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Norah opened the door, now more sympathetic to when Ella had told her and Lena their father’s journal had been stolen a year ago. That had been a dark day, and several more followed. Would that hold true this time as well?
“Do you have a moment, Ella?” she asked upon seeing her sister sitting at her desk.
“Of course.” Ella set down her pen. “I’ve been writing a few overdue letters.” Her breath caught as she looked at Norah, and she rose to cross to her. “What is it? What’s happened?” She grasped Norah’s hands in hers, her obvious concern bringing a well of emotion bubbling up in Norah.
“I fear I have bad news.” Norah held tight to her sister’s hands, taking comfort in her support and hoping it would continue after she shared what had happened. “Father’s coin has been stolen from the museum.”
“What? Oh, no! How could this have happened?”
In the past, Norah had felt as if Ella could find a solution to any problem set before her. But much like the argument she’d had with her father, Norah knew her older sister couldn’t solve this.
“I met with Simon at the museum to review the results of the unveiling and see how much was raised for the orphanage.” She paused as her stomach clenched again. “We stopped by the exhibit on the way out and noticed the coin was missing.”
“Simon?” Ella asked with a look of surprise. “Are you on such familiar terms with him?”
Norah realized her mistake too late. “I mean Vanbridge, of course.”
“Oh, dear.” Ella’s brow furrowed. “We will return to the issue of just how close you are to the marquess at a later time. The coin was in a locked case, was it not?”
“Yes. The odd thing is that the case wasn’t damaged. Nor was anything else missing except for one of the lanterns.”
“That is strange. Does the marquess have any idea who did it?”
“Not as of yet.” Norah released Ella’s hand to rub her brow where a headache brewed. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have suggested the exhibit, let alone the unveiling. Then we’d still have the coin.”
“Nonsense. This isn’t your fault.” Ella’s lips tightened. “If anything, it is Vanbridge who should’ve taken more care.”
The urge to defend him caught Norah by surprise. But she couldn’t allow Ella to think he was at fault. “He took every possible precaution. He even used replicas of several items and locked up the others.”
“I suppose that’s true.” Yet her sister’s expression suggested she wasn’t completely convinced. “We will see what Leo has to say.”
“He’s the one who recommended I speak with Vanbridge,” Norah felt compelled to point out.
“True. Still, Leo might have a suggestion as to what action we can take.” Ella shook her head. “I can’t believe this is happening again. How terrible.”
“Will you send him a message? He was so helpful the last time we faced this situation.” Norah’s thoughts held on Ella’s remark. Should she have questioned Simon? Should he be at the top of the list of suspects? “Do you truly think we should consider that Vanbridge could be involved?”
Ella lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “We don’t really know him, do we? I mean, he’s a recluse, a bit of an oddity. What if he’s behind this?”
“I have difficulty believing that.” The idea caused Norah to shiver. Could she be so wrong about him?
“Well, after what happened with Father’s journal, don’t you think we should suspect everyone until we know beyond a doubt they’re innocent?”
Norah sighed. She understood Ella’s point. The identity of the person who’d taken the journal had surprised them all.
Though she hated to admit it, Norah tended to trust everyone. Did that make her naïve? Yes. Yet, how could it be wrong to believe the best in others? Then again, she liked to think she’d be the first to act if someone took advantage of her or her sisters.
“I will be anxious to hear what Marbury suggests,” Norah said. If he thought they had any reason to think Simon could be behind this, Norah wouldn’t hesitate to speak her mind to the marquess. Never mind their stirring kiss.
*
The following morning,Simon tossed aside the report Stockton had provided on his interviews with the staff and the state of the other exhibits in the museum. The dry statements weren’t helpful in the least. Supposedly, nobody knew anything, and nothing else was missing other than the clay pot, the coin, and the lantern. Stockton hadn’t noted the clay pot.
What Simon truly wanted to know was who the hell had taken the coin. Of all the exhibits, why did something of Norah’s have to be missing?
He blew out a frustrated breath, then paced the length of his study as he considered what his next step should be.
According to Stockton’s report, not one member on the museum staff of over a dozen could provide any clues. That couldn’t possibly be true. Someone had to know something. It was only a matter of convincing that person to come forward. The lack of damage to the display case meant either a key had been used or someone had picked the lock. Either option suggested someone associated with the museum had to be involved.
