Page 108 of Murder at the Mayfair Hotel

“I have. I’ll use my savings to set myself up.” He turned to his mother. “I want to do this. I’ve realized I like investigating, and I’m quite good at it.”

“Modest too,” I muttered into my teacup.

Mr. Armitage’s jaw hardened. “Did you say something, Miss Fox?”

“I said it was me who discovered the murderer.”

He gave me a tight smile. “I found the silverware thief.”

“I believe I discovered the final piece of that puzzle.”

“Youhelped, Miss Fox.”

I smiled back. “I’m rather good at helping, aren’t I? And didn’t we just agree a few days ago that we make an excellent team?”

His gaze narrowed. “What are you getting at?”

I softened my smile and turned it onto his mother. “I think the private detective business is a wonderful notion. While Mr. Armitage made an excellent assistant manager, he needed to step out from his uncle’s shadow. And, if I’m honest, he always struck me as someone who shouldn’t be taking orders. He should be the one to give them, and if he begins his own business and hires assistants, then he’ll be manager of his own empire, not someone else’s.”

“I know you’re buttering me up, Miss Fox,” she said, not unkindly. “But it so happens that I agree with your assessment of Harry’s character. I’ve always thought he could be so much more than manager forthatfellow.” Too late, she realized the fellow she was referring to was my uncle. She blushed but did not apologize.

I pretended not to notice. “It’s a new century,” I said. “It’s the right time for beginning a new adventure. And becoming a private detective is much better than joining the army.”

Her eyes widened in alarm. “The army! Good lord, Harry, don’t you dare.”

“So you agree it’s a good idea?” he asked her.

She got up and patted his cheek. “I do, as long as your father agrees.”

The inspector put his hands in the air. “I think it’s already been decided.”

It would seem the decision maker in their relationship was Mrs. Hobart, and their son knew it.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, Miss Fox, I have dinner to prepare,” she said.

I assisted her to pick up the teacups and placed them on the tray then handed the tray to her. “Thank you for the pleasant afternoon, Mrs. Hobart.”

The inspector rose after his wife left. “Nicely done, Miss Fox. Nicely done.”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

“Human nature.” He tapped the side of his nose. “Harry, see Miss Fox to the door. I’d better talk to your mother.”

Mr. Armitage signaled for me to walk ahead of him into the hallway. “I feel as though I owe you a debt for convincing my mother,” he said as he reached for my coat on the stand by the front door.

Nowthatwas what I wanted to hear. “In that case—"

“But if you try to call in the debt, I’ll be reminding you that you cost me my position at The Mayfair.” He handed me my coat but did not let go. He leaned down and spoke in a low voice. “We’re even.”

He let go of the coat, smiled tightly, and opened the door.

I took the hint and stepped over the threshold. He closed the door behind me.

I walked off, feeling lighter than I had since my grandmother’s death. He hadn’t slammed the door in my face, so that was a good sign. Now all I had to do was convince him I’d make an excellent assistant in his new venture.

No, not assistant. A co-investigator. We could call ourselves Armitage and Fox Investigations. I’d let him think his name was first because he was a man, but in truth, it was simply because A came before F. His pride wouldn’t let it be the other way around.

Yes, Armitage and Fox Investigations had a nice ring to it. Now all I had to do was convince him and my family that it was a marvelous idea for me to join him.