The Baffling Burglaries of Bath by Leighann Dobbs

Author:Leighann Dobbs [Dobbs, Leighann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Another theft.

“When? Where?”

Harriet caught Katherine’s hand and dragged her down the street, past the Sydney Hotel. Wayland followed, keeping pace at an easy lope while Harriet babbled.

“It happened over an hour ago just down the street… or at least I think it did. You see, we don’t know when it truly happened, for Mrs. Quicke wasn’t home to find her jewels missing, and she’s only just returned an hour ago. I’ve searched everywhere for you. I even ran down to the baths in case you were with Lyle in the Pump Room! I knew you’d want to be the first person to investigate the scene of the crime, lest something be disturbed. But it’s taken so long to find you—”

Katherine dug in her heels and pulled her maid to a stop. “Harriet! Take a breath. You’re turning purple.”

As the other woman gasped for air, Katherine turned her. She bracketed Harriet’s shoulders in her hands and schooled her to breathe evenly. When the maid seemed a bit less panicked, Katherine spoke calmly.

“Let’s go through this slowly, now. Mrs. Quicke is the victim?”

Harriet nodded. “Her jewels were taken from the townhouse she rents on Sydney Place.”

That was a good start. “Has she said which jewels?”

“The citrines. I don’t know what, precisely, or from where in the house. You may have to learn that from her.”

Katherine nodded. “And this occurred an hour ago?”

“So she thinks. The thief only took her citrines, so she’s been saying that her return must have frightened him away from the other jewels.”

“Where is Mrs. Quicke’s townhouse?”

“This way.” Harriet turned on her heel, this time not leading Katherine by the hand. She and Wayland hastened in the maid’s wake, even though their destination became apparent before too long.

It seemed as though every gossip in Bath had amassed outside Number 10 Sydney Place. The growing crowd drew the attention of passersby, who invariably slowed or stopped to learn more about the disturbance. The Marquess of Bath waded into the thick of the crowd, reassuring everyone he passed that the authorities had the matter well in hand and they had nothing to worry about.

As Katherine drew closer to him, hoping to discover what he knew about the theft, Lady Dalhousie’s loud laments drowned out any hope she had of gaining Lord Bath’s attention.

“Why her? My necklace is worth far more than a few paltry citrines!”

Katherine groaned. Thankfully, the sound was devoured by more of Lady Dalhousie’s mournful bragging. As if all of Bath didn’t already know the origin and worth of her necklace!

Lady Dalhousie was rivalled in her enthusiasm by only one person — a hysterical Mrs. Quicke. The woman, no more than ten years older than Katherine, was far removed from her usual elegant, composed demeanor. Wisps of her hair had escaped her coiffure, thrown up in all directions as if the strands couldn’t decide how best to free themselves. The woman’s fingers dug into Katherine’s arm as she stumbled into her path.

“Oh, Lady Katherine, the worst has happened!”

She, at the very least, did not seem the least bit pleased to have been robbed.

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