He frowned. ‘I see. It appears that my daughter is too quick to jump to conclusions. Would you like me to have a word with her?’

Miss Wood shook her head. ‘No, I think that may only make matters worse. For some reason, Miss Miranda seems to have taken a dislike to Ruby, although I have found her to be a very willing little worker. I am only telling you what occurred in case you should hear it from someone else.’

‘You did quite right, thank you, Serena.’ Miss Wood had worked for him and his wife since soon after they were married and had proved herself to be invaluable. She ran the house like clockwork and nothing was ever too much trouble for her, so over the years they had grown to be familiar with each other when out of earshot of the other staff. ‘I appreciate you keeping me informed but it might be as well if you don’t mention this to Lydia. You know what she’s like, she’ll only blame Ruby, even though the ring is safe.’

‘Of course.’ Miss Wood inclined her head and left the room, but once in the corridor her hand rose to her throat. Once, a long time ago, she had been engaged to be married but sadly her fiancé had met with an accident and been killed, so soon after she had taken on the job of housekeeper to the newly-wed couple. Oscar and Lydia had seemed so happy at the start but things had changed drastically when Lydia had discovered she was to have a child and their marriage seemed to have spiralled downhill ever since. Looking back, Serena couldn’t remember when it was that she had first started to develop feelings for him, yet now it seemed as if she had loved him forever, although she knew that nothing could ever come of it. Oscar was loyal and even though his marriage was now a farce, Serena Wood knew that he would never leave his wife. Even so, it was enough just to be near him and to try and make his life as comfortable as she possibly could. After taking a deep breath to compose herself she hurried along to the kitchen to discuss the day’s menus with Cook, but she had an awful feeling that things weren’t over with Miranda and Ruby yet, not by a long shot. Miranda was a vindictive little madam and one way or another Miss Wood was sure she would find a way to make Ruby suffer.

*

‘So what’s this I hear about that little maid stealing Miranda’s ring?’ Lydia Pembroke asked her husband later that day when she finally decided to come down to the drawing room for an hour or two.