A Gentleman of Worth by Diamond L.L

Author:Diamond, L.L. [Diamond, L.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-05T18:30:00+00:00

Amelia was exhausted! All those years of the housekeeper’s accumulated belongings took far too much time to sort. A missive had been sent to Lizzy and another to her grandmother enquiring of possible housekeepers in their households. No response had arrived as yet.

“Lady Amelia!” Martin bustled in, a silver tray in her hands. “I found this between Mrs. Chapman’s gowns. The Greene crest is engraved in the centre.”

“Lucy, fetch Mr. Franks.” At Amelia’s firm tone, the young maid squeaked and rushed from the room.

When faced with the task of packing the housekeeper’s trunks, she had requested Martin’s help. Who would be better than the maid who had been in her service since she first had need of an abigail of her own. She trusted Martin implicitly, and Martin had brought a young chambermaid as well as a footman to assist her. Since Mrs. Chapman disliked both and treated them with venom, they were all too happy to have a small part in ridding the household of the woman.

The table before her was laden with tea, sugar, and a tin of chocolate. How much had the woman been stealing over the years?

“You wished to see me, my lady?” asked Mr. Franks when he entered.

“Yes, do you recognise this?” She held up the platter Martin had found.

He gasped. “Yes, ma’am. That went missing while you and the master were in Kent. It had been used for dinner the week before, so I thought it had been misplaced.”

“Does that happen often?”

He gave a one-shouldered shrug. “On occasion, but within a few days, whatever is missing usually finds its way back. Three pieces never reappeared: the tray to one of the silver tea services, an ornate gold candelabrum that belonged to the master’s grandmother, and a heavy silver platter the master used for balls.”

“I remember that one,” said the young maid. “That was two years ago. Mrs. Chapman was in a right fury to find it, do you remember?”

“The master only used it that once—for Lady Goderich’s engagement ball. With the house in such a furore over her marriage, the master had little time to worry over it.”

Amelia exhaled heavily and noted the items on a piece of paper. “She may have been deflecting the attention away from her. Since she manages the tea, coffee, and chocolate, it is easier to steal than silver and pieces that would be noted as Mr. Franks obviously has. Pieces missing and reappearing would make the initial disappearance more commonplace, I think. No one would question whether they would reappear, but just wait for it to occur. Three pieces in fifteen years would be unlikely to cause speculation within the household. She was quite clever. We should send for the magistrate, though. I assume Mrs. Chapman is still awaiting her belongings in the mews?”

“Last I saw her,” said Mr. Franks.

“Send James. I am unsure of those who are loyal and will warn her.”

“We can assist with that, my lady,” said Lucy.

“I appreciate all you have done already.”

Not long after Mr.

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