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frowned. Jewel thief? Her hand went to her throat.
    Minette squeezed her hand. “Calm down. Hannah, Jake, and James held him at bay while Papa went for help. And your mother’s amethysts are none the worse for having been stuffed into his pocket,” Minette added. “Papa has them.”
    “Here, my dear.” Mrs. Beauvais approached and set a tea tray on the table beside the divan. When Hannah moved to get up and serve, Mrs. Beauvais waved her away. “It seems to me you’ve earned a moment to sit and have a cup of tea yourself, Mrs. Pike.” She chuckled even as she shook her head. “Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Donovan titled his news article ‘Notorious Jewel Thief Captured by Curtain Rod.’ ” She poured a cup of tea and offered it to Hannah.
    For the first time, Fannie realized that both she and Hannah were still dressed in their nightclothes. Hastily offered shawls notwithstanding, Fannie felt her cheeks blaze anew. Minette lifted her own teacup in a toast. “You’re going to be famous.”
    “For what? Fainting? If anyone deserves fame it’s Hannah.” She nodded at the dog. “And Jake.” When the old dog lifted his head and thudded the floor with his tail, Fannie spoke to him. “What would it take to get you to stand guard next door every night?” The dog tilted his head as if pondering the question. “I’d pay you in beefsteaks.”
    Mr. Beauvais strode into the room. “You don’t need a guard,” he said. “St. Charles is far from being a haven for the criminal elements. The thief seemed truly terrified. In fact, he expressed concern for your well-being when we all realized you’d fainted. Had he known the house was inhabited, he probably wouldn’t have stepped inside.”
    He thought the house was uninhabited? It looks that bad? Fannie looked over at Hannah. “How did you get down those stairs so quietly?”
    “I don’t rightly know,” Hannah said as she settled her cup and saucer back on Mrs. Beauvais’s silver serving tray. “I suppose the Lord undertook the problem of my knees.”
    “Yes. Well.” Fannie took a deep breath. “I’m thankful the Lord undertook the problem, and I’m going to undertake the problem, as well. We are going to get you a new room. On the main floor. No more stairs.”
    Mr. Beauvais took a small pouch out of his waistcoat pocket, nodding as he handed it over. “Monetary value aside, I imagine these are far too precious for you to contemplate losing them. I’d suggest you gather up your mother’s jewels and ask Mr. Vandekamp to keep them in his safe.” He cleared his throat. “You’d do well to do the same with any cash that might still be in the house.”
    Fannie nodded. With trembling fingers, she untied the ribbon and opened the pouch. With more confidence than she felt, she said, “Thank you. I guess it’s time I grew into the life I’ve been handed.” Whatever that means. She paused. “I’ll gather Mother’s jewelry first thing in the morning. And Papa’s cashbox.”
    “Let me know when you’re ready to make the transfer and I’ll drive you to the bank,” Mr. Beauvais said. “And now, if you ladies will excuse me, James and I are to meet the sheriff to assist with a thorough search of your house, including the attic. I’ll come back ’round after we’ve finished.” He hesitated. “Unless you ladies would rather stay here for the night, in which case I’ll just lock the house and bring you the key.”
    Fannie longed to once again be a girl sleeping beneath the roof of a home with a father and mother in charge. But she shook her head. “Thank you, but no. We’ll go back as soon as you’ve checked things.” She did her best to sound brave.

    Fannie woke with a start. Sunlight poured through her bedroom windows. What time was it? She’d only managed to fall asleep after bracing her dressing table chair beneath the doorknob. Even then, she’d slept fitfully, newly aware of every sound, imagined or real. Had the house always