Page 68 of Murder at the Dinner Party
“They weren’t here and I haven’t heard anything. I’m sorry for taking up your time for nothing, Miss Fox.” She rounded the desk and used one of the keys on the bunch at her hip to unlock a metal box. “I can pay you a little for what you’ve done so far.”
“No, please don’t. I can’t take any fee when there’s been no outcome. Mrs. Turner, I don’t understand why this sudden change of heart if you didn’t know what I learned from the Whitchurches.”
“If they’re innocent, then it’s clear I made a mistake, isn’t it?” She moved past me and opened the door. “Thank you, Miss Fox, but I have work to do.”
I was so stunned by her change of heart without giving a reason that I was halfway down the corridor before I remembered the tiepin and watch. “Mrs. Turner, I almost forgot.” I strode back to her.
She scowled. “What is it?”
“You haven’t asked me for Mr. Hardy’s tiepin and watch.”
“Oh. Of course.” She put out her hand, brows arched expectantly.
“I, er, I’m afraid they’ve been stolen. I’m so very sorry, Mrs. Turner. I believe it was a pickpocket—”
“There are thieves everywhere in this city. Never mind, it can’t be helped. There appears to be no next of kin anyway, so no one will miss them. Good day.” She returned to her office and closed the door.
“Good day,” I muttered.
I headed back along the corridor. As I passed the kitchen, I hesitated. Birdy had her back to me, and Mrs. Cook merely glanced up at me, nodded a greeting, then returned to her recipe book. Betty sat on a stool in the corner, cradling a cup of tea in both hands. She watched me over the rim with bloodshot eyes. She’d been crying again.
Outside, I began to walk away, but paused at the neighbor’s house. This time, Harry didn’t trot down the steps as though he was a favorite guest of Mrs. Danvers. Unlike me, he didn’t come and go through the basement service entrance. The lady of the house welcomed him with smiles and refreshments, while I was treated abysmally by the Campbells when I’d met them.
Disappointment at not seeing Harry settled like a stone in my stomach.
That would not do.
I turned around and marched up the main steps of the Campbell residence and knocked on the front door. Davey opened it.
“Miss Fox! What are you doing up here?”
“Are Sir Ian and Lady Campbell at home?”
“They are, but are you sure you want me to announce you?”
“Yes. Actually, no. I’ll announce myself.”
He moved aside to let me pass. “She’s in the sitting room at her writing bureau,” he whispered. “I’ll fetch Sir Ian.”
Lady Campbell did not look up from the letter she was writing upon my entry. “Who is it, Davey?”
“Miss Cleopatra Fox, private detective,” I said.
She spun around in the chair, her eyes wide. “You have a nerve coming here after the last time.”
She wore a plain dress with a small bustle that was at least ten years out of date, and no jewelry to speak of. She wasn’t expecting visitors or she would have dressed in her finest clothes. For a morning at home alone, she’d reverted to older outfits. It seemed Lady Campbell couldn’t afford to have them altered to newer styles, and it was likely Mrs. Turner and Betty didn’t have the skills required for such a complicated task. The Campbells couldn’t afford highly skilled maids.
I heard Sir Ian’s heavy footsteps coming down the stairs moments before he burst into the sitting room. Davey followed him in and remained by the door, standing quite still so as not to attract attention.
“What is the meaning of this?” Sir Ian demanded. “Davey, send for a constable.”
“If you do that you won’t know what I have to say,” I said. “I think you’ll want to answermyquestions rather than Scotland Yard’s.”
“The Yard! What the devil?”
Lady Campbell stood and put out a hand to silence her husband. Her icy composure was on full display as she jutted her chin forward. “Is this about the butler’s references again? You can’t have them. That’s his private information and his death doesn’t change his need for privacy. When his next of kin are found, you can bring it up with them.”
“I don’t want to see them,” I said. “I know you destroyed them.”
