The gray-haired woman who greeted them at the door seemed surprised to see them. “Mabel?” she said, when Cecily asked for the maid. “I haven’t seen her this morning. I thought she’d gone to work. She might be up in her room. It’s the first one on the right, at the top of the stairs.”
Thanking her, Cecily hurried over to the stairs and climbed them, grateful for Samuel’s presence behind her. She tapped on the door of Mabel’s room and waited several moments before knocking again, louder this time. “Mabel? Are you there? It’s Mrs. Baxter. I would like to talk to you.”
Still no answer.
“She’s probably scarpered,” Samuel said, looking worried. “Why don’t we let the constable take care of her.”
“I think she’s in there.” Cecily put her ear closer to the door. “I heard movement.” She rapped again. “Mabel? I only want to help you. Let me in and we’ll talk about what happened.”
Another long moment of silence.
“It’s no good, m’m,” Samuel began, but just then a loud click turned both their heads.
Slowly the door opened, and Mabel’s pallid face appeared in the crack.
Cecily smiled. “Are you alone?”
Mabel nodded, and Cecily heard Samuel breathe a sigh of relief. “Will you let us in?”
For another anxious moment or two the maid hesitated, then she stood back and opened the door.
Quickly Cecily slipped inside the room before the girl could change her mind. Samuel stepped in behind her and closed the door.
The room was tiny but cozy, with a small window overlooking the street. Although the furnishings were shabby, everything was neat and tidy-the bed was made and there were no clothes or shoes lying around.
Mabel pointed to the single chair in the room. “Please sit down, m’m.”
She waited for Cecily to sit before seating herself on the edge of the bed. Samuel stood by the door, anxiety still creasing his face.
Cecily came straight to the point, as usual. “Mabel, it has come to my attention that one of our guests is missing some jewelry. I was wondering if you could help me find out where it is.”
A dark flush crept over Mabel’s cheeks. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks, and she dashed at them with the back of her hand. “He made me do it,” she whispered.
With a leap of triumph, Cecily leaned forward. “Who made you do what?”
Mabel gulped and rubbed her nose. Samuel stepped forward and gallantly offered her his handkerchief. She took it and blew her nose hard, then crumpled the handkerchief in her hands. “I saw Mrs. Chubb’s ring on the windowsill,” she said, sniffing in between her words. “It looked so pretty. I’ve never seen a ring like that before and I wondered what it would look like on my finger. So I tried it on.” She sniffed harder and more tears ran down her cheeks.
“It’s all right, Mabel.” Cecily reached out and patted her knee. “Just take your time.”
“Well, then Mrs. Chubb came into the kitchen and I was afraid she’d see it so I ran upstairs, but I couldn’t get the ring off and then
“Who, dear? Who came along?”
Mabel sniffed again. “Sid Barrett. He saw me tugging at the ring and he helped me. It hurt, but he did get it off. He said he’d put the ring back in the kitchen. But then he told me I had to take some jewels from one of the guest rooms to thank him, or he’d tell Mrs. Chubb I stole the ring.”
She started crying in earnest. “I didn’t want to, but he said I would go to p-prison and I got scared so I took them, but then I was afraid to go back there in case he made me do it again.”
“Oh, dear.” Cecily sat back. “Well, Mabel, I think you have been rather foolish. You should have told someone instead of doing what Sidney Barrett asked you to do.”
“I didn’t think anyone would believe me.” Mabel dabbed at her eyes with Samuel’s handkerchief.
Cecily got up from the chair. “I would like you to come back to the Pennyfoot with me now, and we’ll get all this sorted out.”
Mabel looked frightened. “I don’t want to go back. He frightens me.”
Cecily took her arm. “I promise you, he will not bother you again. But I need you to come back with me now so you can tell your story to a gentleman who will take care of Sidney Barrett, and then you will never have to see him again.”
Mabel still hung back, her face drawn with anxiety. “But what about the jewels? Will I have to go to prison?”
“I think we can settle things with Lady Roslyn, once she hears what really happened. As for Mrs. Chubb’s ring, Sidney stole that, not you. The best thing for you to do is come back with me and get all this sorted out.”
Finally the maid nodded.
Cecily waited while she fetched her coat from the wardrobe and then led the way down the stairs to the entrance.
The woman who had let them in came forward as they approached the front door. Apparently noticing the maid’s tear-stained face, she asked anxiously, “Is everything all right, Mabel?”
“Quite all right, Mrs. Thomas. Thank you.” Mabel managed a frail smile. “I’ll be going to work now.”
The woman still looked doubtful, but stood back to let them pass.
Once outside, Cecily felt that she could breathe again. Mabel still looked frightened, and Cecily tried to reassure her as they traveled back along the Esplanade.
“I’m sure Lady Roslyn will be understanding once we explain everything to her.” She tucked her scarf more securely around her neck against the chill wind. “Rest assured I won’t let you go to prison.”
Mabel sat hunched on the seat, and seemed unconvinced by Cecily’s remarks.
She would have to talk to Archie Parker the moment they got back, Cecily told herself. The sooner they got this matter settled, the better.
The walls of the Pennyfoot came into view as they rounded the curve, resplendent in the weak morning sun. The mist was gradually disappearing, allowing a blue sky to emerge above the ocean. It was going to be a lovely evening for the carol singing ceremony. As they approached the country club, Cecily caught sight of two figures leaving through the back gates. She recognized Sid Barrett at once, then smothered a gasp when she saw his companion.
He was leading the young woman by the hand, and as she turned her face to the street Cecily saw her quite clearly. It was Gloria Johnson.
Closer and closer Gertie crept, her gaze firmly fixed on the shadowy figure of the man waiting for her, her muscles tensed to make a dash for it at the slightest hint of danger.
“There it is! What do you think?” Clive pointed up into the branches above his head, but Gertie never took her eyes off him.
She was closer now, close enough to see his face. He was smiling, his eyes sparkling, his voice eager as she drew even nearer.
“It took me a few evenings to finish it. I had to work in the rain to get it done. I was worried it wouldn’t be finished in time, but I made it.”
In spite of herself, she glanced up, wondering what the heck he was talking about. And then she saw it.
It was beautiful-sturdy and picturesque, with a roof and a window and a railing to hold onto-every child’s dream. The most perfect structure she had ever seen. Now she understood. Now she knew why he was late that night and why he was soaking wet. He had come out here in the woods, in the cold snow and rain, to build her children a tree house.
“It’s a Christmas present for the twins.” He looked at her, his voice anxious now. “Do you think they’ll like it?”
Once more an unfamiliar tear slid down her cheek. Dan wasn’t the only man who could make her cry. “They will love it,” she said, her voice breaking. “They will bloody love it.” In a rush of gratitude, she reached up and planted a kiss on his cheek. “You’re a good man, Clive Russell. Thank you.”
She stepped back, digging in her apron pocket for her handkerchief. When she looked at Clive again his cheeks burned, and he avoided her gaze.
He looked down at his feet instead, and cleared his throat. “You’d better be getting back inside. I don’t want to
