Page 81 of Murder on the Brighton Express
“When are you returning home, Mrs. Hessing?”
“Can’t wait to get rid of me, Miss Fox?”
“Not at all,” I lied. “I’m counting the days until you visit us again.”
She narrowed her gaze at me, but there was a small uplift of her lips at the corners. Could it be that my caustic response amused her?
“I’m simply asking in the hope you’ll be here long enough to read about the wedding in the society pages.” I’d seen Mrs. Scoop standing off to the side earlier, scratching notes in her journal. She must have left some time ago, however, as I hadn’t seen her since.
“There won’t be any reports,” Mrs. Hessing said. “I scared the press away. I didn’t want any negativity.”
“In my experience, it’s foolish to try to control journalists. Some are very clever. They blend in. Perhaps one got in here, despite our best efforts to keep uninvited guests out.” I lifted a shoulder in a casual shrug. “We won’t know until tomorrow. Or perhaps something will appear in tonight’s evening editions.”
She narrowed her gaze at me. “Is there something you wish to tell me, Miss Fox?”
“I’d like to request that you pay the suppliers before you leave, if their fees are lower than they originally quoted.”
“How much lower?”
I smiled. “Mr. Bainbridge will discuss it with you tomorrow. He has been working very hard to make this a success. Miss Cotton, too, and the rest of the staff.” I indicated the room. “I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this has exceeded anything I could imagine. Well done, Mrs. Hessing. The reception deserves an entire column in the city’s leading society pages. Let’s hope a journalist snuck in, despite our best efforts.”
She hesitated. She seemed unsure whether I’d orchestrated something or not. She picked up her glass of wine and saluted me with it. “We shall see, won’t we?”
I stood. “May I say, on behalf of my family, how much we have enjoyed having you and your daughter stay with us. I’ve made a new friend in Clare, and for that, I am grateful.”
She lowered her glass, suddenly deflated, as if the fighting spirit she was famous for had suddenly vanished. Perhaps she was only now becoming aware that without her daughter, she would be returning home to an empty house, her only family half a world away.
After the bride and groom were farewelled to rousing applause, I fancied another dance. I looked around for a partner, only to realize Harry must have left. I decided to save my feet and not dance, after all.
My uncle insisted we stay until the end and all the guests had left. When Mrs. Hessing and her companions finally departed, we waited until the staff had gathered under Harmony’s instruction. Floyd made a brief speech, praising his assistant, the cook and steward, and Uncle Ronald led a round of more applause.
As the waiters began cleaning up, my uncle escorted my aunt from the ballroom. I followed with my cousins either side of me. We made our way up the stairs while Aunt Lilian and Uncle Ronald took the lift. Flossy giggled for no particular reason, proving she was a little tipsy. Floyd was beyond tipsy and had reached the drunk phase. He tripped over a step, but instead of getting up, he sat down.
Flossy kicked off her shoes and sat down beside him. “How do you think they made the snow? It looked so real.”
“Borax, water and soap,” I said. “Castile soap, if I’m not mistaken. It’s milder and makes a better consistency.”
“How do you know?”
Floyd shushed her before I could answer. “She’s a detective, and a bloody good one.”
I sat on the step below them. “I scooped up some on my finger and tasted it.”
Flossy fell about, giggling.
Floyd pushed himself to his feet and reached a hand down to each of us. “Come on, girls. Almost there.”
We each took one of his hands and together the three of us continued up the stairs, slowly and carefully. I was still smiling when we reached the third-floor landing. Floyd wiped it away with what he said next, however.
“I’m glad to see you didn’t dance with Armitage, Cleo. It wouldn’t have been appropriate.”
Flossy’s objection saved me from voicing mine. “Don’t be silly. He was there as a guest. It would have been perfectly acceptable for one of us to dance with him. It’s a pity he didn’t ask. Didn’t he look dashing, Cleo?” She sighed dramatically.
It was time to change the subject. “Something has been on my mind ever since we returned from Brighton, and I want a proper answer this time.”
They both looked at me, intrigued.
“Why don’t you like sea bathing, Flossy? Is it because you don’t want to get your hair wet? You can wear a cap, you know.”
