Chapter 189

The morning after finding out that there were documents missing from his study, Nathaniel Ashford summoned the senior members of his household staff to the morning room.

He was seated on an armchair, a cup of untouched tea resting on the table near him. The warm sunlight that seeped in offered little comfort to his frigid mood.

His mind was filled with thoughts of his latest discovery. Someone had snuck into his study, managed to break into the compartment that was supposed to remain secure, and made away with documents that could cause him considerable trouble if they fell into the wrong hands.

That must have been how Cassandra acquired evidence against him. How she managed it was undetermined.

He would have been impressed by her level of cunning if it wasn’t presently being used against him.

He had questioned Vivienne and Edmund that day already. Neither had any knowledge of the matter, and he possessed no reason to truly suspect them of betraying him.

That left the servants, a possibility he found no more pleasing.

His butler stood before him alongside the housekeeper, both waiting quietly for their employer to address them

"Several items have gone missing from my study," Nathaniel began, face grim. "I have reason to believe someone within this household may be responsible."

The housekeeper’s face wrinkled with concern. "Missing, my lord?"

"Precisely. I expect the matter to be treated seriously. You will examine the servants’ quarters thoroughly, beginning with the maids’ rooms. No belongings are to be overlooked, and anything suspicious findings must be brought to my attention immediately."

"Yes, my lord." The butler and housekeeper answered in unison.

"I also want to know which of the staff are authorized to enter my study and whether anyone has been behaving unusually lately." Nathanial went on severely. Each word was delivered in a way that left no room for objections. "The maids who clean the room will be questioned, as will anyone else who might have found an opportunity to enter without permission. I will not tolerate theft and dishonesty under my roof."

If one of the servants was responsible, that person must have to be exceptionally bold—or foolish—to believe they could escape his notice.

He intended to discover which.

The butler bowed. "You may rely on us, my lord. We shall conduct the thorough search with all due care."

"See that you do." Nathaniel dismissed them with a curt wave of his hand. As the door closed behind the two senior servants, his wife, who had been seated near the fireplace, turned towards him.

"Is the matter serious enough to warrant a search of the entire servants’ quarters?" Vivienne asked. "You have scarcely mentioned anything beyond your study since last night."

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." Was his reply. A more polite way of telling her to mind her damn business, but no less condescending.

She pressed her lips together. Over the years, she grew accustomed to Nathaniel’s habit of shutting her out whenever something displeased him, but that did not make the dismissal any less insulting.

"Surely you cannot expect me to remain entirely ignorant of what goes on in my own home." She shot back.

"I expect you to occupy yourself with your usual pursuits and leave this matter to me. I shall inform you if there is anything you need to know." He finally picked up his cup of tea, a sign that he was done with the conversation.

---

The female servants were called away from their duties and assembled outside their shared quarters.

They were instructed to stand in a line, with their backs against the wall while the housekeeper and her assistant prepared to search the rooms, with the butler overseeing a similar inspection among the male staff on the other side of the servants’ quarters.

The impromptu search left the household staff in a tizzy. A theft was a serious offense, but the master’s decision to search every servant’s belongings suggested that he suspected one of them was responsible.

No one knew exactly what was missing.

The servants had heard only that Lord Ashford was furious and that every room would be examined.

Ruth stood among the maids, her hands folded neatly before her. She maintained the same composed demeanour she displayed outwardly, even as unease crept beneath her calm exterior.

The missing documents were no longer in her possession; she had delivered them safely to Cassandra already. Nevertheless, she could not dismiss the possibility that she had overlooked something that might connect her to their disappearance.

Had she left a scrap of paper in her luggage? A piece of document she forgot to send out? Anything that might reveal the true purpose of her presence in Ashford House?

She reviewed her recent actions as carefully as she could, recalling each step she had taken and every precaution she had made. Nothing incriminating immediately came to mind, but the uncertainty was an uncomfortable companion, particularly when the consequences of discovery could extend beyond the loss of her position.

Harsher disciplinary actions could be used on her, depending on how furious Lord Ashford was.

Two maids standing nearby whispered to one another but Ruth could still make out what they were saying even though they kept their voices low.

"I have served here for years, and nothing like this has ever happened," one muttered. "Now we are all being treated as criminals."

"The master’s in a dreadful mood," the other replied. "I heard someone say something of great value is missing."

"Valuable or not, I know who I suspect."

"Who?"

"The new maid. Ruth Collins."

Ruth kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, feigning indifference to their whispered conversation.

"Why her?" One of the gossiping maids asked.

"Because everything has changed since she arrived. The master is suspicious of everyone, and now we’re all being searched like common criminals. I would not be surprised if she brought this trouble with her."

Her companion hesitated, evidently uncertain whether she should fuel the accusation, or not. "You cannot know that."

"No, but I know enough to be wary." She huffed. "It’s always one thing or the other with new hires."

Ruth listened to every word. She resisted the urge to glance towards the speakers, knowing that even the smallest reaction might encourage them to watch her more closely.

Their suspicion was inconvenient, but suspicion alone would not condemn her. She had been careful, and she would continue to be careful.

The housekeeper entered the first room with her assistant, and the search began.

They examined trunks, drawers, folded garments and the few personal possessions each maid was permitted to keep. Nothing of interest emerged from the first rooms.

The housekeeper inspected each item meticulously before moving on.

The maids remained outside, growing increasingly anxious as the inspection continued.

Every time a door opened, several pairs of eyes turned towards it. Some wore looks of indignation, others looked apprehensive. A few looked almost hopeful, as though the discovery of a guilty party might spare them further humiliation.

Ruth’s room was among the last to be searched. She shared it with two other maids, and she watched as the housekeeper and her assistant entered, leaving the three occupants outside with the others.

She could do nothing but wait.