Danny took himself off to bed after supper, shutting the door behind him, and the two women settled down to mending. The hot night made the task difficult and Adelaide abandoned her efforts. They sat in companionable silence, Adelaide with a book and Netty with one of Danny’s stockings.

They both started at the squeak of the gate and sound of heavy boots on the gravel path.

Netty set down her sewing. ‘Late for a visitor,’ she said.

Adelaide stood up, her heart pounding. What if it was Richard?

She did not open the door at the first loud rap.

‘Who is it?’ she asked through the wood.

‘Constable O’Grady.’

Adelaide unbolted the door, revealing the burly constable on the doorstep. The man pulled his cap off and twisted it in his large, hairy hands.

‘Beg pardon, Mrs Greaves,’ he began after much clearing of his throat. ‘Is Miss Redley at home?’

Adelaide blinked. ‘Netty? Yes, of course. What do you want with her?’

‘Can you fetch her please?’

‘I’m right here,’ Netty said. ‘What do you want, O’Grady?’

O’Grady took a deep breath. ‘Miss Redley, I am here to arrest you.’

Adelaide stepped in front of her maid. ‘Arrest her? Whatever for?’

The constable had the good grace to look unhappy, his eyes sliding sideways. ‘I have information that Miss Redley stole a quantity of jewellery from her last employer.’ O’Grady pulled a notebook from his pocket and leafed through a couple of pages. ‘One Sir Daniel Lewis of Oldfield House in Liverpool.’

Despite the heat, a cold hand clutched at Adelaide’s heart. ‘What do you mean? Who’s laid the charge?’

‘Mr Barnwell,’ O’Grady replied. ‘He has a sworn statement given by the late Sir Daniel Lewis, attesting to the fact that Miss Redley left her employment without giving notice and after her departure, it was discovered that certain items of jewellery, the property of his late wife, were missing.’

Netty and Adelaide exchanged glances.

‘That’s it?’ Adelaide said.

The man shook his head. ‘No. He has a statement from a jeweller in York that Miss Redley sold a ring and bracelet to him, matching the description of two of the missing pieces of jewellery.’

Adelaide drew herself up to her full height. ‘Where are these statements?’

The constable shifted from foot to foot. ‘At the police station, ma’am. They’re evidence.’

‘I want to speak with Sergeant Maidment,’ Adelaide demanded.

‘He’s out bush tonight,’ the unhappy policeman replied.

‘This is ridiculous. You don’t need to arrest Netty. We can resolve this when Sergeant Maidment returns,’ Adelaide said.

‘Beg pardon, ma’am, but I do. There’ll be hell to pay if Miss Redley were to abscond.’

‘Nonsense,’ Netty said. ‘It’s far too late at night to abscond, and where would I go?’