Chapter Thirty Four

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the room as Suzy curled up with the last of the books for the Carleton ball. Mrs. Agatha's dismissal had caused a minor ripple in the castle, but things were settling back into a semblance of normalcy. Suzy had seen Mary's dedication and work ethic, so she had recommended her to Mr. Bradford for the vacant housekeeper position. The steward, surprised but relieved to have a reliable replacement, readily agreed.

A satisfied smile played on Suzy's lips as she flipped the final page. The mystery of the missing gold coins and the previous librarian's dismissal was finally solved. A pang of guilt touched her – the man's reputation likely forever tarnished. She vowed to see if anything could be done to rectify that injustice. Ryan, however, hadn't even offered a word on the matter. This silence, this lack of control, rankled Suzy.