The first minute spark of humor lit in his eyes. “You wouldn’t know how, for a start,” he said.
“I would!” Her chin came up, and she knew she must look and sound ridiculous. “For goodness’ sake, Jack, I’ve had a very good lady’s maid for years. I know perfectly well what she does, and I can do it myself in a pinch. I certainly had to learn how when I was a girl.”
He started to laugh, and at any other time she would have thought it a delightful sound, full of joy and vitality. Now she heard derision in his laughter, and it was extremely provoking.
“I’m not saying it will be easy!” she said sharply. “I am not used to having people tell me what to do, and I shan’t like being at someone else’s beck and call, but I can do it! It will be something of a change from sitting here all day doing nothing at all!”
“Emily, they’ll find you out!” His laughter vanished as it dawned on him that she might be serious.
“Oh no they won’t! I shall be a model of good behavior.”
Disbelief was written all over his face.
“Charlotte has got away with being Miss Barnaby,” she carried on determinedly. “And I’m a far better liar than she is. I shall go this afternoon, otherwise I may be too late. I have written myself a glowing reference, and I shall obtain another from Aunt Vespasia. I have already telephoned her— did I tell you I have acquired a telephone? It’s a wonderful thing; I don’t know why I didn’t get one before—and she is expecting me this afternoon. She will write an introductory letter for me if I ask her.” She was not at all sure that Aunt Vespasia would do anything of the sort, but she would do all she could to persuade her.
Now he looked really concerned. “But Emily, think of the danger! If what you are supposing is true, then someone murdered the maid. If they have even a suspicion of you, you could end up the same way! Leave it to Thomas.”
She swung round on him immediately. “And what do you suggest he do? Go as a footman? He wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to get on, apart from the fact that they know him already and that he is with the police. From what Charlotte says, his superiors aren’t interested in Robert York’s death. All they want to do is make sure Veronica is suitable to marry Julian Danver!”
“Oh come on!” Jack turned sideways in the chair opposite her. “That’s what they said, but it’s obviously an excuse. They don’t care in the least what Veronica does, if she’s discreet about it. And if she weren’t they’d know without anyone’s finding out for them. They’re suspicious about York’s death and whether Veronica had a lover or not, and if he or even Veronica herself murdered Robert. They are just too devious to have said so outright.”
She stared at him. “Are they? What about treason? What about the woman in cerise?”
He thought for a moment. “Well, that could have been Veronica herself after an assignation with Julian Danver, if they were lovers then.”
“Then it was Julian who killed Robert York?”
“Possibly. The fact that he’s an agreeable fellow is irrelevant. Some of the worst cads I’ve known have been charming, as long as you didn’t stand in their way. Or it could have been Harriet leading a double life, with Felix Asherson. She’s obviously in love with him.”
“Charlotte didn’t tell you that!”
“My dear girl, she didn’t need to! Do you think I’m a complete fool? I’ve seen too many flirtations not to know when a woman’s in love. She was polite, she pretended he was a friend and of no romantic interest. She avoided his eyes, and looked at him when he was turned away. She was so careful it must matter to her very much.”
She had had no idea he was so perceptive. It came as a sobering surprise, puncturing her confidence.
“Indeed,” she said coldly. “And of course you are never mistaken—you can read women just like that!” She tried to snap her fingers and failed to make the sharp sound she wished, producing instead only a faint thump. “Hellfire!” she said under her breath. “Well anyway, I am going to the Yorks’. There is something hideously wrong in that house, and I shall discover what it is.”
“Emily, please.” His voice changed completely, the lightness vanished. “If they catch you out in the least thing they may well realize why you are really there! If they pushed one maid out of the window they won’t hesitate to get rid of you, too!”
“They can’t push two maids out of the window,” she said with chill reason. “Eyebrows would be raised, even at the Honorable Piers York!”
“It doesn’t have to be a window,” he said, getting angry himself. “It could be the stairs, or a ladder. They could push you under a carriage wheel, or it might be something you ate. Or you could simply disappear, along with a couple of good pieces of the family silver. Emily, for God’s sake, use a little sense!”
“I am bored to screaming with using sense!” She turned round fiercely and glared at him. “I have worn black, seen no one, and been sensible for six months, and I am beginning to feel as if it was me they buried! I am going to the Yorks’ to be a maid and discover who murdered Robert York, and why. Now, if you wish to come to Great-aunt Vespasia’s with me, you are welcome. Otherwise, will you please excuse me, because I have work to do. I am telling my own staff that I am going to stay with my sister for a while. Of course I shall tell Charlotte the truth. If you want to help, that will be very nice; if not, if you prefer to disassociate yourself, I shall understand completely. Playing detective is not for everyone,” she finished with immense condescension.
“If I don’t help, Charlotte will be left high and dry,” he pointed out with a slight smile.
She had forgotten that. She was obliged to climb down, but it was hard to do it gracefully.
“Then I hope you will feel able to continue.” She did not look at him. “We must keep in touch with the Danvers; they are certainly part of it.”
“Does Charlotte know about this—plan of yours?”
“Not yet.”
He drew in breath to comment, then let it out again in a sigh. Seeing men behave like fools was one thing, but he was not accustomed to this behavior in women. He had to readjust his thinking, but Jack was adaptable and had remarkably few prejudices. “I’ll work out a way to keep in touch with you,” he said after a moment’s consideration. “Don’t forget, most houses don’t allow maids to have ‘followers.’ And they’ll comment on letters, maybe even read them if they suspect it’s an admirer.”
