Page 59 of The Sisters of Sea View
“Where else might she have hidden it?” Sarah asked. “You would think she’d want to have the jewelry near her. Somewhere safe, where she could keep an eye on it. Not in a public room where it would be more likely to be found by a servant or visitor.”
“If she were thinking logically, aye.”
“What about your bedchamber? Might she have thought it safer in her husband’s room?”
“I doubt it. But it might be worth a look. Mine was at the top of the stairs, next to my current room.”
“That is Emily’s. Or was. A guest is staying there presently. Mr. Stanley.”
“Ah well.” Callum Henshall waved a dismissive hand.
“As you’ve probably gathered, Mr. Stanley is an amiable young man. I do not think he would mind if we looked around for a few minutes. We can at least ask him.”
“I don’t mean to put ye to so much trouble, nor to inconvenience your guests—especially when ye are trying to become established.”
“True. And I certainly wouldn’t nose around Mr. and Mrs. Elton’s room, but I don’t think Mr. Stanley is the type to be easily offended.” Sarah led the way upstairs and knocked.
Mr. Stanley opened the door, a ready smile on his face, which dampened slightly upon seeing them.
“Good day, Mr. Stanley. I am sorry to disturb you.”
“Not at all. What may I do for you?”
“You’ve met Mr. Henshall, I believe?”
“Yes, at dinner.”
“We hate to trouble you, but might we take a peek in your room?Mr. Henshall and his wife used to live here, you see. He’s visiting from Scotland and thinks his wife may have left something.”
“Really? How intriguing.” He opened the door wider. “I hope it wasn’t a bonbonnière.”
“A what? No,” Sarah said. “Why would you think that?”
“Never mind. Do come in and make yourself at home. After all, it is your home, is it not?”
“Again, if it is inconvenient, we—”
“Not at all. In fact, I will just step out and leave you to it. Is ... Miss Emily about?”
“I believe she is downstairs in our library. Unless she has already left for her daily pilgrimage to Wallis’s.”
“Ah. Then perhaps I shall accompany her.” He snatched up his hat and hurried from the room.
Sarah and Mr. Henshall exchanged wry glances, then set about their search, again looking on the top shelves of the wardrobe and closet, to no avail.
He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Well, we tried. I did not truly think she would hide it in here.” He glanced around the room, then gazed out the window with a wistful sigh. “Still, a pleasure to see my old room.”
Sarah’s thoughts remained on the search. “Remind me. Did she say, ‘It would be too much trouble to bring it down again’?”
“Something like that. Which is why I’ve been looking for high hiding places. Though remember, her mental state was unstable at the time.”
“Hmm. Where else might we look? Did she ever venture belowstairs?”
“Not that I know of. She had a bell pull to summon the servants when she needed anything.”
“As does my mother.”
“What does that leave?”
