The other residents in the room were watching wide eyed but silent. They were still awed by the Amble sisters, especially as they knew their father had been nobility.
“We have been giving the matter some thought for a while now, Ruby. That worthless weasel deserves to be robbed for what he did to us, and Violet and I have pondered long and hard for the last few years how we can get revenge on him,” Beatrice said.
“We will end up in Newgate or on a ship to the colonies,” Ruby stated.
“There is a window in my father’s office, which is on the second floor, that has a dodgy latch. It has never been fixed, and my nip-farthing nephew will have done nothing about it. We will get in through there.”
“No.”
“There are many wonderful treasures in that house. Things that fool would have no idea the value of,” Violet continued.
“No,” Ruby said, this time louder.
“It will be a matter of slipping inside and collecting them. It could be done in minutes,” Beatrice added.
“And how do you propose to get to the second floor?” Ruby asked.
“A ladder. Someone will have to climb up there,” Violet said.
“Who?”
“We shall work that out, dear,” Beatrice said.
Before she could protest, the other residents found their voices. Questions were fired out and answered by one of the Amble sisters.
“I can’t believe you are actually considering this.” She looked at Mr. Zwart, who was usually the voice of reason. His accent was often heard rising above the others in number eleven Nobby Lane.
He gave her a steady look. “I fear that desperate times call for desperate measures, Miss Knight.”
CHAPTERSIX
Three weeks after Miss Ruby Knight had entered their household, Forrest was standing outside the door to the nursery listening as she read to Ella. Actually, the story had yet to start, as his daughter was peppering Miss Knight with personal questions, which he was happy about.
The woman intrigued him. He wanted to know more details about her.
“Do you have brothers or sisters, Ruby?”
He’d rather think of her as Miss Knight. Ruby, to him, felt softer, more approachable. He didn’t want her to be that. He was already very aware of his daughter’s tutor.
“I do have siblings. There are seven of us, but I live with only my youngest brother, Adam.”
Seven.He couldn’t imagine what that would be like. And why did she not see the other five? Why would she live with only the youngest, and depending on how young he was, did Miss Knight support him?
“So, you don’t see the others?”
“No.”
How could that one word sound sad?
“But you see your mother and father?”
“I don’t, no. We live some distance from each other, Ella.”
“Do you miss them?”
Forrest felt himself moving closer to the open door to hear what she said.
“Of course.”
