Straw in the Wind

by Janet Woods

  A prolonged rumble of thunder set off a harmonious hum around them as she gazed out of the window, and there was a muted jangle of noise, of metal jiggled in the drawers, wood rubbing against wood and the crystal in the lampshades offering up a melodious tinkling tune. Her palm pressed against the window glass absorbing the vibrations as she looked outside.

  The ground was covered in a thick mush of ice, except for around the oak tree.

  ‘I think the oak tree was struck. The tree seems to be intact, but the trunk is scorched and there’s smoke coming from it. There’s steam rising from the ground, too. The heat must have melted the hailstones.’ Her glance went beyond the tree. ‘The seat has been thrown across the garden and it resembles firewood.’

  Oscar came in, carrying Finch’s jacket. ‘Ah, there you are, sir. You’d better put this on since it’s become quite cold. The oak tree has been struck by lightning.’

  ‘Thank you, Oscar. After the storm has passed over would you help Joseph and Thomas check for any damage. I think we’ve lost a few tiles . . . check the attics for leaks and we’ll put containers to catch the water.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘And Oscar, we’re going to clear out this room and remove my late wife’s portrait from the drawing room downstairs, since I want the future Mrs Leighton to feel welcome in her new home and secure in her role as mistress here. I’d be obliged if you’d give the ladies a hand. I’ll want it done before Serafina is claimed by Mr Chapman and goes off to discover herself.’

  It was an odd way of putting it, but true on both counts, Serafina thought. She was hoping Adam would claim her and that she would discover herself. For a moment she allowed herself to imagine the moment when she met the man Adam thought was her father, and a little chill went through her. If only she was as self-contained as people seemed to think she was.

  What if this sea captain didn’t like her and he denounced her as an imposter? If he did there would be no sisters and she’d be sent away and forgotten about. No, not forgotten, because the abandoned infant had always been a skeleton in their family closet. Adam would then look for another young woman to fit into the family mould – and that might be her friend, who was dead and buried as Mary Fenn. Did her childhood memories really belong to her, or did they come through Mary during the childhood games they played, when being a mysterious orphan had seemed so romantic?

  Would Mr Leighton allow her to come back here? And what about Adam . . . he might decide she was not worth knowing after all? How could she stay here when Adam was bound to visit his sister often . . . and with each visit her heart would break into a thousand pieces?

  Panic hit her again and her heart began to pound.

  What her eyes had seen and ignored before, suddenly came to the forefront. Diana Milson’s diamond ring was missing from the table and the bracelet and pendant were gone.

  ‘Mrs Leighton’s jewellery?’

  ‘What about it, Serafina?’

  ‘The jewellery . . . have you moved it, sir? The ring, bracelet and ruby pendant have gone.’

  He reached out to explore the empty spaces, his touch so delicate that he didn’t even disturb the dust. ‘I haven’t moved anything . . . when did you last see it?’

  ‘The last time I was in here . . . when you told me not to come in here again.’

  ‘And you haven’t been in here since?’

  ‘No, sir.’

  ‘Are you sure? Oscar found the key to this room in my bedside table. I was going to ask you about it; I thought you must have been in here, even though I told you not to.’

  ‘No, and it isn’t my key. I keep that in that little treasure box you gave me.’

  He shook his head. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course, I’m sure . . . it was there an hour ago when I read the letter inside it – one that Mr Chapman brought me from Marianne Thornton. Shall I fetch it?’

  ‘No . . . Oscar will.’

  It pained Serafina that he didn’t trust her to fetch it herself and although she could understand it, a lump filled her throat. She tried to keep the hurt from her voice when she said, ‘It’s amongst my books on the shelf, Oscar.’

  He was back a few seconds later with the box. Serafina opened it. ‘Here’s the key to the room, here’s the note, and there’s the purse you gave me with the money in . . . my wages from Reverend Pawley.’

  Serafina looked on, bewildered when Oscar opened the embroidered purse, and said, ‘The purse contains two of Mrs Milson’s handkerchiefs, with her initials embroidered on them, and there’s something hard inside them.’

