Ah, yes. Another concern I had completely forgotten about. I still needed to uncover the culprit but it hardly seemed pertinent compared to more pressing matters. However I tried to look encouraging as I asked, "Indeed, and have you discovered the traitor?"
"No, but we have eliminated several suspects," said Henrietta, appearing in the closetdoorway beside her sister.
Belinda bursting with enthusiasm continued, "Yes, we know isn't the housekeeper. I went through all her things—she had nothing incriminating."
"You did what?" I asked, forgetting my own desire for subdued speech. I stood suddenly banging my head on the shelf above.
"It isn't Saunders either," Belinda said heedless of my look of horror.
"You cannot go into people's rooms! How would you feel if someone went through your things?" I scolded.
Belinda shrugged. "Miss Hopkins does it all the time."
"She just did it the once. Because of Tidbit. Bel was keeping a rat in her room as a pet," Henrietta explained.
"Tidbit was a mouse, not a rat!"
"You mustn't go through any more rooms. Servants are entitled to their privacy."
"Oh, we investigated everyone, not just the servants. You will never believe what Cousin Will has in his bedchamber."
"What did you find?" I asked urgently, thinking of my husband's collection of illicit literature.
"He has a box of stones! Is that not ludicrous?"
"It is a mineral and rock collection," said Henrietta primly.
"He has them labeled!"
"Well, they would hardly be useful if they were not labeled." Why I was defending Darcy's fastidiousness I did not know. Not two weeks ago I had found that aspect of his personality rather tiresome.
Belinda rolled her eyes as ifIwas rather tiresome. "You both are in love with him so you can hardly be expected to be sensible about it, but anyone else would think it odd."
"I amnotin love with him!"
This was spoken by Henrietta. Not me. Though there is a slight chance the outburst that might have followed the indignant breath I had drawn would have been just as vehement and completely unconvincing as Henrietta's had been had she not delivered it before me.
"I collect rocks as well," Belinda continued on, ignoring her sister's denial, "but I don't label mine. I just keep them because they are pretty or interesting or they taste good."
"Taste good?"
"I have one rock that is salty and another that is sort of tangy and bitter, but in a good way."
"I have lived with her for nine years," said Henrietta with a beleaguered expression.
"Perhaps you should not lick your minerals," I said, hoping she would take my advice seriously and ignore the fact that I was hiding in a closet and thus probably should not be giving advice to anyone.
"I also collect feathers."
"You do not lick those, do you?" asked Henrietta tauntingly.
"Of course not!" replied Belinda hotly.
"Did your investigations uncover anything else?" I asked before an argument could erupt.
"Georgie had nothing suspicious. Mama has rouge and face powder even though she said such things are only for hussies. We would have searched Dora's room, but Henri wouldn't go in because she was frightened."
"She has beetles everywhere," Henrietta argued.
