Page 29 of The Earl's Error
Joceline took the note from the butler, glancing to her mother who was now tapping her foot on the floor impatiently. “Forgive me, Mama.” There came a tiny frisson of excitement as she opened the note, seeing the list of names given to her by Lord Albury. It was, she decided, the anticipation that came with the beginning of her investigations rather than anything else.
“Joceline, we are going to be late for the ball! Do hurry up.”
Joceline chose not to state the obvious, which was that it was quite acceptable to be tardy to a ball and indeed, if they had turned up on time,thatwould have been the unusual thing. “It is a note from Lord Albury,” she explained, seeing her mother’s eyebrows lift. “I asked him if there are other ladies who have a particular… dislike for Lady Albury and he has written to me with their names.”
“Joceline!” Lady Melford hurried forward and took the note from Joceline’s fingers. “Why ever would you do such a thing?”
“Because,” Joceline said, trying to hide her frustration at her mother snatching the letter in such a way, “because I am doingmy utmost to help him find out who switched the necklace.” It had been on Joceline’s mind whether or not to share with her mother all that had taken place, including the Bluestocking Book Club but she had chosen to do so. Yes, her mother had not been particularly pleased about the club itself but Joceline had reminded her of the importance of declaring them both innocent. That had been enough to persuade her.
“Goodness.” Lady Melford’s eyes widened. “There are at least twenty names here!”
With a small sigh, Joceline took the letter back from her mother with gentle fingers, though thankfully, Lady Melford appeared to be quite contented for her to do so. “Yes, there are.”
“It does not surprise me,” Lady Melford stated, with a toss of her head. “I knew very well that Lady Albury is the most disagreeable, contentious lady in all of London! In truth, I am astonished that this list is so short!”
Joceline, choosing not to continue on such a conversation, gestured to the carriage. “Might you be willing to assist me with this perhaps tomorrow morning? I should like to be able to confirm with Lord Albury who was present at our soiree, just as soon as possible.”
Her mother nodded, opened her mouth, closed it again, and then tilted her head. “I think it might be best to do it this evening, Joceline. We can be a little later to the ball, I am sure.”
Joceline stared at her mother for a few moments, though Lady Melford did not see it, given the way she took the letter and marched down the hallway towards the parlor. A little surprised but with a small curve of a smile at her mouth, Joceline made to follow after her, only for a maid to step out of the shadows.
“My lady, might I ask you for a moment?”
“Of course.” Seeing that it was the maid who had found the necklace, Joceline came a little closer, watching as the maid bit at her bottom lip and looked away, her eyes darting this wayand that. “Is there something wrong, Bessie?” Recalling what it was that she had said by way of warning Bessie to keep where she had found the necklace to herself, Joceline pressed her lips together for a moment. “Have you said something that you ought not to have done?”
“No, my lady!” Bessie exclaimed, though her voice was only a little louder than a whisper. “I am loyal to you, I swear it.”
“I am glad to hear it and grateful for your devotion,” Joceline answered, hoping that she had not sounded in any way fearsome. “Then please, do tell me what it is that troubles you so.”
The maid nodded but let out a shaking breath, her hands gripping tightly together. “I know that there has been upset about that necklace, my lady. I do not mean to speak out of turn but I overheard something below stairs.”
Joceline’s heart quickened its pace. If Bessie was coming to tell her something she had heard from another servant, then that was astonishing indeed. “What was it?”
Bessie closed her eyes. “Two footmen were speaking, my lady. One said to the other that he was sure he had seen a lady in the house at the time of the soiree who was not dressed in any finery but who certainly was not a servant! They were speaking of the necklace, you see, though it was not to gossip.”
“I do not think that it was,” Joceline reassured her. “Have no concern in that, Bessie. I know that the servants will speak of all that has gone on here.”
Her maid glanced up at her and nodded, seeming now to be a little more reassured. “Thank you, my lady. It seemed strange to me, which is why I thought to come to speak to you.”
“Indeed it is,” Joceline murmured, frowning. “Why would there be a lady in this house if she was not a guest?”
“She might have come in the servants' door,” Bessie said, quickly. “There was so much going on that we might have missed her coming in and going out again.”
In an instant, all that Joceline had thought previously was thrown into disarray. She had thought that one of the guests might have been responsible but now, with this from Bessie, she realized that it could well have been someone else, someone who came into the house when the servants were busy with the soiree and she with the guests.
“I – I hope I have done the right thing in speaking to you.”
Joceline nodded fervently. “Of course you have, Bessie. I shall not speak to the footmen, have no concern in that regard.”
Relief poured into Bessie’s face and she let out a heavy breath. It was clear to Joceline that she had taken a great risk in speaking to her as she had done, for had Joceline chosen to go and speak with the footmen, then the servants as a whole would know that Bessie had come to her. She might have been maligned by the other servants and that was something that Joceline herself certainly did not want.
“There is no need for me to do so,” Joceline continued, in the hope that this would further reassure the maid. “Thank you, Bessie. I shall make sure you are rewarded for this.”
The maid murmured a thank you and then scurried away, leaving Joceline perplexed. With one hand pressed to her forehead, she closed her eyes and tried to think clearly.
It was someone else,she thought to herself, frowning.Not one of the guests. How could they have taken the necklace from Lady Albury’s neck without her awareness?
“I have them all!” Her mother hurried out of the parlor, a piece of paper in her hand. “Look, there are only two who were present at our soiree, one Lady Marselle and another Lady Falkirk. Both were present with their husbands, though LadyFalkirk is wed to a Duke so I am surprised that she would think herself in contention with a mere Countess!”
