Free Pride of the Courtneys by Margaret Dickinson

I think what we must do.’
    I went. But my heart was heavy with misery. No one, save Georgiana, believed me. Lady Courtney and Millicent had probably engineered the whole thing. Charles and Evelyn Corby had remained silent throughout the family quarrel, and no doubt thought me guilty.
    Bassett had admitted he did not know what to think and that was condemnation as far as I was concerned.
    The heavy weight of misery I had felt when first Uncle James had told me I was to live here, grew and grew until I felt it would suffocate me. These were unhappy hours indeed, and I could see no brightness in the future.
    Night closed in and found me still seated before my bedroom window, gazing down across the shadowy lawn to the river. I had watched the sun sink lower and lower and the creeping shadows cover the lawn, the shimmering river grow dark and indistinguishable. Now I could hardly see, could no longer draw comfort from my beloved nature. The earth, the trees, the sky, the river never betrayed man as did his fellow beings. Their beauty remained always, giving pleasure, never seeking to destroy man.
    But was that true? I asked myself. What of floods, droughts and tempests? Were they not the works of Nature against Man in his weakness?
    I sighed. I was certainly alone in my weakness now. Even my brave Georgiana had not come to my room since Bassett had asked me to leave the drawing-room as his mother grew more and more hysterical.
    At last I prepared for bed. Even Mary did not arrive to see if I had all I needed as she usually did. Was I to be ignored, shut away in disgrace?
    I lay in the darkness and thought over the dreadful happening. Sleep was impossible. But I could not decide who was my real enemy. Lady Courtney? Possibly, for if she took the dagger, then it would not, in actual fact, leave the Courtney possession and she would not be inviting disaster to befall them, as would a real thief. Millicent? The same could be said of her. It was doubtful she would remove it from Courtney Hall. She would merely hide it in her room.
    I sat up suddenly. Yes, it would be there, hidden in her room.
    Without stopping to think of the consequences, so sure was I that I would find the dagger, I leapt out of bed, found my wrap and stealthily opened the door.
    It was not late, I knew, and the rest of the household would still be up. I had plenty of time to search Millicent’s room.
    I crept along the dimly lit landings until I came to Millicent’s grand bedroom. I slipped in quietly. I would have to be careful. A maid might come any time to turn back the bed, or Millicent might retire early.
    Though that was unlikely, I thought. She will stay in Bassett’s company as long as possible, no doubt taking great delight in pouring her vicious lies about me into his ears.
    I began to search methodically through the drawers, the wardrobe and even amongst the bedclothes. I turned towards a jewel case on her dressing-table and opened it. It was large enough to hold the dagger.
    I heard a small sound at the door and spun round.
    Someone stood in the doorway holding a candle.
    I had been caught in the act.

Chapter Five
    The candle flickered and I saw Millicent’s gleeful face.
    â€˜So, Miss Thief, we are up to our tricks again, are we?’
    I did not answer—what could I say?
    She turned from the room and called,
    â€˜Bassett, are you there?’
    â€˜Yes, Millicent,’ his deep voice sounded from the hall below.
    â€˜I think you should come here a moment.’
    And we waited, watching each other, whilst his footsteps mounted the long stairs—she, with her smile of triumph, me, knowing I had allowed myself to fall into a trap. There was little I would be able to do now to prove my innocence.
    Bassett appeared in the doorway behind her, and when he saw me, a foolish figure in my nightgown, inadequately covered by my wrap, bare feet, and hair loose and flowing about my shoulders, I heard his startled