Edith had only been searching for a few seconds before she caught sight of two people wearing blue. They were conversing in a small group against the wall, unaware of being singled out by the pertinacious young lady who was now walking quickly toward them. Mr. Darling's steps faltered, as if in his mind he was having a hard time deciding which was worse: leaving Edith unattended, or assisting in accosting complete strangers. In the end, he decided that the former was worse, and he caught up with Edith, though he kept his eyes away from the people to whom she spoke.

"Hello, friends," Edith said to address them. The entire group turned to her in curiosity and some surprise. She smiled as charmingly as she could. "I am sorry to intrude, but I have come to you for help. My name is Edith Curtis, and since you do not know me, I will inform you that I am one always on the hunt for tasteful fashion."

Mr. Darling let out a small grunt and stared at the floor.

"Well, my dear, what help could we give you?" a matron with a plump, friendly face asked.

"The color blue has recently sparked my fancy," Edith replied. "I selected a fabric from the store that I thought would look well, but I wanted to make certain. I saw your lovely outfits..." She gestured to the two wearing blue, a tall woman and a white-haired gentleman. "...and I wanted to see how my fabric's shade compared to yours."

"You wish to compare colors?" the old gentleman asked, bemused.

"Yes, my dear sir. And what is your name?"

"Why, Sir Joseph, Miss," he said, placing his hands on his embroidered lapels.

"It is very nice to meet you." She turned to the tall lady. "And you?"

The lady's eyes shifted. "I am Madame Franke."

"It is wonderful to make both of your acquaintances. Now, I ask, may I see if my fabric is quite close to yours?"

Sir Joseph nodded, laughing. "Compare away!"

Edith revealed the blue thread and held it up to the man's sleeve, looking closely to see how similar the colors were. She took note that they were indeed very similar.

"Why did you only bring such a small sampling?" Sir Joseph joked good-naturedly. "Why not a larger swatch? It would make it a great deal easier, one would think."

Edith smiled steadily. "I did not want to harm the cloth much, just in case I wished to return it. Now, Madame Franke, may I?"

Madame Franke seemed reluctant, but she nodded. "By all means."

Edith repeated the same with her, again noting that the lady's dress was very nearly the same color. She drew back and nodded at the whole group. "I see that the colors are very close. Since your clothes look so superb, I have no doubt but that I chose the best shade. Thank you kindly."

Mr. Darling and a few members of the group seemed to think Edith would then leave, but she had no such thing in mind. She turned her eyes to Sir Joseph and asked amiably, "Have you been enjoying the ball so far?"

Mr. Darling stiffened with embarrassment. It was not common for him to easily show signs of discomposure, but as Edith asked questions of these people, then searched out others wearing blue and questioned them likewise, he found himself holding his breath by accident, wiping his dampened brow often, and shaking slightly.

Edith's search was almost complete when he voiced his discomfort. "I am afraid that talking to people in this way is putting a bit of a strain upon me," he said. "Have you not learned enough?"

Edith did not look at him. Instead, her eyes scanned the party for any blue that she had missed. "I have learned thus far that many people are wearing blue. Of this number, the ones whose shades match are Madame Franke, Sir Joseph, the Misses Scheldt and Montrose, Mrs. Grover, Mr. Amsworth, Mr. Fabiola, Frederica, Mr. Jesse, and our own Mr. Moreland. Of these, the ones, whose whereabouts at the time have so far been confirmed, are Madame Franke, Sir Joseph, the Misses Scheldt and Montrose, Mrs. Grover, Mr. Jesse, and Mr. Moreland. Mr. Fabiola says that he was dancing with Margarite at the time of the theft, which can be easily confirmed or disproved if we find Margarite. We may ask Annabelle if Frederica was indeed with her at the time. And Mr. Amsworth's dubious story about not being present can be checked with any member of the guard who monitors those who have entered and left." She took a breath and smiled. "I have learned much, but not yet enough. I need to question others still, and also see that there are no more blue guests who have escaped my notice."

Mr. Darling shook his head, beginning to smile. "Your powers are truly inestimable."

Edith did not know how to respond, so she was glad when she saw Margarite talking at the center of a large gathering of people. She quickly pointed her out to Mr. Darling and walked over.

Margarite was engaged in a lively conversation, but she instantly broke off when she saw Edith approaching. "Edith, dear!" she exclaimed, smiling profusely. "I am so glad to see you! Do you see all these lovely friends I have made? Would you like me to introduce them to you?"

Edith politely declined. "Perhaps another time. I came to ask you a question."

Margarite's fan fluttered in her hand as she laughed. "Ask whatever you want, as long as it's not too scandalous!" The crowd around her laughed with her.

