Page 26 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
“You’ll be gone all day,” he said.
“Yes.”
“What excuse did you give your family this time?”
“None. Uncle Ronald not only approves of me investigating the murder, he’s actively encouraging me. He’s convinced Lord Kershaw and his family are innocent and wants me to prove it.”
“That’s a nice change from his previous attitude to your investigating. But what happens if you discover one of them is a murderer?”
“I’ll cross that hurdle when I come to it.”
He opened his mouth to say something, only to close it again. He adjusted his hat in an attempt to cover his change of mind.
“Go on, Harry. You know you can be honest with me, even if it’s something you think I won’t want to hear. I want your honesty. Always.”
His pace slowed, then he finally stopped. “It’s not your reaction that concerns me. I’m a little ashamed to be thinking it, let alone saying it.”
“I don’t understand.”
He tapped the toe of his shoe against an uneven section of pavement. “I was going to tell you to be careful, and not upset Sir Ronald.”
“You mean, if I do find out Lord Kershaw or one of his family murdered the gamekeeper, you want me to keep it to myself?”
His lips flattened. “Ordinarily, I want justice to be served, no matter who the guilty party is. Highborn or low, it’s all the same to me. Perpetrators of crime should pay.” He drew in a breath and released it slowly. “It pains me that I even want to warn you. But, Cleo, I really don’t want you to upset your uncle. I know how vindictive he can be when he thinks someone has disobeyed him.”
I lifted my hand to reach for his, but let it fall to my side again before we touched. I didn’t know what to say. Harry had a strong sense of justice, so to even think of letting a murderer go meant he felt strongly that it was the right thing to do. “Don’t worry,” I assured him. “If it comes to it, I’ll manage Uncle Ronald. He can’t blame me altogether if it turns out his friend is guilty.”
“It’s not just you. I’ve somehow found myself back in his good books—well, almost—and I’d like to stay there.”
This time I did reach out and take his hand. “It’s not your investigation, so you wouldn’t be tainted by my decision. Anyway, I’m quite sure youareback in his good books, Harry, and I’m quite sure the reason is because he wants to re-hire you at some point.”
His eyes widened. “I miss the hotel sometimes, but I’d never consider working there again. Never.” He squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry on my account. If you need my help, I’ll give it. If Harmony has to work tomorrow, then telephone me. I’ll come with you to the village. If you’re placed in Sir Ronald’s bad books, then I’ll be there with you.”
“Let’s hope the entire Wentworth family is innocent.” I released his hand and we continued on. “You can’t come tomorrow. You have a lot of work to do on your own cases.”
“Nothing urgent. It can all be rearranged with a few telephone calls.”
“You need an assistant.”
“Want to apply for the position?”
I laughed, but sobered when he didn’t join in. “I can’t be your assistant, Harry. You’d be my superior and you know that arrangement won’t work.”
“You would never be inferior to anyone, Cleo. If you came to work with me, you’d be running the entire operation within weeks, and I’d be the one answering the telephone for you.”
“Now there’s an interesting thought. Will it get my name on the door? Fox and Armitage: Private Detectives.”
“Sounds awful. It doesn’t have a good ring to it at all.”
“All right, I concede. Armitage and Fox, since that’s alphabetical order.”
He continued on, a crooked tilt of his lips his only response.
Chapter6
Before dining with Uncle Ronald and my cousins in the hotel restaurant, Harmony joined me in my suite to help me dress and arrange my hair. She brought some exciting news with her.
“I’ve been assigned to work with Mr. Hobart tomorrow.”
