“It seems to me, Miss Nichols, that you are taking it upon yourself to do entirely too much investigating,” Mrs. Leeds said cuttingly. “This isn’t your home and you’re not a relative of Jacob Winters.”
“And unless I’m sadly mistaken there are others here who are similarly situated!” Penny retorted.
“Do you mean to suggest that Alicia and I are not related to Jacob Winters?”
“I’m not suggesting anything,” Penny replied evenly. “However, since you brought up the matter of an investigation, I might ask you about that paper which I saw you burn in the living room fireplace.”
Mrs. Leeds’ face changed color and she grew confused.
“Why, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know well enough, but we’ll let it pass for the time being. Come on, Rosanna.”
The two girls walked down the hall and entered their own room, closing the door firmly behind them.
“You held your own with her that time,” Rosanna chuckled. “My, I wish I could talk up to people the way you can.”
“I talk entirely too much. But she made me provoked when she accused us of causing all the disturbance in this house.”