His mother was furious about something and arguing fiercely with her husband. Gilbert was standing there with a stunned expression on his face, not able to believe that his usually calm and pleasant wife could explode like this.Matt went over to his brothers, who were standing by the window looking equally surprised.‘What’s going on?’ he asked. ‘Our parents never argue.’Luke pulled a face. ‘They are now. Father’s handled the situation badly, and he’s not going to be allowed to get away with it this time.’‘What situation?’John then explained about the theft, the new housemaid who had been dismissed, and the expensive items found in the under housemaid’s case. ‘She ran up to her room, grabbed her case and left the house while Mother and Father were still arguing about it. Mrs Douglas tried to catch up with her, but it was too late.’‘She stole them?’ Matt was appalled. He’d rather liked the quiet young girl.‘No.’ Luke shook his head. ‘She insisted that they belonged to her, but Father dismissed her as a thief without any proof.
