like to know?”
Cecily felt her neck tightening. She was in no mood for Baxter’s intolerance this evening. All afternoon she had been trying to decide how to proceed with the investigation of Charlie’s death without even a glimmer of an idea.
She had so little upon which to base her suspicions. The position of Charlie’s body, that was all. In fact, if it wasn’t for Madeline’s vision, she’d be inclined to think that the whole thing was a tragic accident, after all. It was just that Madeline’s visions invariably transpired, and she had learned never to dismiss her friend’s unusual powers.
“You are not paying attention, Cecily.”
She gave a guilty start and covered it by smiling at him. “I’m sorry, my dear. You were saying?”
“I was saying that the world is going to rack and ruin, with all these corrupt standards abounding everywhere. We are leaving decency and ethics behind in our frenzied pursuit of modernization. I blame the French. They always were a loose lot.”
Cecily sighed. “Why Bax, darling, you are always impressing upon me the importance of progress, and how change is good for the country and the soul.”
Baxter grunted. “When it applies to mechanical conveniences like motorcars and telephones, yes. I shudder to think, however, of the detrimental effects all this will have on the morals of young people.”
“Piffle.” Cecily leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I seem to remember, my dear husband, you and I sharing such a kiss in this very room. And without the benefit of a kissing bough to make it acceptable.”
Baxter’s eyebrows lifted. “We were quite alone at the time.”
Keeping a solemn face, Cecily nodded. “You are quite certain of that?”
She watched a shade of pink creep over her husband’s cheeks. “Were we not? I don’t-”
He broke off abruptly as Sir Walter Hayesbury paused in front of their table. The gentleman bowed, and offered his hand. “I do believe this is my dance?”
Cecily glanced at her husband and encountered a face of thunder. For a moment she was tempted to make some excuse, but having penciled Sir Walter’s name into her dance card earlier, she was under an obligation to accommodate him.
She rose, murmuring, “I shan’t be long,” and received a curt nod in answer.
Much as she tried to suppress her emotions, she had to confess to a certain thrill of pleasure as the aristocrat took her hand for the two-step.
He was a strong dancer, guiding her around the floor with such ease she felt as if she were floating. Feeling somewhat guilty about the pleasure she was experiencing, she murmured, “Your wife looks particularly elegant tonight, Sir Walter.”
He glanced over to where Lady Esmeralda sat in deep conversation with Lady Millshire. “She does, indeed.” He returned his dark gaze to Cecily’s face. “If I may say so, madam, you look every bit as elegant, if not more so.”
Normally Cecily would ignore such blatant flattery, but she couldn’t suppress the rush of warmth his words gave her. “Why, thank you kindly, sir.”
Together they swept toward the stage, gracefully weaving in and out of the other couples. Sir Walter turned her to face the door, where Geoffrey and Caroline Danville still lingered. “It seems that some of your guests are making good use of the kissing bough,” he murmured.
Cecily couldn’t remember when she had felt such heat in her cheeks. “A charming Christmas tradition, don’t you think?”
“Indeed. Such a shame it is only utilized during the Christmas season. Think what pleasure such an enjoyable practice could bring year-round.”
Catching sight of Baxter’s disapproving scowl, Cecily laughed. “I’m afraid there are some people who would not agree with you.”
“Perhaps, but then some people have difficulty appreciating such a pleasurable experience.”
Having no answer to that, she decided it was high time she changed the subject. “I do hope you and your wife are enjoying your stay at the Pennyfoot?”
“Most assuredly, madam. This is a charming place to enjoy the celebrations.” His gaze swept the room. “It would seem all of your guests are having a good time. Your efforts are well appreciated, I’m sure.”
“We do our best to please.”
“I trust the unfortunate incident with your footman has not impeded your plans?”
Startled, she glanced up at him. “What? Oh, no, of course not. It was a nasty accident and we are all shocked and dismayed, of course, but our first and foremost duty is to entertain our guests in the manner to which they are accustomed, and nothing is allowed to interfere with that.”
Sir Walter nodded. “I’m glad to hear it. A dreadful thing to happen any time of the year, but losing a loved one at Christmastime must be quite unbearable.”
Uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going, Cecily was thankful when the music ceased and she could return to her table.
She thanked Sir Walter, who kissed her gloved hand, then gave Baxter a slight bow of his head before returning across the room to his wife.
“I trust you enjoyed that,” Baxter said, with just a hint of resentment in his voice.
She couldn’t resist teasing him. “I did, indeed. Such a gentleman, Sir Walter. He looks quite dashing on the dance floor.”
Baxter snorted. “He wouldn’t look quite so immaculate had he not borrowed a bow tie from me this morning. He was lucky I had a spare. Apparently his valet had forgotten to pack one for him. Seems to me he needs to get his household in order.”
Cecily smiled at her husband’s feeble attempt to discredit the charming aristocrat. “Well, the dance was very nice, dear, but I’d much rather dance with you. So much more relaxing. Besides, he doesn’t have your light foot on the turns.”
Baxter’s scowl disappeared, and his mouth twitched in a smile. “Then what are we waiting for? Will you do me the honor of having the next dance with me?”
“Of course.”
“In that case-” He broke off as Gertie appeared at the table, her pale face taut with anxiety.
“Sorry, m’m, but I thought you ought to know at once.”
Her good mood shattered, Cecily felt a pang of misgiving. “What is it, Gertie?”
The housemaid cast a furtive glance over her shoulder at the couples dancing behind her. The orchestra on the stage played a lilting waltz, loud enough to cover her words, and apparently reassured, she leaned forward. “I just found one of Ellie’s shoes, m’m.”
For a moment Cecily stared at her, wondering why that was such momentous news she had to be disturbed. “Ellie’s shoe?”
“Yes, m’m.” Again Gertie looked over her shoulder. “I found it in the coal shed, m’m.”
“In the coal shed?” Cecily exchanged a puzzled look with Baxter. “What on earth was it doing in there?”
“That’s why I came to tell you, m’m. We thought it queer that she’d leave her shoe in the coal shed. I mean, where would she go with only one shoe? What with her gone missing and everything.”
Baxter leaned an elbow on the table and covered his eyes with his hand. “Oh, good Lord.”
Cecily let out her breath. “Thank you, Gertie. I’ll look into it.”
A look of relief crossed her housemaid’s face. “Yes, m’m. Thank you, m’m.” She backed away, narrowly missing being struck in the face by the energetic elbow of Lord Millshire.
Muttering an apology, Gertie rushed across the floor and out the door.
Cecily smiled at the Millshires as they swept past her, then encountered Baxter’s gaze.
His brows practically met over the bridge of his nose. “Just when were you going to tell me that one of our maids is missing?”
Aware that the musicians had ceased playing, she sent him a warning look with a finger pressed to her lips. “I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t want to worry you. You seemed so preoccupied with something I didn’t want to add to your troubles. Besides, Ellie has only been gone one day and her mother said she often stays with a friend when she’s upset…” She let her words trail off as his frown deepened.
“You spoke to her mother?”
