Theresia’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Mira nodded. “After you arrange for the tea, I think it would be prudent to check your room as well to see if anything is missing.”
“Of course,” Theresia said, quickening her pace. “This is rather exciting, isn’t it? I don’t think we’ve ever been burgled before.”
Mira kept pace with her. “Aren’t you worried at all? He may have stolen your great-grandmother’s necklace.”
“I hope he did,” Theresia said. “It was ghastly.”
February 9, 1889: Afternoon
Sure enough, the necklace was missing fromTheresia’s room. There didn’t seem to be anything else missing, so they joined her parents and Byron in Mrs. Risewell’s room.
“Do you generally keep the box unlocked?” Byron was asking as they came in.
“Heavens no, there’s a key. I keep it in the drawer here.” Mrs. Risewell moved to the vanity, but Mr. Risewell stopped her.
“There’s a hidden compartment,” Mr. Risewell said. “And though I trust you, Mr. Sherard, I think it would be best if it stayed hidden.”
“Certainly,” Byron said. “Do you keep all of your jewelry here, or do you store some elsewhere?”
“She keeps most of her jewelry in the safe,” Theresia said from where she and Mira stood in the doorway.
Mrs. Risewell whirled towards them. “Did that thief steal anything from you?”
“Yes, Mamma,” Theresia said, crossing the room to sit on the bed. “He took great-grandmother’s necklace. It’s terribly exciting, isn’t it?”
“Theresia,” Mr. Risewell said, a warning in his tone.
“The police have already found it all, haven’t they? We haven’t lost anything, not really, so it doesn’t matter if he stole it or not. He’s dead, anyhow.”
Mira fought to keep her mouth from falling open. At the party the night before, Theresia had such an air of decorum. It was surprising to see her being so openly flippant—even defiant—with her parents.
“It’s the principle of the thing,” Mrs. Risewell said. “And we don’t know whether they found everything.”
Theresia rolled her eyes. “Yes, well let me know if anything else interesting happens.” She stood and headed towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Mr. Risewell asked.
“The stable. Verona ought to be rewarded for having to gallop through the snow.”
“That girl.” Mrs. Risewell shook her head. “I don’t know what to do with her.”
***
After fetching Walker from the sitting roomto act as chaperone, Byron and Mira retreated to the study to talk in peace.
“At least it was an accident,” Mira said, adjusting her skirts as she took a seat. “After all, if it were murder, they wouldn’t have found the jewels.”
“Not necessarily,” Byron said, pacing.
“You mean, you think he was murdered?” Walker asked, considering the books on the shelf.
“I’m only saying that we ought not to rule it out just yet. We ought to consider all four possible scenarios for this little mystery.”
“I only count two,” Mira said. “Whether Mr. Treadway was murdered or whether he fell by accident.”
“Add in the additional variable of the jewels. Was Mr. Treadway the thief, or was he not? Therein lies the additional scenarios. For instance, it is possible that Mr. Treadway was not the thief and he fell by accident.”
