Chapter 39
Emma could barely contain her glee at hearing that.
Once they reached the door to the maid’s quarters, Rosetta rapped on it twice – firm, impatient knocks. Without waiting for any reply, she pushed the door open and strode right in.
Ivy was seated at her small desk, still absorbed in a book. She glanced back calmly at her family’s uninvited entrance. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
Emma stood just behind Rosetta, clearly hoping the adults would take the lead in this confrontation.
Rosetta didn’t let her down. Fixing her eldest daughter with a hard stare, she got straight to the point. “Ivy, did you take something that belongs to your sister?”
Ivy swiveled in her chair, briefly meeting Emma’s gaze, her expression genuinely surprised. “Take something? What are you talking about?”
Emma, unable to hold it in any longer, snapped, “Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what you took!”
Ivy rose from her chair, looking honestly confused. “I really don’t. I haven’t taken anything.”
“Mom, she’s still denying it,” Emma said, shooting a pleading look at Rosetta.
Just then, Adkins and Baillie arrived, drawn by the commotion. When Baillie heard that Emma’s precious necklace was missing, he – like everyone else – immediately assumed Ivy was the culprit.
Emma’s eyes filled with tears. “It was Micah’s gift to me. If it’s lost…”
Before she could finish, Baillie tried to comfort her. “We’ll find it. It’s got to be somewhere.”
A few days ago, Baillie had slapped Emma in a fit of anger and had felt guilty about it ever since. Now, eager for a chance to make it up to her, he volunteered, “Let me search the room. We’ll settle this right now.”
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Emma’s face, but she quickly masked it and added, feigning concern, “Be careful… what if it’s not safe?”
“It’s fine. I’ll wear a mask and gloves,” Baillie replied, already rummaging through drawers for surgical gloves and a face mask.
Ivy stood in her little room, feigning annoyance. “You can’t just search my room without my permission.”
Emma shot back with a cold sneer, “What’s wrong, Ivy? Got something to hide?”
Before Ivy could answer, Baillie gently but firmly moved her aside and invaded her cramped space.
The room wasn’t big. He started with the desk drawers, then moved on to the wardrobe, shaking out every article of clothing.
“Try the bed,” Emma called out from the doorway.
Ivy’s lips twisted into a faint, mocking smile.
“Yeah, I know,” Baillie replied, heading to the bed. He stripped off the blankets and pillows, shaking everything out.
But there was nothing to be found.
Emma watched from the doorway, her earlier confidence fading into confusion. She was sure she’d hidden the necklace under the pillow – so where was it? Had Ivy found it and moved it? But as long as it was still in the room, they’d find it eventually. Unless, of course, Ivy had thrown it out.
The thought sent a wave of panic through Emma.
The necklace – a deep crimson ruby – wasn’t just outrageously expensive; it was a symbol of her relationship with Micah, more precious to her than anything else.
To make matters worse, Emma had secretly taken their mother’s heirloom ivory bracelet and hidden it with the necklace, both stashed under the pillow in hopes of incriminating Ivy even further.
If Ivy really had destroyed or gotten rid of both priceless pieces of jewelry, Emma would be in serious trouble.
Seeing that Baillie had turned up nothing, Ivy asked, “Did you find it?”
Baillie shot her a sour look, then glanced back at their parents and Emma in the doorway. He shook his head, frowning. “Nothing.”
Emma’s panic was obvious now. She muttered under her breath, “That can’t be… I know I left it right there.”
Rosetta caught the words. “Emma, what did you say?”
“N–nothing,” Emma stammered, darting a glare at Ivy, her face twisted with fear and resentment. Ivy could see the panic in her sister’s eyes. After all, those two items were worth millions – even for a wealthy family, they were treasures you couldn’t just afford to lose.