Page 79 of Murder at the Mayfair Hotel

She laughed, but when I didn’t join in, she blinked at me. “You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

“But…” She frowned and seemed to be grappling with the concept. To be fair, it must be an idea she’d never entertained. Perhaps she didn’t even know shecouldentertain it. “But there’s nothing wrong with you, Cleo. You might not come with a dowry, but a man with his own fortune will overlook that.”

I pressed my lips together to stop my smile from breaking free.

She patted my arm. “I’ll introduce you to some gentlemen tonight. Floyd has some friends who are in line to inherit. One or two are even good company.”

“I’m not going to the ball.”

Her pout returned. “Oh, Cleo, do change your mind. It’s not too late.”

I didn’t want to argue with her so I remained quiet.

“Isn’t that Mr. Hobart’s brother, the detective?” she asked.

I followed her gaze to see the detective inspector and another man arrive. The two Hobart brothers exchanged words, which left the hotel manager frowning. They approached me together. I excused myself from Flossy and met them halfway.

“Good morning, Miss Fox.” There was nothing friendly about the inspector’s businesslike manner. “The message that was left for me said you have information regarding the murder.”

“I think so,” I said. “Thank you for coming.”

“You can’t talk about that out here.” Mr. Hobart glanced around. “Go into my office. Quickly now, before Lady Bainbridge sees you. I can’t have her informing Sir Ronald.”

The inspector regarded his brother. “You don’t want me here solving your murder?”

“It is notmymurder. And no, I don’t want you here. Not on the day of the ball. There’s too much to do, and if the guests find out the police are here, it’ll remind them of the incident.”

“Perhaps they ought to be reminded. There is a murderer here, after all.”

“We don’t know that. He could have been one of the guests who checked out.”

“I doubt that.”

Did he mean he doubted the murderer had left, or that it was a guest at all? If not a guest, then he must suspect a staff member. Even more reason to present him with my evidence against Mr. Hookly.

Mr. Hobart stiffened. “You may speak with Miss Fox in my office.”

“Can you join us?” I wasn’t quite sure whether I was asking because I wanted him to hear what I had to say about Mr. Hookly, or whether I wanted someone capable of deflecting the inspector’s ire.

“Of course, but only for five minutes. I have a lot of work to do.”

“If only you had an assistant,” the inspector muttered.

The barb stung, just as he’d intended. It would seem neither of Mr. Armitage’s parents would forgive me for what I’d done. I was glad I wouldn’t be seeing them again after this investigation was over.

“Stephen,” Mr. Hobart chided.

The inspector indicated that his brother should lead the way.

The second policeman followed and closed the door behind us. He stood in front of it while the inspector sat in his brother’s chair. Mr. Hobart remained standing while I sat on the guest chair.

“What do you want to tell me, Miss Fox?” the inspector asked.

“First of all, I wish to apologize for being responsible for Mr. Armitage losing his position here. I plan to make it up to him by pressing my uncle to give him back his position.”

“Harry won’t accept it.”