The missing brooch

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

Alice discovered that her brooch was missing as she reached the lending library. The brooch might have fallen anywhere along the crowded street, but there was no time to retrace her steps before the doors opened. She took her place behind the desk and began returning volumes to their shelves. Each time a gilt title caught the light, her hand flew to the empty place at her collar before she could prevent it.