Page 49 of Solving Sophronia

Holloway, the butler, announced Detective Graham, Sergeant Lester, and Constable Merryweather exactly at three o’clock, and he showed them to the first-floor sitting room.

When the men entered, their eyes went wide at the sight of the four young ladies and one elderly woman with her dog, waiting for them.

“My lady...” The detective hesitated in the doorway.

“Please, Detective, just hear me out.” Sophie hurried over and took the detective’s arm before he could change his mind and leave.

The other men joined them, nodding to the ladies.

“First, introductions must be made,” Sophie said. “Grandmother, you remember Detective Graham and Sergeant Lester. Allow me to introduce Constable Merryweather.” Sophie continued. “Constable, this is my grandmother, Lady Mather.”

Constable Merryweather greeted Mimi, looking confused as he bowed.

“And, gentlemen, these are my dear friends,” Sophie said. “Miss Vivian Kirby, Miss Hazel Thornton, Miss Elizabeth Miller, and Miss Dahlia Lancaster.” She indicated each woman in turn.

The men and women exchanged the appropriate bows and greetings, and Sophie led Detective Graham farther into the room to a small sofa across from the hearth and sat beside him.

The large room was usually arranged with smaller seating areas throughout, where groups could visit more intimately. But Sophie and Mimi had moved the chairs and sofas into aUshape facing the hearth. More suitable for a meeting, they’d decided.

Since Detective Graham was the person in charge of the operation, Sophie had thought he should sit at the head of the group. Besides, from that spot it was more difficult to escape. The other men sat in chairs on either side of the sofa.

On either side, between the men and the fireplace, two women sat on a settee—Elizabeth and Vivian beside Sergeant Lester, and Hazel and Dahlia next to Constable Merryweather. Directly next to the fireplace, Mimi sat in her favorite chair beside Elizabeth.

In the center of the grouping was a low table with plates of biscuits, pastries, and sandwiches. Sophia had noticed how Sergeant Lester had enjoyed tea before, and she wanted the men to remain in a pleasant mood. She’d also added a bowl filled with peppermints, thinking Detective Graham would appreciate it.

Dorrit alternated positions between her pillow near the window and Mimi’s lap.

A soft breeze blew the sheer curtains, stirring fresh flowers on the tables as Sophie poured the tea. But despite the comfortable setting, friendships, and good food, there was no conversation. The company waited for her to reveal the reason they’d all been gathered.

At Sophie’s urging as she resumed her seat, Constable Merryweather and Sergeant Lester filled their plates, but Detective Graham held his cup and saucer in his lap and looked wary, sitting on the edge of the cushion as if ready to bolt at any moment.

Sophie was tempted to grab on to his arm again to keep him from doing just that. She needed to speak quickly and make her plan sound convincing. She cleared her throat. “I realize you didn’t expect to encounter so many people, Detective. But as my grandmother and I spoke, we realized it would be advantageous to have additional allies involved with the plan. And you shall understand why presently.”

“What exactlyisthe plan, my lady?” Detective Graham asked. His expression had not changed, and she knew the next few moments were crucial if she were to convince him.

“You shall attend the ball in disguise,” Sophie said. “As aSerbian count.” The declaration came out more dramatically than she’d intended.

The other Orchids shared surprised glances, and Sergeant Lester covered his mouth as if hiding a smile. Constable Merryweather stared, mouth filled with biscuit.

Detective Graham shook his head and moved to stand, but Sophie rose first, planting herself directly in front of him, her knees nearly touching his, so that if he stood, he’d knock her over or possibly spill his tea. “Please listen—it will only take a moment.”

He sighed and settled back in the sofa, waving for her to continue. His gaze was flat, his expression clearly conveying that he believed this to be a waste of his time.

Sophie was not deterred. The plan she and Mimi had devised was a sound one. She had only to convince the detective of it. She stepped back to where she could address the entire group in front of the hearth, though she spoke to Detective Graham.

“Sir, it is not as ridiculous as it first seems. As you no doubt are aware, the guests who will be at the ball are all members of a very exclusive group. Every single attendee is well acquainted with every other. And not only by name—they know each other’s families, associates, business dealings, and even private relationships. To pretend you are a member of high Society whom nobody has happened to meet before would be an impossibility.”

Some of the young ladies nodded their agreement.

“I considered claiming you as a distant relative,” Sophie said. “But of course, my parents would know better.” She raised a finger. “And that’s when I realized that in order for nobody to wonder why they’d never met you before, we must be more distantly acquainted.”

Sophie glanced at Mimi and, seeing her grandmother’s nod, continued. “Foreign visitors are afforded a measure of forgiveness when their words, appearance, or actions are not precisely au courant. Of course people realize customs are different in various parts of the world. And not only are the faux pas overlooked, they are celebrated.”

“People do love to pretend tolerance of foreigners,” Elizabeth muttered.

Sophie smiled at her friend. She glanced around at the others in the room, glad that none seemed to be disagreeing—so far, so good. “To claim that you are Canadian or American presents equal difficulty as to why nobody has ever heard of you. Too many people have connections across the sea, and if you were asked about a person whom you should know, it would be difficult to maintain the ruse. Your mistakes would be discovered. And it is the same with France—not to mention, nearly every person at the ball will be fluent in French, and I did not know whether any of you—”

“I do not speak French.” Detective Graham’s expression had grown a bit less skeptical, but he was still far from convinced.

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