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“A description?” Gideon asked, his voice still gentler than the one he usually employed during interviews.

“Light-brown hair and bright eyes. Blue, perhaps. He was about her height and slight of frame.”

“Any thoughts who it might have been, Miss Delacourt?”

She shook her head. “Iris mentioned there were a couple of young men who worked at the museum and were keen on Miss Collier. The young man she rowed with was one of them, I think, but Iris never mentioned their names.”

Electra felt recovered and yet suddenly drained. “A young woman I think was Miss Collier gave your sister a key. Do you know why she would have?”

Violet blinked a few times as if struck by that detail, then shrugged. “Perhaps a key to a cabinet at the museum. I can’t think of any other reason.”

Instinct told Electra not to mention the part about the two young women sharing a secret. She did not understand the impulse to withhold it from Miss Delacourt, but she heeded it.

A knock at the library door startled them all. A moment later, a young square-jawed, black-haired gentleman slipped into the room. His spectacles glinted in the firelight.

“Tristan.” Miss Delacourt sprang up from her chair and offered her betrothed a smile. “I didn’t expect you to come today.”

“Forgive me, but I thought we’d agreed on this time, my dear.” He shifted his gaze to take in Electra and Gideon and offered each of them a nod. “And when your father told me what was occupying you, I thought I’d come and offer my support.”

Miss Delacourt gestured toward them. “Inspector Pierce and Miss Poole, this is my betrothed, Dr. Wakefield.”

The gentleman seemed far more interested in his fiancée than in either of them as he approached.

“You look distressed,” he said quietly.

“How can I be anything else until we’ve found Iris?” she whispered.

Wakefield swung around to face Gideon. “I understand that is your remit, Inspector. Have you made any progress?”

“We have just begun, Dr. Wakefield, but Mr. Delacourt and Miss Delacourt have been generous with their time, and I think perhaps we should begin our inquiries and visit the museum before it gets too late.”

Violet twisted her hands, eyes fixed on Electra. “The young man you saw. I have found myself wondering if there was some conflict with someone at the museum, beyond the one Iris mentioned. Iris did not have a large circle of acquaintances. And, of course, Father has reached out to the ones we’re aware of, but perhaps there was someone she never mentioned.”

“We will look into it, I assure you,” Gideon said.

Electra slid the necklace and paintbox toward Violet Delacourt and got to her feet. Gideon already had.

“Thank you, Miss Poole,” Violet said. “I feel buoyed by your involvement and the fact that you can see things that others cannot. It will be a great help to us. I’m sure of it.”

Her eyes widened and she looked at Gideon. “And you too, Inspector, of course.”

Gideon gave her a nod, one toward the doctor, and then gestured for Electra to precede him out of the room.

At the threshold, Electra turned back to Violet Delacourt. “I appreciate your faith in me.”

Dr. Wakefield inched closer and reached for her hand.

The young woman gave a tight smile. “Do keep us apprised of what you learn.”

“We will,” Gideon told her as they departed.

They said nothing to each other as the housekeeper retrieved their coats and they donned them.

Only when they were out on the pavement, well away from the front door, did Gideon examine the paper Roger Delacourt had given him.

“He’s given us names and addresses, including Mr. Seaton’s home and employer, and Miss Longfellow’s lodgings, which seem to be at the college. They’re both quite close to the British Museum.”

“Shall we speak to them first?”