Murder at the Mayfair Hotel (Cleopatra Fox Mysteries #1)- C.J. Archer Page 0,63

mistaken. Or that I made it up.”

“You’re forgetting that my uncle already confessed,” Mr. Armitage said. “The truth of the matter is, I am a convicted felon, and Uncle Alfred knew it and still hired me. Sir Ronald won’t forgive that.”

“He might.”

“You haven’t been here long enough to know, but you’ll learn he never backs down from a decision. Not for anyone. Not even when his own family begs him.”

“Harry,” Mr. Hobart said, sharper this time. “Don’t take your anger out on her. She was only doing what she thought was best.”

Mr. Armitage’s nostrils flared and his chest rose and fell with his deep breaths.

“I have to try anyway,” I said. “I have to fix this.”

Mr. Hobart nodded.

“I truly am very sorry,” I went on. “I let my imagination run away with me and…” I did not go on. My excuses were pathetic and could not adequately account for my actions.

“Since you enjoy playing detective, you can take over where I left off in the case of the missing silverware,” Mr. Armitage said through a hard smile. “But forgive me if I don’t hand over the evidence I’ve already gathered. I don’t feel inclined to help you.”

Mr. Hobart shook his head. “I will leave everything we’ve learned about the thefts thus far in the top drawer.”

I nodded and thanked him. “I hope this is not goodbye,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

I left only to find Mr. Armitage following me out. I stopped, not because he blocked my path or held me back, but because I deserved whatever angry words he wanted to fling at me away from his uncle. I steeled myself.

“I thought you were different to them,” he said, voice low and harsh. “But I see you’re the same.”

I shook my head, not quite following. “I’m sorry you think this was a result of whatever prejudice you assume I have against you, but I can assure you, this is purely a result of me thinking you were a murderer. You might not believe it, but I had everyone’s best interests at heart.”

His jaw hardened. “I don’t care for myself. I’ll find other work. But this hotel is my uncle’s whole life. He has given decades of devoted service to Sir Ronald, and yet he is being thrown away like a piece of rubbish for making one mistake years ago. The worst of it is that everyone will think he was dismissed for something heinous; his reputation will be ruined. But I challenge you to find anyone who thinks giving a boy a second chance is a crime worthy of dismissal after decades of loyalty.”

Every word was like a twist of the knife in my gut. It took all of my willpower not to let the tears burning my eyes to fall.

“Harry,” Mr. Hobart said from the doorway. “Don’t say something you’ll later regret.”

Mr. Armitage marched off to his own office and slammed the door.

“He doesn’t mean what he says,” Mr. Hobart told me.

I blinked back tears. “Yes, he does.”

I took several moments to compose myself before returning to the foyer. There were few guests about and none seemed to be aware of the turmoil that had befallen the hotel. The front of house staff, however, looked worried.

“Harmony’s in the parlor,” Goliath told me as I passed him. “She wants to speak to you.”

I wanted to retire to my room to avoid them all, but I had to face everyone at some point. Goliath followed me to the staff parlor where Harmony, Edith and Victor sat. The women nursed cups of tea while Victor tossed his knife up and caught it. They turned forlorn and troubled gazes upon me.

“Edith and I came back to the hotel early,” Harmony said. “We’re not supposed to return for a few more hours yet, but we can’t stay away after something like this. We can’t believe it. Both Mr. Armitage and Mr. Hobart both dismissed and no one is saying why.”

“Do you know?” Edith asked in her small voice.

I didn’t dare look at Victor. If I did, he might realize it was linked to our midnight visit to the boys’ home. No matter how many times they asked, I would not tell them about Mr. Armitage’s past. I didn’t want to be responsible for changing their opinions of him on top of everything else.

I shook my head.

“It must have been something real bad,” Goliath said. “Sir Ronald wouldn’t dismiss both of them without a good reason. He knows how it’ll look,