiple times.
I picked it up with careful fingers, holding it to the light as the jewels sparkled.
Then I wrapped the necklace in a handkerchief, put it in my pocket, and made my way back down to the dining room.
When I got back, I was pleased to hear that my husband was still going.
“The Good Lord,” he was saying, “has ordained that every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. Moving on to the second chapter of Colossians. . .”
I saw him catch my eye, and he sat down again, not even slightly winded. I do believe he could have gone for another 45 minutes without breaking a sweat.
After dinner,the servants brought out the Christmas pudding to pleased cries from the assembled company, the cooked raisins and brown sugar smelling enticing.
“Lady Catherine,” I asked, trying to conceal the irritation in my voice as I realized she had sent me all over the grounds of Rosings on a series of wild goose chases, “may I have a moment.”
I led her to the sitting room.
“What is it?” she asked. “Have you found someone for me to horsewhip?”
“I guess that depends,” I said. “You hid the acrostic necklace yourself. Why?”
Lady Catherine’s small hard eyes narrowed at me. “I did no such thing,” she said. “You’ve gone insane, young woman. I shall have to speak very strongly to your husband about this.”
I took the acrostic necklace from my pocket. “Behold, I have solved the mystery. I am returning your necklace to you. And now I would like an explanation.”
Her sour face looked angry. “How dare you! Maybe it wasyouwho stole it!”
I almost rolled my eyes.
“I don’t think anyone will believe that.”
“We’ll see if they do,” she said sharply, reaching for the bell.
“I don’t think Bertram will believe that the necklace was sitting all the time in your jewel case,” I said. “I don’t think Bertram will buy that at all. That would mean she hadn’t looked thoroughly for it. I wonder if she has a verse in Ezekiel that would convey her displeasure?”
I saw Lady Catherine’s face crumple and I knew I had her.
She flounced into a chair.
“Oh, very well. Thank you for your assistance in solving this mystery. You can go now.”
“An explanation, if you please,” I repeated.
Lady Catherine only pinched her lips together. “I have nothing to say to you.”
