Chapter 38
“Of course. Men – what are they even good for, anyway?”
The two women burst out laughing, then, still in high spirits, threw themselves into tidying up the mansion, already fantasizing about the perfect day to move into their new home.
Ivy returned home humming a cheerful tune. Both Rosetta and Emma were in the living room.
As soon as she saw her eldest daughter, Rosetta put on her stern motherly face. “Ivy, if you’re not feeling well, why do you keep running around outside? Can’t you just stay home for once?”
Without even glancing back, Ivy tossed out, “I just don’t want to get in your way around here.”
Rosetta fell silent, lips pressed tight.
Ivy walked straight to her tiny maid’s room, dropped her backpack on the table, sat on the edge of the bed, and slipped off her shoes.
Casually glancing over her shoulder, she noticed a book by her pillow – it looked like someone had touched it. She distinctly remembered smoothing the bookmark’s tassel that morning, tucking it in neatly when she made the bed. Now the tassel was tangled, the bookmark askew.
Had someone come in again? Even rifled through her bed?
A cold prick of suspicion ran through Ivy. She jumped up, yanked back the covers, half-expecting to find something nasty – like the last time.
Thankfully, the sheets were clean. Still, she was on high alert, checking the bed thoroughly, even lifting the pillow.
And there, beneath the pillow, something caught her eye, halting her breath.
Well, well. She’d half-joked to herself earlier that Emma would stoop to anything to drive her out.
Looks like she’d called it. But this? This was just childish.
Ivy let out a cold laugh, picked up the two little items hidden under her pillow, and, feigning ignorance, waited for Emma’s next move.
She expected Emma to pounce the moment she got home.
Surprisingly, Emma kept her cool.
Not until after dinner, when the whole Windsor family had settled in for the evening, did Emma make her move. She headed upstairs, waited a few minutes, then suddenly called out from the second-floor landing, “Mom, have you seen my necklace?”
Rosetta called up from below, “What necklace?”
“The one Micah gave me – the ruby pendant.”
“Didn’t you keep it in your jewelry box?”
“I did, but now it’s gone!”
Back in her cramped room, Ivy heard every word through the thin walls. She just smiled, flipping serenely through her finance textbook as if nothing was amiss.
Upstairs, Rosetta rushed to help her youngest daughter search. They tore the place apart. Nothing.
“That necklace was Micah’s promise gift! I’m supposed to wear it to the party with him tomorrow…” Emma’s face scrunched up in distress as she paced in circles.
“That’s odd. How could it just vanish in the house?” Rosetta muttered.
“Mom…” Emma suddenly stopped, a look of realization crossing her face. “Could it have been Ivy? Last time, she mentioned she liked that necklace and asked if I’d give it to her.”
Rosetta’s eyes narrowed, considering. After a couple seconds of tense silence, she spun on her heel. “You’re right. It has to be her.”
Emma’s lips curled in a sly, satisfied smile as she hurried after her mother, feigning concern. “Mom, don’t be upset… Let’s just ask her, okay? What if we’re wrong and end up blaming Ivy for nothing?”
Rosetta shook her head, storming toward the maid’s room. “There’s no mistake. She was home all day yesterday.”
Last night, the rest of them had dinner at Micah’s house. They didn’t get back until after nine. Ivy had the house all to herself. Plenty of opportunity.
Emma was inwardly triumphant, but kept up the worried act. “Even if we find out it was her, what can we do? It’ll only make everyone miserable.”
“That’s not the point! If she really stole it, she’s leaving. I won’t tolerate it another day!” Rosetta, bristling with righteous anger, marched straight to the maid’s room on the first floor.