"Did you meet a Mr. Fabiola this evening?"

She giggled lightly, her eyes shining. "Yes, I did. I even danced with him. But Edith! You have become just like Mr. Darling, I say. Always making it a duty to keep record of my engagements!"

Edith and Mr. Darling exchanged glances. "I only talked to him, that's all," she replied. "He mentioned that he had danced with you, and I was interested."

"He told you about me?" Margarite asked, her casual air lessening. "What did he say?"

"He said you were the best partner he'd ever had. He was very generous in his praises of your beauty and your sense of humor."

The fan increased in speed. Margarite threw joking glances at the people around her. "Well is that not lovely of him? What a sweet gesture."

"He also said you were dancing when Mademoiselle Alouette entered the ball," Edith said, coming to her point.

"Yes, and it quite ruined the number for us," Margarite complained with a pouting lip. "Though that was slightly remedied, since we danced the next few together. But I would have liked her to interrupt the party during a different song. I was so enjoying that waltz."

Edith nodded. She had all the information that she needed, and from it, she resolved that Mr. Fabiola was no longer a suspect. That left Mr. Amsworth and Frederica. She felt a flutter of excitement. She was very close.

"Edith, you look strange," Margarite said, interrupting the thought.

Her attention snapped back to her friend's questioning eyes. "Strange?"

"You look very excited and distracted," Margarite continued, then added with a sly grin, "Are you thinking of a man?" She and her group of admirers laughed heartily.

Edith flushed, then shook her head. "No, Margarite...I..." She let out a sigh. "I shall leave you to your companions. I have somewhere else to be." She left quickly, and Mr. Darling caught up soon afterward.

"Margarite is so silly sometimes," Edith huffed.

"Indeed," Mr. Darling agreed.

"It's seems almost childish to be thinking about a man when there is something as important as the theft to think about!"

"Certainly."

"I..." Edith was walking, but she suddenly stopped when she realized she had no idea where she was going. "Now that girl has confused me! What was I going to do next?"

"Ask Annabelle about her friend's alibi, or a guard about Amsworth's?" Mr. Darling suggested.

"Yes, of course!" Edith's mind cleared immediately. "I am so close! I am certain there are no more people wearing blue at this ball; it can only be one of them."

Mr. Darling began to nod, but stopped when his eyes caught on something. He sighed. "Miss Curtis, I believe you have missed one."

Edith looked at what held his attention and saw Lord Raymond, some distance away, still looking handsome in his blue coat, walking toward them. "Oh," she said absently. "Of course, him too. Why did I not remember that?"

"Could he be a possible suspect?" Mr. Darling whispered, his voice edged with disgust.

"I suppose so." Edith wondered if she had truly danced and spoken with the crown thief. She did not wish it to be so. Besides, there were still two other suspects.

Mr. Darling watched the lord approach with growing concern. "What do you think he wants?" he asked.

"I did promise him another dance," Edith said lightly. "He has clearly noticed me; perhaps he has come to take it now."

Mr. Darling turned wide eyes at her. "You would still dance with him? Even now that there's a chance--"

"There are two other suspects, Mr. Darling," Edith cut in, her eyes moving back to Raymond.

"And only three in all! Those are not good chances."

"Then what shall I do if he asks me to dance?" Edith said with some frustration.

"Tell him you have already accepted an offer, from me."

"That wouldn't work! I already promised him long ago..."

"Good evening, Miss Curtis," Raymond said, startling both of them slightly. They had begun to converse in intense whispers, so Edith was at least comforted that he had likely not overheard.

She smiled at him warmly. "Good evening, Lord Raymond."

Raymond sent a smile to Mr. Darling before addressing her again. "The party has been surprisingly dull without your company, though I suppose I shouldn't say 'surprisingly'; I fully expected it. And how has it been for you? Did they treat you well?"

Edith realized he was alluding to the servant who had pulled her away before. "Yes, just fine. They had found a handbag and were told that it was mine. I only had to see it to tell them it was not."

"And what have you been doing the rest of this time?"

"Spending it with friends," Edith said, glancing at Mr. Darling.

"Ah, yes." Raymond shifted on his feet. "I would do the same, but I am afraid I know no one whose company quite compares to yours."

Edith smiled. "I am honored."

"Speaking of which," Raymond said, holding out a hand to her. "Would you do me the honor of another dance?"

"Don't," Mr. Darling said in a volume that only Edith could hear.

She showed no sign of hearing it. "I did promise."

Raymond's smile grew delighted, and Edith allowed him to lead her out to the dance floor.