“There, there,” he said, masterfully throwing an arm around the shoulders of each of the ladies. “Don’t take on so about it. I’ll straighten this matter out in a minute for you. Just leave everything to me.”
“Oh, Ronald,” Iris murmured gratefully.
“We’re in such a muddle,” Azalea added, “and we don’t want to falsely accuse any one.”
“Of course not. Just let me handle this in my own way. Now, Cora and Henry are old servants, aren’t they?”
“Cora is the daughter of our former dressmaker,” Azalea explained. “She and her husband have been with us several years now.”
“Years! And how long have you known Doris Force and her friend?”
“Why, we never met them until a few days ago,” Iris answered reluctantly.
Ronald nodded in grim satisfaction.
“There you are!”
“You accuse your own cousin—” Iris began, but Ronald interrupted her.