The conversation carried on in similar fashion until they were called to the dining room. Mira took solace in the fact that she was seated next to Byron, but then the onslaught ofquestions continued. Who were her parents? How long had she been in the care of her uncle? Where did her brother go to school? Where did she go to school? She had been expecting questions about her family, but she was surprised by the sheer number and rapid pace.
Towards the end of the meal, Mary said, “It is curious to me why a woman in your position would take up a secretarial job. Surely your uncle was against it.”
“He was. It was more of an accident that led me to the job. I had come to By—Ambrose for help to solve a mystery of my own. And my uncle, well,” she looked at Byron and couldn’t help the smile that suffused to her face, “he couldn’t have made his position clearer.”
Byron’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “I still remember how shocked he was when he realized I wasn’t a charlatan after all.”
The two of them fell into a bout of laughter, silenced the moment Mira realized that none of his family were joining them. Mrs. Sherard had an expression on her face that Mira couldn’t decipher.
Mira dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, deciding to take the conversation in an entirely new direction. “I hear that you have a mystery that needs solving. Thefts?”
“It will be sorted soon enough,” Mary said, but it was abundantly clear what she meant to say was,We don’t want you involved.Surprisingly, Mrs. Sherard offered more information.
“It happened last week on the twenty-eighth. We were hosting a dinner party that lasted about four hours. The guest list included the Risewells, Admiral Hoddle and Miss Harris. After we bid them goodnight, I came to my room and found my jewelry box open. The police determined that the window lock had been picked but haven’t been helpful in any other regard.”
Mira turned to Byron. “Have you started your investigation?”
“I wanted to wait for you.”
Warmth blossomed in her chest and she turned back to Mrs. Sherard. “Might we see your room after brunch?”
“Certainly.”
***
The spacious room had blue-green wallpaper inthe style of William Morris and an oriental rug covering a dark wooden floor. Mira and Byron started their investigation at the vanity which stood against a wall adjacent to the bed.
“I don’t keep much of my jewelry on hand. Most of it is in the safe in Gurrington House or in the bank,” Mrs. Sherard said.
Byron picked up the box, examined the lock, and removed a strand of pearls. “I gather you were wearing these during the dinner party?”
“Yes. They took everything else.”
“And left the box. That’s curious. One would expect them to take the box and pick the lock at a safer location.” Byron set the box back down. Mira looked out the window. Behind the Royal Crescent was a row of walled off courtyards and gardens and then a procession of houses on the opposite side.
“The police think they came through the window?” she asked.
“Where else would they have come from?” Mary asked from where she stood at the threshold of the room. “Surely we would have heard them if they had come through the house.”
“It was merely a question, Mary.” Byron came to Mira’s side. “The window was locked the evening in question?” he asked.
“Of course,” Mrs. Sherard said. “It is not my habit to leave things unlocked that needn’t be. The inspector had the audacity to suggest I had left it unlocked in a moment of ‘feebleness.’ As if my age is the only indicator of my state of mind.” She grimaced at the notion.
“He is ill informed in regards to our familial faculties, in that case,” Byron said, testing the lock himself and opening the window. He stuck his head out for a brief moment and came in again. “I think we’d better see how they got up.”
The party was soon in the courtyard looking up at Mrs. Sherard’s bedroom. There was no ivy or trellises that would allow for an easy climb. Byron moved to the garden bed beneath the window.
“Have you had your windows cleaned recently?” he asked.
“Heavens no,” Mrs. Sherard said. “We’re in the wet season.”
“These indentations suggest the use of a ladder. I doubt the thief brought it with him. Do you have one?”
“The gardener might,” Mary said. “In the shed.”
“Is it kept locked?”
“How am I supposed to know?”
