Page 51 of The Sisters of Sea View
“So that’s how you knew where the walled garden was and where certain rooms were before you’d ever seen them—or so I thought.”
“Aye. Though the house has changed a bit since I was last here, with the new water closet and veranda.”
“That doesn’t explain why you’ve been poking around the place. Did you leave something behind?”
“Exactly.”
She gaped at him. “I was jesting! Surely if you left some personal article, you would have written to the agent to claim it before now.”
“It’s a long story.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Tell me what you were searching for.”
With a pointed look toward the adjoining kitchen, he said, “I will, but let’s keep it between ourselves.”
“Very well.”
He lowered his voice. “My wife had her grandmother’s jewelry here. A necklace and earrings. I never found them.”
Sarah felt her brow furrow. “I don’t understand. Why did you not contact the property agent as soon as you realized?”
“I didna know where they were.”
“So? He certainly would have searched for you.”
Mr. Henshall pressed his lips together. “At the time, I had more important things to worry about. When Katrin died, I didna care about trinkets.”
“Of course not.”
“Later, I did write to the agent. He wrote back that nothing of a personal nature had been found by himself or the staff—at least nothing that was reported.”
“Did you not tell him specifically what you were looking for? Afraid he’d be tempted to take them himself?”
“I don’t think they are worth so very much. These are not the crown jewels we are talking about.”
“But you want them back?”
“For Effie, aye.”
“What makes you think they are still there? Or that you can find them when the property agent failed?”
“Because Katrin hid them.”
Sarah stared. “Hid them?”
A pot clanged in the kitchen, and he winced.
“Tell ye what. Why don’t ye come walking with me in the morning? To see the sunrise? I will tell ye more then.”
———
Shortly before dinner that night, Mrs. Elton pulled Sarah aside.
“Miss Summers, I wonder. Might Mr. Elton and I be seated at a different table from the ... blind guest?”
“Why?”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but one must put one’s own health above mere politeness.”