  He shook the handkerchief open and the ring tumbled back on to the table, nearly settling into the same spot from where it had been taken. A flash of lightning found its core and sent a myriad of cold gleams twisting from its heart as it rocked back and forth.

  If it had a heart, Serafina thought morosely. She’d read somewhere that the diamond was the hardest natural substance known to man. Serafina’s own heart plunged suddenly, as though a void had opened up underneath her. Her hand sought out the bedpost for support and she whispered, ‘You think I stole it, don’t you?’

  Finch Leighton gave a tired sigh. ‘I don’t know what to think at the moment.’

  Serafina couldn’t think of anything convincing to say, except, ‘I didn’t put the ring there, and I’d like to point out that my money has gone. Only three of us knew that the money was in there.’

  ‘Is the tortoiseshell jewellery box still there?’

  ‘Yes, sir . . . and so are the pearls.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ve never looked inside the box, so I don’t know what’s in there.’

  ‘There’s an inventory in my late wife’s desk drawer,’ Finch said, and he opened the drawer and took out a satchel with papers in. He handed it to Oscar. ‘Damn and blast it to hell, Oscar! Nothing like this has happened before. I shall have to ask the constabulary to investigate.’

  Oscar suggested limply, ‘Perhaps it was a jackdaw.’

  There was a flare of hope in Serafina, then it fled and she said miserably, ‘I doubt if a jackdaw would have wrapped the ring in a handkerchief, flown into my sitting room and placed it inside a purse in the secret box. Besides, how would it have got in, when the window here has been closed tight all this time?’

  ‘She’s right. It was taken from this room and placed there. But where is the rest of the jewellery?’

  There was a moment of charged silence, then Finch said, ‘As soon as the storm dies down you’d best go and fetch the constables, Oscar. They will want to take statements from the staff and search some of the rooms. They will soon get to the bottom of it, no doubt. In the meantime you’d better go and find something to do, Miss Finn. Oscar and I will go through the inventory and make a list of anything else that might be missing.’

  ‘I didn’t take that ring . . . I promise . . . I wouldn’t do anything like that.’

  ‘I haven’t accused you, but you must agree that someone did, and that the affair does have to be investigated. In the meantime get on with your work. Hand Oscar the key to this room if you would, then leave us.’

  The joy seemed to drain from Serafina as she left.

  The house was plunged into an atmosphere of gloom when it was discovered that there was more of the jewellery missing; several rings, a gold snake bracelet with a ruby eye that went with the pendant, and several brooches and earrings.

  They were all interviewed, including Giles, Jassy and Oscar, and the newcomer, Thomas. A search was made of their belongings. Nothing turned up.

  Serafina was singled out for special attention, and the constables didn’t seem that interested in the fact that her money had been stolen too, until Mr Leighton suggested, ‘It’s possible that the ring slid off the thief’s finger after he’d stolen the money, when he was padding the purse with the handkerchiefs.’

  Finch Leighton spent an hour or so shut away with the constables, while Serafina gnawed on her nails. She had a feeling that she was about to be arrested and c
harged.

  Instead, she was called in, and a stern-faced constable said, ‘I believe we have enough evidence to charge you with the theft of the jewellery, Miss Finn. However, Mr Leighton has decided not to press charges at this time. We will still be pursuing evidence, so if you have anything to tell us I suggest you do so now, and save us a lot of work.’

  Gazing at her employer, she whispered, ‘I didn’t steal it . . . why don’t they believe me?’

  Fourteen

  When Adam arrived at Leighton Manor he was called into Finch’s sitting room, and informed of what had taken place.

  After a while anger replaced his initial shock. ‘You think Serafina has stolen it . . . that’s nonsense.’

  ‘There’s no other explanation, Adam.’

  ‘Of course there is, there has got to be . . . you just haven’t found it, and the constables are pursuing the easiest and most obvious suspect. Where is Serafina?’

  ‘She’s either in her rooms, or doing the laundry work, or perhaps she’s gone up to the woods. She avoids me and only comes out to clean when I’m out. I feel so guilty when I run into her. Maggie and Fanny are looking after me. Maggie won’t hear a word against her, and Fanny keeps snivelling. Even Oscar has a disapproving tone in his voice. Damn it, Adam. It’s not my fault that this has happened.’

