Murder at the Mayfair Hotel (Cleopatra Fox Mysteries #1)- C.J. Archer Page 0,28

nowhere in sight.

“Are they all due to leave today?” I asked.

“No.”

“They’re frightened,” I said.

Flossy shivered and rubbed her arms. “I don’t blame them.”

I put my arm around her. “We’ll be all right. The killer chose Mrs. Warrick for a reason, and now that she has been silenced, he has no reason to strike again.”

She leaned into me. “Thank you, Cleo. You’re probably right. It must be such a comfort being so sensible all the time.”

I smiled, despite myself. “Some say comforting, others say dull.” I looked up to see Mr. Armitage giving me a strange look. The tightness of his features had softened somewhat, but his eyes were still dark beneath the lowered lids.

He strode off to assist his uncle, attempting to talk the guests out of their early departure.

“I don’t feel like going for a walk now,” Flossy muttered.

“I don’t particularly want to pass those journalists either,” I admitted. “Besides, it’s raining.”

She sighed. “I have an hour before I ought to get ready.”

“Are we dining together again?” I asked, not quite sure if it was a regular event for the family.

“Oh, I am sorry, Cleo, I forgot to tell you.” She nibbled on her lower lip and frowned prettily. “I’m dining out with Mother and Father tonight. Friends of my parents came to London for Christmas and this was the only evening they had free. It was arranged ages ago, probably before we even knew you were coming. Mother and Father want me to marry their son, you see. They’ve been trying to throw me into his path for a while now, but haven’t managed it until this invitation arrived.”

“That sounds painful,” I said, smiling.

“Oh, it is. Very painful indeed. He’s so awkward and a terrible bore. I tried to get out of it by feigning a headache but mother is insisting and told me she’ll drag me along, no matter what.” She sighed. “I wish you were coming with me so I had someone amusing to talk to. The first time I met him, he spoke all evening about an archaeological dig he’d been on. He loves antiquities.”

It sounded quite interesting to me, but I suspected she didn’t want to hear that so I merely nodded sympathetically. “And Floyd?”

“You won’t see him. The moment we leave, he’ll be off too. Don’t tell Father, though. I suspect Floyd has told him he’ll be here all evening keeping an eye on things. Not that it’s necessary, with Mr. Armitage always present after his uncle leaves of an evening, but Father likes to think Floyd is in control when he’s not here. So what shall we do for an hour?” she finished.

“Read? Write letters?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Perhaps I’ll start getting ready early.”

Harmony’s face appeared around the corner near the stairs. Spying me, she signaled me to join her.

“I think I’ll see what books are in the library,” I said to Flossy.

We walked together to the lift where I left Flossy and headed to the main sitting room that contained the hotel’s library. I waited, dismissing the waiter who asked if I wanted to take a seat, and watched while Flossy got into the lift. As soon as the door closed, I retraced my steps and joined Harmony near the staircase.

“Come to the parlor,” she said. “There’s something you should know.”

“There’s something you should know too,” I said, following her. “I’ve decided to continue investigating. But don’t tell anyone.”

She didn’t break her stride as we made our way to the staff parlor. “I thought you would change your mind, but I didn’t think you’d change it until you heard what I have to tell you.”

“What do you have to tell me?”

She pushed open the door to reveal Victor the cook perched on the edge of a table, flipping his knife in the air. “Victor!” she snapped. “You’re not in the kitchen now.”

Victor slotted the knife into his belt in one continuous motion.

“You’re very skilled with it,” I told him.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “I am.”

“Did you learn to do that here?”

“Nope. Found my first knife when I was a boy and taught myself some tricks.”

“Found?” Harmony made a scoffing sound. “Stole it, more likely.”

Victor merely crossed his legs at the ankles and regarded her coolly.

She thrust out her chin. “We have terrible news, Miss Fox. Danny was arrested. They’ve put him in prison!”

“A holding cell at Scotland Yard,” Victor clarified.

“It’s the same thing.”

“No, it ain’t.”

Harmony turned her back to him. “I’m so glad you’ve decided to investigate, after all.