Chapter 44 Emergency bell

When Hazel went back to her room, she started packing her things in her bag. Even though the Duke had refused her, she had to leave now more than ever that things were taking another turn. Later when she had packed most of the things, she left for the bathroom so that she could have a bath.

It was around evening hours the following day while all servants were immersed in their work when Rosalie excluded herself from others and she tiptoed towards the direction of the rooms in the manor that were rarely used.

Reaching a specific room which was forbidden to all servants, she turned the knob and when it opened, she heaved a sigh of relief. Stepping inside, her eyes greedily took in the expensive jewelry pieces that filled the room. Having no time to waste, she walked to one specific set of jewelry that was in the center of the room and she reached for the necklace before removing it. She then picked other random pieces before placing them in the sheet she had brought with her and she then ran out of the room.

The day ended without anyone finding out what had happened and finally, morning arrived.

Hazel was alone in the kitchen while cleaning utensils with her thoughts far away. It was the day they were going for Treadstone with Lucas as agreed. The only thing she was waiting for was the time they had agreed to meet from where they were going to set off. She wondered if the Duke was around since he knew that it was today on which they were leaving.

A while later, Charlotte came in and she looked around before saying," The Duke has just left." "Really?" she asked. "Hmm. I saw him leaving in his carriage," she informed and she nodded. She knew that she had to be relieved, but somewhere it saddened her that he had given up on her.

"I'm going to miss you," said Charlotte.

Looking at her, she said," I will miss you more. Don't worry I will be writing to you."

"And I will be waiting to receive them," she replied and just then, they heard a ringing of the bell.

Charlotte paused and said," The emergency bell!" "What's that?" asked Hazel who didn't know what it was about.

"Something serious happened in the Manor and they need us all gathered in the main hall immediately," Charlotte informed. "What? What could have happened?" asked Hazel. "I don't know. Let's go right now and see what happened," she said and they walked towards the main hall and on their way, they found a number of servants walking in the direction.

Reaching, they found many of the workers that had gathered and Mr Cooper who was standing at the front accompanied by the guards, with a grim expression on his face. The atmosphere was tense and small murmurings could be heard in the audience as each person was wondering what had happened. "What could have happened?" asked Emily. "Who knows?" replied Rosalie glancing at Hazel.

"Silence everyone!" came the strong and firm voice of the butler and all the voices dulled down, leaving absolute silence in the hall.

"There's a problem. The manor was infiltrated by a thief who sneaked into the jewelry room," he said scanning all of them and he added," The heirloom of the great late Duchess was stolen," gasps with murmurs filled the atmosphere at the revelation.

Rosalie hadn't expected them to find out this soon, but the sooner the better, she thought.

"Silence!" he spoke again. "If you know that you have it, come out now and your punishment will be reduced," he remarked and silence once again filled the room.

A few minutes later, he said," No one? I am giving you the last chance. I have sent for the magistrate and he must be on his way right now. Confess before it is too late."

When no one stepped forward, he said," Alright then. The guards are in each of your rooms searching everywhere."

"Who could have done such a thing?" asked Charlotte. "It might be an outsider. Someone who doesn't work here," thought Hazel. "Then he might have been in cahoots with someone who works here," she said and Hazel nodded. "It must be one of the new workers. This has never happened in the past," said Rosalie. "You have a point," agreed Emily.

A long while later, several guards came back from the servants' quarters saying that they couldn't find anything. Mr Cooper didn't know what to do next. He had sent a letter to the Duke who had just left to deal with something and he wondered if he had received it. Surely, he knew that the Duke was not going to like the idea of his mother's jewelry piece disappearing. By all means, he had to find it.

"Since we have failed to find- " "Mr Cooper!" came a voice and they all turned to see the guards who came in carrying a certain bag.

Hazel's eyes widened on seeing the bag. Oh no, let it not be hers, she thought. "I think we found it," one guard said when he reached to where Mr Cooper was. Looking inside the bag, he removed the necklace and said," It is the one. Where did you find the bag?!"

"In one of the female servant's room," the other mentioned and Mr Cooper turned to look at the servants. "Who's the owner of this bag?!!"

When he asked the question, Hazel prayed for a miracle to happen because she had no clue of how the jewelry had come to settle in her bag.

Just then, footsteps echoed at the entrance and they turned to see the magistrate who had just arrived. He was a tall man with a round belly and a thin moustache above his upper lip. He also had traces of grey hair mixed with his black hair. "What is happening here?" his authoritative voice rang throughout the hall.

"We've just found the piece in this bag. It belongs to one of them," Cooper replied pointing to the crowd. The magistrate looked at the jewelry piece and then at the servants then said," The owner of this bag should come out this instant!"

Mr Cooper checked in the bag and got out a dress then said," Who's the owner of this dress?"