Murder at the Mayfair Hotel (Cleopatra Fox Mysteries #1)- C.J. Archer Page 0,65

the front door but made no attempt to go outside.

“Mr. Hobart and Mr. Armitage used to take care of the newspapermen,” Flossy said. “They were very good at handling them.” She sniffed and I realized she was crying. “I can’t believe they’re gone. Mr. Hobart has been here forever. He’s part of the hotel. Oh, Floyd, this is dreadful. Just dreadful. Why would Father do such a thing?”

Floyd peered at me. There was no anger or censure in his eyes, just disappointment.

“And so close to the ball too,” Flossy went on. “It will be canceled now.”

“It must go on,” Floyd said.

“How can it? Mr. Hobart was in charge of most of the arrangements, and Mr. Armitage responsible for the rest.”

“There are only two days to go, so I’d wager most of it is done. It’ll be too late to cancel now.”

Flossy wiped her tears. “Tell Father that.”

Floyd frowned. “Do you think he’s considering canceling it?”

“Who knows what he’s considering?” She pushed his arm. “Go and tell him.”

“No. You do it.”

Flossy looked as though she wanted to speak to her father about as much as she wanted to face the herd of journalists.

“I’ll do it,” I said. I’d been meaning to speak to my uncle all morning, but when I’d checked his office, he hadn’t been there. “Is he upstairs now?”

Floyd nodded.

I took the lift to give myself time to calm my nerves. I thought John’s easy chatter would help, but he couldn’t stop talking about the dismissals in worried tones. I was glad to get out, but my anxiety returned as I knocked on my uncle’s office door.

He heaved a sigh as I entered. “I’ve never been more glad to see a friendly face,” he said, indicating the chair for me to sit. “The only people who’ve come to see me today are ones asking me where things are, what they should be doing, and how to do this or that. They seem to think I ought to know every little thing Hobart and Armitage did on a daily basis.”

“There’s a way to stop all those questions.” At his inquiring look, I added, “Reconsider your decision.”

His brow plunged. “No.”

“Please, sir, hire them back so life here can return to normal.”

“I never go back on my word.” He waved his hand, dismissing me.

But I would not be dismissed. Not with something so important at stake. “Could you not this time? For the sake of two very good, loyal employees with an exemplary record for all the years they’ve worked here.”

He wagged a finger at me. “I didn’t expect this from you, Cleo. Not after it was you who brought Armitage’s crime to my attention.”

I closed my eyes and winced. “I wish I hadn’t. I thought I was exposing a murderer, and I feel foolish now for ever considering Mr. Armitage the poisoner.”

He gave a harsh laugh. “Ironic, isn’t it? If Armitage’s father had done his job more efficiently, his son’s theft would never have been uncovered.”

“The blame for this is all mine.”

“Nonsense. You are the only blameless one in this entire debacle.”

I shook my head. “It’s kind of you to try to make me feel better, but I will always feel guilty. Please, sir, overturn your decision and give them their positions back.”

He stabbed a finger into his chest. “And make it look as though I was in the wrong?”

“You are in the wrong,” I snapped.

He went very still. “I beg your pardon?”

I drew in a breath and gathered my nerves. If I was going to make amends, then I had to be prepared to suffer the consequences that Mr. Hobart and Mr. Armitage had suffered because of me—dismissal. Dismissal from the hotel, the family… From what I knew of my uncle, it was a very real possibility. “Neither man deserved to—”

“They lied to me.”

“Listen to me!” I clasped my hands in my lap, twining my fingers together. “Please, just let me finish. Mr. Armitage was an orphan.”

“I know that.”

“Yes, but you don’t know what it was like to be orphaned at such a young age. I do, and I can assure you, it’s a lonely position to find yourself in. But I was fortunate, compared to him. I had my grandparents, and your generosity in providing me with an allowance. He had no one.”

“Your sympathy for his plight is understandable, considering your circumstances. I can see that Mr. Armitage’s story upsets you. You’re a woman, and I would expect you to feel sorry for him. But I’m a businessman, Cleo.