Page 37 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
“Perhaps he was napping on that chair, not in his room.”
“Perhaps.” I still wasn’t convinced, however. Renton was more exposed in the garden, especially with guests going between the house and the tennis court. He could have been asleep elsewhere, though. From the look of it, he did like his afternoon naps, so that part of his alibi was believable.
But if his naps were the result of stealing his lordship’s brandy, and Esmond Shepherd had proof and threatened to take that proof to Lord Kershaw, Renton would have a motive to murder Shepherd.
Frank warnedme as he opened the hotel’s front door upon my return that Mrs. Short was taking one of the maids to task in her office. The housekeeper had caught the girl reading a note that morning while she was pushing her cleaning cart along the corridor on the fourth floor.
“Surely she can’t be in too much trouble for taking a moment to read her note,” I said.
“The note was from her beau, setting up a rendezvous for Saturday,” Frank said.
I groaned. The maid had fallen foul of Mrs. Short’s new rule. “I assume the beau is another staff member?”
“A footman. Mrs. Short was furious, so I heard. She told the girl to come to her office at the end of the day and they’d discuss her future here at the hotel. She’s been in tears all day, so Harmony told me. We think she’ll be dismissed on the spot, her beau, too, if she gives up his name.”
“He didn’t sign the note?”
“No. Rather wise not to, as it turns out.”
I was pleased to see Mr. Hobart strolling through the foyer holding the leather satchel he used to carry work home to read on the train. He hadn’t left yet. If anyone could convince Mrs. Short she had overreacted with her new rule, it was him. As he walked, he glanced frequently over his shoulder, back to the senior staff corridor.
“Is the maid still with Mrs. Short?” I asked him.
“You heard about that.” His lips formed a grim line. “I’m afraid so.”
“Can you do something?”
He steered me away from two guests who’d stopped nearby for a chat. “Sir Ronald has forbidden me from stepping in. He says it’s a good idea, in theory.”
“While in practice, it’s going to be a disaster.” I shook my head sadly. “The staff aren’t children. They won’t like it if the maid and her beau are dismissed over this.”
“Then hopefully the maid is able to keep his name to herself. Otherwise, they’ll both be without a job and a home, and we could find most of the staff go on strike to support them.”
It could be a disaster of monumental proportions.
“Miss Fox, I almost forgot. My brother telephoned earlier. He wants you to telephone him back. You can use the one in my office for privacy. Ask Peter to unlock the door for you. I must dash if I want to catch the train that will get me home in time for dinner.”
I thanked him and approached Peter. As I waited for him to unlock Mr. Hobart’s office door, I heard muffled voices coming from Mrs. Short’s office. “I’ll be a moment.”
“Miss Fox!” Peter hissed. “Is that wise?”
“We’ll soon find out.”
I knocked on Mrs. Short’s door and received a brusque response to enter. Inside, the housekeeper sat behind her desk with the maid standing on the other side, not allowed to sit. I was struck by how similar Mrs. Short looked to my uncle when he was at his most bullish. Both short and jowly, they exuded an air of barely constrained frustration that threatened to explode at any moment.
“Yes, Miss Fox?” she snapped. “Is something the matter?”
“I’ve just returned to the hotel and heard that my note may be the cause of some confusion.” I cast a look at the maid, blinking back at me with eyes red and swollen from crying.
Mrs. Short’s gaze fell on a torn piece of paper on her desk. It appeared as though it had been folded many times to make it as small as possible.
“Ah, there it is.” I reached for it, but Mrs. Short snatched it away.
“Yournote?” she said, incredulous. “This was found in Mary’s possession.”
“She must have picked it up, thinking it was rubbish. Was it in the corridor on the fourth floor, Mary?”
Mary nodded so quickly and vigorously a strand of her hair fell out of the pins holding it back.
