Page 97 of Murder at the Debutante Ballby

She drew in a fortifying breath and gave a firm nod. “I will.”

The guests didn’t wantto stay much longer. A public arrest of one of their own and the humiliation of two others were sobering experiences and no one was in the mood for a party. They filed out in a steady stream as carriages pulled up at the front steps.

I smiled at Uncle Ronald as he assisted me into the cabin of our vehicle. “Thank you, Uncle.”

He smiled back. “My pleasure, Cleopatra. It’s what we uncles are for, after all.”

I squeezed between my cousins, somewhat surprised that Floyd was coming home with us. I expected him and Jonathon to make their way to Dutch’s gaming house. It would seem I was wrong.

But I doubted it.

Flossy hugged my arm. “I know it’s cruel to say so, but I’ll say it anyway. The look on her face was the best part of the entire evening.”

I knew she was referring to Lady Bunbury, not Lady Treloar.

“Don’t be smug,” Aunt Lilian said, without any heat. “Smugness in a young lady is unbecoming.”

“Whereas it’s very becoming in an older one,” Floyd quipped.

His mother pursed her lips.

“I’m glad we left when we did,” he went on. “The evening was something of a bore.”

“It had barely begun,” Flossy said. “Honestly, that policeman could have waited until later in the night. I would have liked to dance at least once with that dashing Mr. Fredericks.”

Floyd screwed up his face. “You’re better off not.”

“Why?” his father asked. “What have you heard about him?”

“He gambles.” Floyd held up his hands. “So I hear on the grapevine. Could be mistaken, of course.”

Back at the Mayfair, I suggested they go on ahead of me as I wanted to get a book from the hotel library. Once the lift doors closed on them, however, I doubled back to the foyer and sat in one of the armchairs while I waited.

I waited for over an hour before I was rewarded.

Floyd stopped in front of me. “Is this an ambush?”

I stood. “That depends entirely on your attitude.”

“I don’t have an attitude.”

I laughed.

“What do you want, Cleo?”

“I want you to take me with you.”

“Take you where?”

“Don’t play the fool, Floyd. We both know you’re not one.”

“Thank you,” he said, quite sincerely.

“Take me with you to Dutch’s gaming house or I will find my own way there. I’m sure Phillip knows the location.” I nodded at the night porter who’d kept me company for much of the last hour.

“You can’t come,” Floyd blurted out. “The only women who go to that place are whores.”

I crossed my arms.