Her employer frowned up at her. “Do sit down, Miss Lane. Watching you is giving me a neck ache.”
Rebecca paused. “Sorry.” Yet she remained standing, going to look out the window, only to turn back again.
Lady Fitzhoward studied her through narrowed eyes. “What has ruffled your petticoats?”
“Hm? Oh, well, you can imagine.”
“Are you so upset over Mr. Oliver’s death?”
“Of course.”
Lady Fitzhoward positioned the pegs on the board. “I thought you were not acquainted with him, nor even read his books.”
“Even so ... Are you not upset?”
“Not in the least. But ... I haven’t a guilty conscience. Have you?”
“What?” Rebecca stared at her in alarm. Had the woman somehow divined her thoughts?
Lady Fitzhoward shrugged and began to shuffle the cards. “I know I had nothing to do with the man’s death.”
“Nor did I!”
“Certainly not. Just putting things into perspective for you. Now, do sit down and let’s play.” The older woman smirked. “In your distracted state, I might finally win.”
While awaiting the coroner’s arrival, Frederick stood in the hall talking quietly to Mr. Mayhew.
He recognized Ludlow Smith as soon as he entered—a thin, balding man, short on patience and in stature.
“Mr. Smith, thank you for coming.”
“Sir Frederick,” he acknowledged with a slight nod of deference.
Mr. Smith then turned to the proprietor and said brusquely, “Take me directly to the body, if you please.”
“Right this way,” Mr. Mayhew obliged, pulling keys from his pocket and leading the way.
Following them, Frederick said, “Dr. Fox happens to be staying here. Would you like him to go in with you? Lend his professional expertise?”
“Fox?” Mr. Smith said sourly. “The mad doctor?”
Frederick bristled. “He may run such an asylum now, but he is a fully qualified physician.”
“Maybe later. First, I will go in alone.”
Arrogant fool, Frederick thought.
While he and Mayhew waited out in the passage, Frederick asked the proprietor, “Who has keys to the guest rooms?”
“The maids, Mrs. Somerton, and myself. I also keep spares locked in my desk, which I lend as needed to a repairman, but no one has borrowed any for some time.”
“Can you look to make sure no keys are missing?”
“Certainly. And of course each guest is given a key upon arrival. Oh, and I should clarify. Our policy is for the maids to knock and wait for the guest to invite them inside. They are only to use their key if they need to clean a room while a guest is absent.”
“I see. And do the maids rotate or keep with the same rooms?”
“In general, they remain with the guests throughout their stay. That way, they learn their preferences.”
