The boy nodded slowly, understanding dawning. “But they weren’t in the right places, then!”
“You’re right. They got mixed up. Always check. Just ta be sure.”
Grayson pointed toward the pair. “There’s the stable master. I’d bet on it.”
Henrietta smoothed her skirts. “Perfect.”
Grayson followed her, and the stable master saw them almost immediately. He bowed. “Lord Rigsby. Miss Blake. Should I have your mounts readied and brought round?”
Grayson paused, allowing Henrietta to speak first, to lead the way, but she cast a waiting look up at him, so he filled the silence. “Not at the moment, unfortunately. We’ve come on different business. We’re looking for a stable hand named Jack.”
The stable master frowned and scratched his neck. “What’s he done?”
“Nothing at all,” Henrietta rushed to inform him. She smiled her most comforting smile. “We’re looking for something lost and were told Jack might know how to find it.”
The stable master looked skeptical, but turned to yell over his shoulder, “Jack!”
A young man in the very last stall shot upward and trotted across the space. “Yes, Mr. Covins?”
“Lord Rigsby and Miss Blake would like ta speak with ya.” Mr. Covins wagged his finger at the young man. “Answer tha truth to whatever they ask.”
Jack cast a nervous glance at Grayson, and Grayson tried to smile as comforting as Henrietta always did. But the giant gulp that bobbed in Jack’s throat suggested he’d not succeeded.
Thankfully, Henrietta stepped forward. “Hello, Jack, we spoke this afternoon with your friend up at the house—Annie. A lovely girl.”
“Annie,” Jack hissed, his eyebrows lowering. He swung a wild gaze their way. “Annie don’t know nothin’, dumb—”
“Annie didn’t want to tell us. She wouldn’t have said a word on her own.” Henrietta rushed to cover up any insult he intended to throw the maid’s way.
“It’s true,” Grayson supplied. “But we assured her we want information about the necklace. Nothing more. We wish to know what happened.”
Henrietta shook her head furtively and laid her palms open to the ceiling. “We merely seek closure to a mystery, not retaliation on any party.”
Jack eyed them suspiciously.
Would the young man never come around? He didn’t have all day, and frankly, there were other mysteries Grayson wished to discover. The whereabouts of the necklace had taken a hit in terms of importance, especially now that it seemed lost for good. “Jack, listen.” He tried to keep the huff of frustration from his voice, but the annoyed glance Henrietta sliced his way told him he’d not succeeded. “You are a valuable employee here, but I know how much even valued employees are paid. If misfortune visits your family …” Grayson shook his head. “It may not be enough. Now, Annie says whoever took the necklace had good motive, and that sounds like a story I’d like to hear.”
Beside him, Henrietta nodded enthusiastically. “Me as well. Tell us a story, Jack. Nothing more.”
Jack’s eyes slid around the room in all directions before centering on Henrietta. He’d direct his confidence her way, then. No wonder. She inspired trust. “It wasn’t me. It was my brother. He don’t work here always, just during the house party as a groom. Last year, we needed all the blunt we could get. Our Da broke his leg and couldn’t work.” He lowered his voice. “One day, during the party, this lady comes galloping up to the stables, and Walter—me brother—rushes out to help her. As she slides from this horse, this fal-lal slides from her neck and gets caught on the saddle. Walt was gonna give it back, honest. ‘Miss,’ he says, to get her attention. But she whips around and glares enough to cut his head clean off. ‘Lady Somethin’ or Other,’ she snaps at ’im.” Jack’s lip curled in disgust.
Grayson leaned back with a sigh. Clearly, Lady Somethin’ or Other was not Henrietta, which meant the necklace Jack’s brother stole was not the Devonmere heirloom.
“What did the necklace look like?” Henrietta asked.
Jack snorted. “You’d know, wouldn’t you, if you’re looking fer it.”
Henrietta smiled, all patience and good humor. “Humor us, please, Jack.”
Jack rolled his eyes and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “A big bauble, all diamonds and rubies. We didn’t sell it. Wanted to, but Ma said it wasn’t right. ’Sides, I hear they can trace that thing back ta ya. I made Walt give it to me, and Annie left it up at the house, hidden in a corner of the lady’s room. Never heard nothin’ about it after that. Don’t know if they found it or not.”
Henrietta’s fingers brushed against his elbow, requesting his attention.
Grayson gave it to her gladly.
“It’s not your necklace.”
He nodded his agreement then turned to Jack. “Thank you for the story. It will go no further than us two, I swear it.”
