“I received your note, Miss Lilly, after Mother’s death,” Miss Helen said.
Lillian poured hot water into a teapot and placed it on the table, where Archer had laid out cups and saucers, a small pitcher of milk, and a sugar bowl. “Your mother was a kind person, in her own way. I was sorry to hear of her passing.”
“Well, that was long ago. I won’t waste time. I’m here because of that letter. You implied that you had something to tell me, about the circumstances of November 1919.”
“It’s 1966, Helen. What took you so long?”
Miss Helen gulped at the insouciance. Clearly, she’d never been called “Helen” by a servant, current or former. “Well, as you know, Miss Lilly, I had a library to run, as well as having to deal with the transformation of the mansion into the Frick Collection. It was a busy time.”
“Of course.”
“Go ahead, then. You may apologize.”
Lillian cocked her head, her eyes flinty and sharp. “For what?”
“For the trauma you put my family through. I assume that’s why you wrote to me.”
“Well, you’d be wrong. I should think you ought to apologize to me, after what you put me through.”
Miss Helen leaned forward in her chair, itching for a fight. “Two words, dear girl: Richard Danforth.”
At that, Lillian deflated slightly. “That’s true. I am sorry about that. I was young.”
“I thought we were friends. Friends wouldn’t do such a thing to each other.”
“Friends? I worked for you. You were my employer.”
“Fine, I won’t quibble with you. I’m here now because I found something. This.”
She took the cameo out of her purse and placed it on the table.
Lillian let out a small breath. “The cameo.” She reached out and gingerly touched it, but didn’t pick it up. “Where was it?”
“In the enamels room, in a secret compartment in the wall.”
“Of all places? How did you find it?”
Miss Helen waved her hand. “These two came upon it while they were sneaking around the mansion after hours.”
“And the Magnolia diamond?”
“We found that as well.” She opened the cameo to reveal the diamond, which seemed even bigger and more translucent in the bright light of day, before snapping it back shut.
Veronica felt Joshua’s eyes rest on her for a split second before he turned away.
“Who would put the cameo in the enamels room?” asked Lillian.
“I don’t know. I’m assuming you didn’t?”
“Of course I didn’t. I didn’t even know about any hidden spot in the enamels room. You know that.”
“I do,” admitted Miss Helen.
“So someone took it and tucked it away,” said Lillian. “But didn’t steal it.”
“Which is odd.”
“They wanted to punish you, maybe?”
“That could have been one of many people, as I’ve never been well-liked,” said Miss Helen. “Something I’m rather proud of.”
Lillian and Archer exchanged a long look. Veronica couldn’t tell what they were signaling to each other, but after they broke it off, Lillian seemed to brace herself before speaking. “What about your mother’s private secretary?”
“Miss Winnie? No. There’s no reason she’d ever go in there, even when it was Father’s study.”
“Really? Never?”
“Well, I don’t remember. Perhaps once or twice. But she was devoted to the family and would have no reason to betray me in that way. Nor Martha, whom she loved dearly.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Is this what you wanted to tell me in your note? That you thought Miss Winnie was some kind of sick criminal? She never abandoned us, even when things were terrible. When Martha was ill, she was by her side day in and day out. Mother said they’d never had a better nursemaid, and that if only they’d taken her with them on that awful European trip, Martha would never have been allowed to swallow the pin in the first place.”
“Hold on,” said Lillian. “Nursemaid? She was your mother’s secretary.”
“She was originally hired as Martha’s nursemaid. Only after Martha’s death did my mother bring her on as her secretary. She couldn’t bear to lose her, after what they’d gone through together.” She paused. “Not that she was much help. The woman became deaf as a doornail. But my mother needed a companion in her grief, and even more so later, as her depression took hold. Miss Winnie is a saint.” She looked over at Joshua. “Well, that was a waste of a trip.”