Chapter 54: A Thieving Incident
Finished
Sensing the situation might be more complicated than it seemed, Caleb gestured towards the couch. “Please, have a seat. If there’s something you’d like to discuss, let’s talk it through. I’ve already changed my surname–I have no more ties to the Quixall family. That said, I’ll relay your message word for word, nothing omitted.”
A flicker of surprise passed through Norman’s eyes, but he gave a polite nod. “Understood. Since you’ve made it clear you no longer identify with the Quixall name, it would be inappropriate for me to keep addressing you that way. May I ask what name you go by now?”
“Caleb Jenkins, but just Caleb is fine. I’m just an ordinary person now–no need for formalities.” Caleb’s voice was calm, his tone light, with none of the pretension expected from someone with a privileged background.
Norman let out a quiet chuckle. “Then I’ll address you as Mr. Jenkins. After all, you’ve shown me respect, haven’t you? Still, I’m only the butler of the Sherman family–not someone worthy of such politeness. If you treat me too well, I might not know where to place myself.”
Caleb remained silent, his expression unreadable. If Norman were truly as modest as he claimed, the Shermans wouldn’t have sent him alone. This old man has probably served the family for decades. Calling him Phillip Sherman’s right-hand man wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
If Caleb treated him with even a hint of disrespect and Norman took offense, a single word to Phillip would be enough to spell trouble for the entire Quixall family. It was best to tread carefully.
After enough pleasantries had passed, Norman finally got to the point. “To be frank, my visit today is at Mr. Sherman’s request.”
That came as no surprise to Caleb.
Without Phillip’s direct order, no butler–no matter how senior–would show up at the Quixall residence uninvited. That would be overstepping boundaries far too boldly.
He continued to listen. But Norman’s next words struck like a bolt of lightning, ringing in his ears.
“Ms. Sherman lost something recently. At her request, we’ve kept the matter quiet. According to Mrs. Sherman, the only visitors to the mansion before the incident were members of the Quixall family. No one else knew the location of that estate.” Norman said it with a smile, but his tone was razor-sharp beneath the surface. “If you happen to have any information about the missing item’s whereabouts, we hope you’ll come forward. Otherwise, if Mr. Sherman decides to involve the authorities, well… things could get quite uncomfortable for everyone involved. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Caleb clenched his jaw. The warning beneath Norman’s words couldn’t have been clearer.
It was a veiled threat–if he dared protect the culprit, Phillip wouldn’t hesitate to sever ties with the Quixalls. And when that happened, Caleb, already an outsider, would find himself with nowhere to stand in all of Plainstedt.
Háh. This old man is nothing short of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He wears a gentle, polite façade, but with just a few words, he can strip a person bare–down to the bone.
If George had been home, Caleb wouldn’t have bothered engaging with Norman at all. But in his absence, the task had fallen to him.
“Understood, Mr. Langford,” Caleb said with calm sincerity. “Once Mr. and Mrs. Quixall return, I’ll be sure to pass along the message and urge them to get to the bottom of it.”
His tone was measured, respectful–enough to appease Norman.
Norman gave a satisfied nod. “Very well, thank you, Mr. Jenkins. I’ll stop by again this time tomorrow. Hopefully, by then, we’ll have a resolution.”
With that, he rose to leave.
Caleb escorted him all the way to the door of the Quixall residence, maintaining every necessary courtesy before finally turning back toward his room. The visit was done–but the real battle was just beginning.