Page 88 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
“Mrs. Short’s new rule of no fraternizing is forcing the staff to conduct their relationships in secret,” I went on. “It has done nothing to stop them.”
He stared at me, frowning. “I am aware of that.”
“Nor do I think we should try to stop them,” I went on. “For one thing, it’s not our place to interfere in the staff’s private lives. They’re all adults, after all, and some of those relationships are genuine. For another, by dismissing those who are caught breaking the rule, we dismiss perfectly good employees. Also, Mrs. Short claims her rule is protecting the maids, but it isn’t. If one of the male staff is taking advantage of a maid, dismissing them may not stop him. It would simply stop it from happening at the hotel or residence hall. All her rule does is remove the problem from beingherresponsibility.”
“Cleopatra—"
“If the rule is going to be applied at all, then is should be on a case-by-case basis, not with an indiscriminate sweep. For example,wasMary’s footman taking advantage of her? Was he going to abandon her? We simply don’t know. What if their relationship was genuine? What if they were going to marry? We have just taken away the livelihoods of both, making the start of their life together very difficult. We ought to be ashamed, Uncle. We’re forcing the couples to become secretive and, as I said, no good comes from secrets.”
I was well aware how hypocritical I was being, after promising to keep Lady Elizabeth’s secret and planning on keeping a rather large one of my own, at least for a while. Even so, I felt keenly about getting my point across.
“Cleopatra,” Uncle Ronald boomed. Realizing I wasn’t going to talk over him, he cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “Cleopatra, there’s no need to concern yourself about Mrs. Short’s rule. It’s no more.”
“You overturned it?”
“She came to see me today and revoked it herself, using the same arguments you just laid out so concisely for me. She has also re-employed Mary and the footman.”
“I didn’t think she was capable of seeing a different point of view, but I’m glad she has.”
His chins wobbled with his throaty chuckle. “I’m reasonably sure Hobart pointed it out to her, although neither has admitted it to me.”
I started to laugh. Mr. Hobart told me he’d reminded Mrs. Short that he was her superior. It was his way of laying the groundwork before he tackled her over her new rule. A rule he couldn’t personally support. He’d not gone over her head to Uncle Ronald, but he’d subtly reminded the housekeeper that he could. It allowed her to retract the rule without losing too much respect with her employer.
Well played, Mr. Hobart.
I stood and made to leave.
“Cleopatra, one moment. I have something to ask you.”
“You don’t have to worry, Uncle. My investigation into the gamekeeper’s murder has come to an end. There’ll be no arrest.”
“I’m glad to hear it, but it’s not about that.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands on the desk surface in front of him. “It’s about your acquaintance with Harry Armitage.”
Oh no.It would seem I was going to be forced to reveal my secret sooner than I expected.
“Do you think you could use your influence with him to gauge whether he would return to the hotel?” When I didn’t respond, he added, “As manager-in-waiting. Hobart can’t last forever, sadly, and Peter Leyland isn’t up to it yet. A new role could be made for Armitage, something between Hobart and Leyland, so that Hobart could move into semi-retirement, if he felt so inclined.”
“I don’t think he does feel that way inclined.”
“Even so, it’s best to be prepared. Could you sound out Armitage?”
“No, I won’t. I don’t think he would return to work here under any circumstances. You weren’t fair to him when you dismissed him. Anyway, his business is doing too well for him to consider walking away from it.”
Uncle Ronald’s lips flattened. “No, I doubt that’s it. Perhaps his relationship is holding him back.”
My mouth went dry. “His relationship?”
He stroked his moustache. “What’s her name again? Miss Morris, I think. Yes, that’s it. Miss Morris.”
I blew out a long, measured breath. This was one secret it was time to end. “Harry and Miss Morris have ended their relationship.”
Slowly, slowly, he pushed himself to his feet. “Then I’m afraid I have to forbid you from seeing him anymore, Cleopatra. Without another woman in the picture, your acquaintance sends the wrong message.”
I squared up to him and lifted my chin. “I am sorry to go against your wishes, but Iwillsee Harry again. Speaking of your wishes, it was you who wanted me to investigate the murder of Esmond Shepherd.”
He sniffed, as if trying to sniff out the meaning behind my sudden reminder. “What of it?”
“He was shot by a member of Lord Kershaw’s family. I’d rather not say who or why they shot him, but I will if you force my hand.”
