Free Yield Not To Misfortune (The Underwood Mysteries Book 5) by Suzanne Downes Page A

the bank, but she would not hear of it. It was a very old family heirloom, going back, I think to before poor King Charles lost his head.”
    “But each time it was found again?”
    “Oh yes, she had put it in odd places, but quite obvious – under her mattress, in amongst her clothes, and once in a jar of flour in the kitchen. Each time the house was searched and the necklace found. Then Captain Petch came home on leave and he sat up late drinking with his friends every night or going into to town and carousing with them. Mr Luckhurst remonstrated with him and I’m afraid Rutherford was very rude to him and they had a dreadful row, with accusations flying in both directions.”
    “And then?”
    “Rutherford came in very late and fell asleep on the settee in the drawing room, forgetting to lock the doors. When we woke in the morning the necklace was gone. Of course we imagined Miss Greenhowe had hidden it again, and she kept giggling and saying that they would never find it this time – and of course, as you know, we did not. Mr Luckhurst came and asked her why she thought we wouldn’t find it – she told him that a man had come and put it somewhere safe.”
    “And Mr Luckhurst jumped to the conclusion that the man was Rutherford?”
    “That was not mentioned at first, but then the Captain suddenly came into a lot of money, when his pockets had been let before for many months. The case began to build up against him. The jewels could not be found, he had money, and he had left the house unsecured so that anyone might have walked in. It did not take long for Mr Luckhurst to persuade Miss Greenhowe that the boy had either taken the necklace, or had allowed robbers into the house deliberately, in exchange for a goodly sum.”
    Underwood looked thoughtful, “Captain Petch ran his head into a noose, didn’t he, Miss Fettiplace?”
    She shuddered, “It would indeed have been a noose if they could have found the diamonds and proved he sold them on, but they have never been seen since.”
    “You realize that if we could find the jewels, it would prove Rutherford innocent?”
    She sighed, “Do you think Miss Petch and I haven’t thought of that? Every opportunity we have to search we have done so, but to no avail.”
    “Ah, but you did not then have me on the case,” he told her with a smile. She looked at once more cheerful, “Do you really think you can help, Mr Underwood?”
    “I can only do my poor best,” he answered modestly, “And if I can’t help, then at least we will all know that I did my best, for I assure you I will. Rutherford Petch saved the life of a man I hold very dear. He will not be deserted now in his hour of need.”
    She grasped his hand and held it tight, “I think you are an angel sent from Heaven, Mr Underwood.”
    At that he laughed heartily, “I wish my wife, brother and the rest of my acquaintance had heard that description of me, Miss Fettiplace, for I should very much like to see the look on their faces!”
     
    *

CHAPTER NINE
     
    “Aura Popularis” –Temporary Celebrity
     
     
    There were gasps of shock when Lydia walked into the Pump Rooms in Hanbury Spa, but it was not her face or figure which caused the flutter, nor her notoriety due to the gossip which had swept the town when her possible imposture had been postulated. In a place already ripe for scandal, Lydia Woodforde gave the populace plenty to talk about, for in her wake came an abigail, which was only right, as the young woman was alone in the world, but this was not just any personal maid, but a stunningly beautiful black girl who was very obviously a Barbadian slave.
    Slavery in England had been illegal for some years, but was still the norm in the colonies and whilst cosmopolitan cities such as London and most major sea ports were used to seeing all creeds, colours and nationalities of people walking their streets, in provincial little Hanbury, black faces were as rare as hen’s teeth. Underwood’s manservant