Page 28 of Murder at the Debutante Ballby

Floyd dragged his hand through his hair. “If my father finds out—”

“He won’t, because you won’t tell him,” I said.

Flossy joined us and poked her finger into her brother’s chest. “Don’t you dare say a word to him.”

“I won’t, but…why, Cleo? I understand why you wanted to solve the dressmaker’s murder. You found the body and the culprit was on the loose. But this time, the police have someone in custody. There’s no point to you digging about further.”

“Detective Inspector Hobart has confided to us that he’s not convinced the man they have is the murderer.”

“‘Us?’” Floyd frowned as he connected the dots. He knew D.I. Hobart was Harry’s father, and that Harry had become a private detective. It was a short leap from there to the correct conclusion. “You’re working with Armitage, aren’t you? Bloody hell, Cleo. You know Father loathes him.”

I bristled. “This doesn’t concern you, Floyd. Please step aside.”

“It does concern me. You’re my cousin.” He moved out of the way, however, and opened the door for me. “Just be careful. That’s all I ask.”

The concern in his voice dampened my temper. I clasped his arm. “I will be. And Harry is very capable in a situation.”

“I know. That’s why I’m not more concerned for your safety.”

We exchanged small smiles, an understanding passing between us. He would keep silent unless he absolutely had to intervene.

Jonathon couldn’t understand that, however. “You’re just going to let her do it?”

“I can’t stop her,” Floyd said. “If I forbid her, she’ll do it anyway. I’d rather know what she’s up to than be shut out altogether.”

Jonathon shook his head, disappointed. “What if someone finds out?”

“My father isn’t observant enough. He’s too caught up in his own affairs here to notice what one of us is doing.” It was spoken with a healthy dose of bitterness.

I squeezed his arm in sympathy.

Jonathon barreled on. “I don’t mean Sir Ronald. What if someone else finds out? Her reputation will be ruined.”

I huffed out a humorless laugh. “It’s not as though investigating is on par with Amelia’s relationship with Mr. McDonald.”

“Isn’t it? For God’s sake, Cleo! Have a care for your good name!” For someone who wasn’t my relative, he was getting quite worked up about it.

“I fail to see how my business has anything to do with you, Jonathon.”

His gaze leveled with mine. The anger in it quickly faded, replaced with a warmth that I’d hoped never to see. “Do you?”

Flossy’s jaw dropped. Floyd looked down at the floor, pretending he hadn’t heard.

I thought that was the wisest course of action at this juncture. I walked away and headed for the stairs.

Jonathon followed. He fell into step beside me. “Of course, you should do what you want.”

“I will.”

“I only wanted to point out that it’s beneath you, Cleo.”

“That’s a matter of opinion.”

“Yes! Everyone’s opinion! The niece of Sir Ronald Bainbridge can’t go about with a strange man poking her nose into other people’s business.”

I picked up my pace, determined to leave him behind. Unfortunately, he kept up. “Harry isn’t a strange man, and if you don’t think justice is a noble cause, then I have nothing to say to you, Jonathon. Clearly you and I have different ethics as well as opinions.”

“You’re twisting my words.”