  ‘Isn’t it? If the jewellery hadn’t been left in plain view to tempt people, it wouldn’t have been stolen. How do you know I didn’t take it while I was here?’

  ‘Did you?’

  ‘No . . . but if I had I wouldn’t have hidden it in Serafina’s purse, or in a storage box disguised as a book . . . especially one that you’d given her, since it would be the first place you would have looked for it. Didn’t you wonder about that?’

  ‘Wonder about it?’

  ‘For God’s sake, Finch, stop being so bloody obtuse! You’re a barrister, soon to be a magistrate. Where’s your brain? The person who stole the jewellery could have borne Serafina a grudge.’

  Colour touched the man’s face. ‘Don’t think I haven’t considered that aspect. Serafina said she cannot think of anyone. I did have the feeling there’s something she’s not telling the constables though.’

  Heaving in a steadying breath Adam asked him, ‘Do you intend to have her charged?’

  ‘No . . . but I won’t be able to keep her on here now. It was going to be impossible anyway, since Celia likes her and deals with her as a friend rather than an employee. My fault; I grew up here and was always closer to the staff as a result. Joseph taught me to ride. Maggie was employed when I was about ten and at boarding school. I used to look forward to the holidays so I could fatten up on her cooking. My staff in London are much more formal, and I’ve decided that it would be too awkward for my wife and housekeeper to be close friends.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t think you need to worry too much about that,’ Adam said with a reluctant smile. After all, if all went well, Serafina and Celia would eventually be on an equal footing.

  ‘The constables are still making enquiries, but they haven’t found anything yet. They tell me that they’ve given a list of the missing jewellery to local gem dealers in case it was sold.’

  ‘Serafina wouldn’t have been that stupid, as to sell it locally.’

  ‘That’s what I keep telling myself.’ Finch placed his head in his hands and groaned. ‘I keep going through it.’

  ‘Go through it again for me.’

  ‘Serafina wanted to clean my former wife’s room the moment she arrived here, and she more or less told me that keeping it as a shrine was macabre.’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘I know, but she was the first person who had the guts to tell me so. When I met your sister and fell in love with her, I realized how right Serafina had been about what I was doing to myself. She quoted Edgar Allen Poe at me, you know,’ and he gave a faint smile. ‘We had some wonderful conversations. She has a good mind that seems to absorb everything, like Celia, I suppose, though Serafina argues from an instinctive emotional standpoint, while Celia is more logical in her reasoning.’

  Noting Finch’s tone of voice Adam leaned forward and touched his wrist. ‘You don’t have to tell me about Celia. I’ve known her all my life. When did you notice that the jewellery was missing?’

  ‘I’d decided that it wouldn’t be fair to Celia to keep the room as it was any longer. Serafina found me in there watching the storm from the window. I was giving her instructions about cleaning the room out when she noticed the jewellery was missing. It was lying about the room before, you see, as Diana had left it on that day. She was untidy.’

  ‘Your late wife didn’t take it with her to the station, then. I find that odd.’

  ‘I never gave it much thought. Diana left the house in a fury of passion and without any luggage, so she could catch up with her friends. Most of her belongings were in the London house, anyway, and I was instructed to send the rest on. I wish I’d put my foot down and stopped her from going now.’

  ‘Your former wife sounds as though she was unstoppable,’ Adam said, trying not to feel sorry for the man.

  The smile he gave was wry. ‘I was a fool, and Diana was wilful and demanding, but it’s no good castigating myself about it now. Many a man has been taken in by a pretty face and lived to regret it.’

  Adam smiled and said, ‘By your expression this is the first time you’ve admitted it to yourself.’

  ‘It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud. That’s something Serafina taught me . . . to live my life in the present instead of the past. I can’t believe she would steal from me, yet . . .?’

  ‘Yet?’

