Page 94 of Murder at the Debutante Ballby

But they merely nodded at me and kept walking. As they passed, one said to the other in a loud voice, “I find a lady with an education to be dull indeed, don’t you?”

“I do,” the other chimed in, a laugh in his voice. “Not only that, it’s a waste of her time. What could a lady possibly need with all that knowledge?”

I felt Miss Hessing stiffen and was about to tell her to ignore them as I wasn’t bothered with their petty comments, but an extraordinary thing happened. A defense came from an unexpected quarter.

I hadn’t noticed Floyd and Uncle Ronald nearby with a group of gentlemen, some of whom I recognized as hotel guests. My uncle suddenly turned and addressed the rude men who’d snubbed me.

“You’re mistaken, sirs. An intelligent woman is an asset, particularly for a man in business.” He clapped one of them on the shoulder and turned him to face me. “My niece is a prime example. Cleopatra has taken a great interest in the hotel business and made some excellent suggestions for improvement. I value her opinion highly.”

The gentlemen muttered words of half-hearted agreement then extricated themselves from the situation. Uncle Ronald winked at me and returned to his friends who laughed and congratulated him on offering sound advice to the “young pups”.

Floyd strode away.

I couldn’t decide whether to go after him or if that would make him feel worse.

I never made my decision. As he walked off, I spotted Lady Treloar glancing at her watch. She closed its case and slipped out of the ballroom.

I caught Miss Hessing’s hand. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“I need some air.”

“Oh dear. Did those men upset you?”

I steered her through the ballroom, avoiding people I knew who might stop us to talk. More guests milled about in the adjoining room, but I couldn’t see Lady Treloar. There was only one other exit and it led to the staircase. She must be leaving the ball altogether.

If she suspected Harry was going to break into her gallery tonight, she might head there to catch him in the act. The notion wasn’t out of the realms of possibility. She already suspected we were onto her. I had to stop her.

I tugged Miss Hessing along with me to the stairs.

“Are we going out the front door?” she asked. “Why not go onto the balcony? The air will be fresher there on account of the height.”

We reached the landing between the first and ground floors. Just as I was about to step down onto the final flight of stairs, Lady Treloar emerged from the shadows of the large potted palm in the corner. She rushed towards me and, before my gasp had time to escape, shoved me.

I lost my balance and felt myself falling.

Chapter18

With one foot in the air and the other about to lose connection with the floor, all my momentum was propelled forwards. The flight of stairs filled my vision and my heart filled my throat. I could do nothing to break my fall.

With an almighty wrench on my arm, I was jerked back from the precipice. I tumbled into Miss Hessing instead. She wrapped her arms around me, hugging me so fiercely I could hear her thundering heartbeat. I’d been tethered to her tall, solid form by our joined hands.

She gasped. “Miss Fox! Are you all right?”

“I am, thank you. You saved me.” I would thank her properly later. Right now, I had a murderess to stop.

Lady Treloar was getting away. I raced down the stairs after her, but she was too far ahead of me. I’d never reach her. The footman put out a hand to open the door for her.

“Don’t let her leave!” I cried.

The poor man looked confused. He hesitated.

Lady Treloar opened the door herself.

But she did not exit. She stumbled back as a constable and a sergeant barreled inside, followed by a man in plain clothes. I recognized him as a detective who’d worked with D.I. Hobart on previous cases.

“That’s her,” I told him.