Page 14 of Murder at the Mayfair Hotel

“Do you have any mending? I’m very good with a needle and thread.”

“No mending.”

“Would you like me to air out your clothes for the morning?”

“I’ll be wearing this again.”

Her smile slipped a little. “But it’s Christmas Day. Do you have something special to wear?”

“I’ll put some ribbons in my hair.”

“Oh. Well then, perhaps I could help you undress and put on your night clothes.”

“I can do it myself, thank you.”

“What about your hair?” She stepped closer and, thanks to her height, inspected my arrangement from above.

“I can also do my hair myself,” I assured her. “It’s not complicated.”

She sighed.

“I appreciate your offer, Harmony, but there’s really no need to fuss. I’m used to taking care of myself. I’ve never had a maid before.”

“You haven’t? But you’re a Bainbridge.”

“Actually, I’m a Fox. We’re the Bainbridges’ poor relations.” I attempted a laugh but it fell flat when Harmony gave me a blank look. I supposed her notion of poor and mine were quite different, and it wasn’t fair of me to call myself that when I was living in a luxury hotel where she worked.

“I just want to be of use,” she said before I could change the subject. “We don’t have many guests at the moment, and I find myself idle most evenings back at the residence hall. I like to do a little sewing or spot cleaning while we maids chat until bedtime. Some guests require my assistance of an evening, but most ladies bring their own maids. It’ll be busy closer to the ball, of course, but until then…” She shrugged and her darting gaze looked around the room again. Suddenly her face brightened. “I could fix your hair in the morning. Something a little more elaborate.”

I touched my hair. Elaborate had never really been something I could manage on my own, and my grandmother hadn’t been any help. She preferred old fashioned simple styles. Fortunately I rarely attended events that required complicated arrangements.

“Please say yes,” Harmony said. “I can come in after my early duties are accomplished and before I have to clean the rooms.”

“You work long hours.”

“I have two half days off a week, which is more than most maids at country manors. Well? Shall I do your hair each morning? Your cousin has hers done, and Lady Bainbridge too, when she leaves her room.”

“Very well. But only if you don’t have too much work to do. I don’t want to add to your burden.”

She smiled and picked up the ladder. “I’ll see you at eight tomorrow, Christmas morning. Goodnight, Miss Fox. I hope your first night in your new home won’t feel too strange.”

I smiled back. “Thank you, Harmony. I think I’m going to like it here.”

* * *

It was closerto eight-thirty when Harmony knocked on my door in the morning. She rushed in, a little out of breath, her dark eyes huge.

“I’m sorry for my lateness,” she said, a hand to her stomach.

“You look flustered. Is everything all right?”

She shook her head. “Something terrible has happened. Mrs. Warrick from room three-two-four died overnight.”

“How awful. What did she die of?”

“That’s the terrible thing. They’re saying she was murdered.”

Chapter 3