  ‘Oscar fetched the treasure box that she kept in her room, and he found one of the rings in there. It was a ring Serafina had admired before, not very expensive, but a pretty stone. I’d decided to give the jewellery to my late wife’s niece. Diana had promised Jane Milson she could have it if anything happened to her, or so Jane said.’ There was uncertainty in his voice now.

  ‘What is it, Finch?’

  ‘I’d forgotten that Jane had wanted to borrow some of the jewellery just before Christmas. She specifically asked for a sapphire set, and that is missing from the jewellery box.’

  ‘Then before you do anything else, you might suggest that the constables look further afield, perhaps while Serafina is away meeting her family.’

  ‘I think I would prefer to keep this matter private. If she’s involved in this, Jane will bow under pressure. Freddie has a sly way of getting around things though, and he was sent packing by Serafina as I recall. I sent Oscar after Freddie to rescue Serafina when I realized what his intentions were, and he said she’d managed quite nicely on her own. Apparently she’d stabbed Freddie with a fork. She doesn’t encourage liberties, which is why she lost her last job. She slapped the son of the house, I’m given to believe.’

  Giving a smile Adam remembered the delightful laugh Serafina had given after he’d kissed her. She hadn’t minded the liberty he’d taken with her.

  ‘I was going to ask you not to bring Serafina back here,’ Finch said. ‘I intend to offer one of my London staff the position.’

  ‘Does Serafina know?’

  Finch looked ashamed. ‘I was hoping you’d tell her.’

  ‘What did you expect me to do with her, leave her at the railway station like a piece of abandoned luggage? Hasn’t she been through that before?’

  ‘You’re too fond of her to do that. I thought her family might give her a home.’

  ‘If they are her family.’

  ‘It’s a cowardly way of doing things, I know.’

  Adam decided that Finch needed hauling over the coals a little. He said brutally, ‘It’s like leaving an unwanted puppy in the middle of nowhere to starve, hoping someone else will happen along and take pity on it. Serafina needs stability in her life. She thought she’d found it here, and this will tear her apart.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Serafina holds you in high esteem; you’re like a father figure to h
er.’

  Finch winced. ‘I suppose I could just slide into that age group if I had to. I didn’t want Serafina’s fate to become the cause of dissent between Celia and myself. Your sister is fond of her.’

  ‘I doubt if Celia would think any the less of you since she’s quite capable of understanding the position you find yourself in.’

  ‘What else can I do, Adam? If you’ve got a solution, let me hear it.’

  ‘I have a vested interest in this, and I think you know exactly what that might be, which is why I can’t help solve the problem for you. But I will think of a way to let both you and Serafina down lightly. If I were you, I wouldn’t let the matter drop though. I’d pursue it privately and make sure that all avenues are covered until you discover the truth – for your own peace of mind if no one else’s.’

  ‘Rest assured, I’ll take that advice.’

  ‘Allow me to ask you something, Finch. Do you honestly think Serafina stole the jewellery?’

  He reflected for a moment, then said, ‘My heart tells me it’s something she wouldn’t stoop to. I desperately want to believe that.’

  ‘Good, then I’d be obliged if you’d let her know that before we leave in the morning, so it doesn’t weigh too heavily on her mind. May I see her now?’

  ‘Of course you may. Try her sitting room first; she spends a lot of time alone there now. If you happen to run into Oscar send him to me if you would. If not before, I’ll see you at dinner then, Adam, though I warn you, the atmosphere is barely tolerable in the house since this business started.’

  The door to Serafina’s sitting room was ajar. She was seated in a chair with a book in her lap, but she wasn’t reading it, she was staring at the wall. Her down-turned mouth and the abject misery in her face shocked him. She seemed to be drained of spirit. The flames in her eyes were dulled, her shoulders slumped.

  ‘Serafina.’

  She turned towards the sound of his voice, her eyes still filled with her thoughts. A smile of welcome fleetingly touched her lips, then fled as she stood and faced him. Coming aware that he’d been told of the charge against her, she buried her face in her hands and whispered in a voice so quiet that he strained to hear her, ‘Adam . . . I didn’t expect to see you after what has happened. I feel so ashamed because people will think I’m a thief. I don’t know what to do.’