The instinct to protect himself was wasted as the chair went over backwards with Sir Avery and Rupert amid much snarling and snapping.
Brodie had come out of his chair as well.
The look he gave me was most interesting as he rounded the desk as though to come to Sir Avery’s aid amid a good number of curses.
Oh my, I thought. Whoever would have thought this might happen?
“You might want to call him off,” Brodie strongly suggested as Lily broke out laughing at the conflagration at the office floor.
Or not?
Still, I suppose it might be considered a serious attack on someone of importance—at least in his own mind.
And more to consider, I did not want some punishment to come down on Rupert, who had come to my aid more than once. Not to mention that I was very fond of him. Particularly at moments like this.
I called him back. Eventually he let go of Sir Avery’s pant leg, then came and sat at my feet.
“I have no idea what got into him,” I commented as Brodie assisted Sir Avery to his feet.
“He is usually quite docile, though he is fond of food,” I added pointedly as Sir Avery inspected himself for any wounds. “Did you perhaps have luncheon before arriving?”
There are times when one’s station, family connections, and even greater wealth than that of the Queen—my great aunt’s—could be advantageous.
And although I have never been one to flaunt any of it, I did take particular pleasure in the expression on Sir Avery’s face. Hewas, as Aunt Antonia would have described, quite white around the mouth as he sputtered and cursed.
Lily went into the adjacent room and returned with a towel. She proceeded to wipe mud and debris from Rupert’s coat.
“He doesn’t seem to be injured,” she announced.
“Injured?” Sir Avery roared, quite indignant.
“Another towel might be called for,” I suggested, though I didn’t give a fig if the man was injured and bleeding.
She brought another towel from the room and handed it to him, with an innocent expression.
“I do hope you are not badly injured, sir.”
There was a tear in the sleeve of his coat, and he was quite disheveled. Although, he appeared otherwise unharmed except perhaps a few bruises that would appear later.
Good dog, I thought.
I would have a warm meal brought for him from the Public House for his reward. Mr. Cavendish would be highly disappointed to have missed this second encounter.
Sir Avery straightened his clothes and smoothed a hand back through his hair. He seized his long coat from the coat stand and fumbled as he struggled to pull it on.
“I expect you to be forthcoming in the matter, Brodie,” he said then. “I know you well, and I refuse to believe that you have no information in the matter,” he snapped.
I glanced at the chalkboard where I had made notes about our progress so far in the case. The board had been wiped clean!
It did seem that Brodie had removed my notes.
Brodie briefly met my gaze as he went to assist Sir Avery with his coat.
“The lift is at the end of the hallway,” he informed him. “The stairs can be treacherous in this sort of weather.”
No sooner had the door snapped shut behind him and he made his way to lift, than Lily burst out laughing.
Brodie turned to me. “Did it occur to ye that it might have been unwise to let the hound accompany ye? Ye know well enough what the man is capable of. It’s usually best not to poke the bear. Although,” the smile was there, “it was most entertainin’.”
