Page 97 of Murder at the Mayfair Hotel
He grabbed my elbow and pulled me behind the palm. When he let me go, I found I was standing very close to him. I did not move away. I didn’t want to, not when he gazed down at me with those smoldering eyes of his. It suddenly became very warm in the foyer.
“Why are you looking for me?” he asked in a low, rumbling voice.
“I, er…” I lowered my gaze and stared at his cheek instead. “I wanted to ask you if that banker is here, and what he looks like. I want to see if our theory is correct and Mr. Hookly is trying to speak to him.”
He glanced towards the senior staff corridor. “Come with me. It’s easier to point him out to you.”
“Are you still watching Mrs. Kettering?” I asked as we crossed the foyer.
He nodded. “She’s in her room. I don’t think she’s planning on moving the stolen silverware tonight, after all. Why are you here, anyway? I thought you weren’t coming to the ball.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Stay away from Hookly,” he said as we walked along the red carpet in the vestibule.
“I will. I’ve been waiting for your father to arrive. He should have been here by now.”
“I just telephoned. He’s on his way.”
“Why has it taken so long?”
“He hasn’t been at the Yard all afternoon. He’s been following up information about the mercuric cyanide. I telephoned him at home. He wasn’t aware you’d been trying to reach him.”
“Scotland Yard need to review their messaging system.”
We skirted the edge of the ballroom until Mr. Armitage found the man he was looking for. “The short fellow with the monocle,” he said with a nod towards a group of gentlemen that included Mr. Hookly. “It looks like Hookly found him.”
“Should we warn the banker not to promise him a loan?”
“We say nothing. My father will take care of Hookly when he gets here.”
“At least he’s still here,” I said. “Thank goodness he hasn’t got wind of our suspicions. Speaking of which, I’m very worried about Edith. She’s still missing.”
“I’m worried about her too.” He touched my elbow and I looked up to see him staring down at me. “Don’t leave the ballroom until the ball is over, then only return to your room when your family retires. We don’t know what Edith has told Hookly.”
“As far as either of them are aware, we don’t have any solid evidence against them.”
He dragged his hand through his hair. If any other man in the room had done that, he’d have a palm slicked with hair oil. The lack of it made Mr. Armitage stand out from them. Indeed, he looked out of place compared to the gentlemen with their formal eveningwear of white tie and stiff shirt. Instead of making him seem less than them, however the difference highlighted his masculinity. More than one female’s gaze followed him and it wasn’t because she was horrified by his casual attire.
“I have to go,” he said. “I don’t want to lose Mrs. Kettering.”
“You don’t want to see the actresses and opera singer before you go? They’re here somewhere.”
He smiled. “I can meet an actress or opera singer whenever I want.” He walked off and was quickly swallowed up by the crowd.
His confident smile stayed with me for quite some time.
I watched the banker and Mr. Hookly until the banker moved away. Mr. Hookly watched him go, looking pleased.
A woman bumped me and apologized, her words slurring. The gentleman with her laughed as he led her onto the dance floor. I glanced at the large clock. Fifteen minutes until midnight. The excitement for the countdown to the new century had started to build in my absence. The dancing was more vigorous, the music seemed louder, and the chatter too. A woman nearby squealed with delight over something her companion said, and a couple twirled past me on their way to the dance floor without looking where they were going. Guests had to quickly step out of their way or be barreled over. Girls without partners danced with one another and drunken men watched on from the sidelines.
I searched for a friendly face but couldn’t find Flossy, Floyd or their friends. I moved away from the wall into the throng where the air felt hotter, closer.
“Dance with me, Miss Fox.”
I turned to see Mr. Hookly standing very near, his hand extended. My heart leapt into my throat and beat a warning rhythm.
“Dance with me,” he commanded. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all evening.” His lips might be smiling, but the cold gleam in his eyes told another story.
