“Standing close, staring adoringly into each other’s eyes while we remember a complex pattern of steps?” I raised a suggestive eyebrow. “Are you sure the world’s foremost criminal mind is up to the challenge?”
The band finished their song, and Morrie held out his hand. “Let us find out.”
Morrie led me onto the dance floor and we lined up alongside the other couples. Luckily, the next dance was ‘A Fig for Bonaparte’, which was one of the easier country dances we learned the previous day. Even so, I managed to begin by stepping the wrong way.
“Ooops, sorry, sorry,” I apologized as I bumped my way through the frowning dancers and found my way back to Morrie.
“At least when you go blind, you’ll have an excuse for your appalling sense of direction,” he grinned.
Weirdly, that comment that might’ve upset me on any other day just made me poke my tongue out at him. I stuck my foot out as Morrie swept past. He tripped and skidded into Lydia, who shoved him away with a grimace.
We wound our way down the line without any other disasters. The next dance was more complex, and I hadn’t been able to see the instructor very well. I shuffled us to the back of the line so I could watch the other couples first. When it came to our turn, I managed to spin the right way. As I twirled around the couple behind me, my gaze flicked to the bar. Gerald slumped over the hardwood surface, a piña colada in his hand. When I spun around again, he was still there, this time with a pink drink. On the next spin, he had a glass of clear liquid that I guessed wasn’t water.
“Morrie? Do you see Gerald?” I pointed toward the bar.
“He’s wearing an awfully cheap cotton shirt for the ball. And it hasn’t escaped my attention he’s trying to drink his way through the Baddesley cellars,” Morrie observed as he lifted his arm so I could pass under. “Heathcliff will not be amused if there’s nothing left for tomorrow’s whisky tasting.”
“Do you think he’s upset about that incident with Professor Hathaway this morning?” I turned back and noticed Gerald accepting an Old-Fashioned.
“He certainly appears agitated—ow.” Morrie winced as my boot landed on his foot. “Focus on the dance, gorgeous. My shins are not as robust as Heathcliff’s.”
I was puffing by the time we finished the set. Cynthia bade us return to our seats amidst raucous applause. I beamed from my place on Morrie’s arm. That was actually heaps of fun.
My breasts vibrated. Another text message from Mum. I resisted the temptation to toss my phone into the nearest punch bowl.
Our main course was served – wild duck confit, quince poached in mulled wine, white bean puree – and I dug in, ravenous from all the dancing. Cynthia took the stage again. “We have a very special treat tonight. It is my pleasure as the President of the Jane Austen Appreciation Society Argleton chapter to present our Lifetime Achievement Award for the pursuit of Austen scholarship and the furtherance of the society’s aims to promote her work to a new generation. I think it’s no surprise that I stand here tonight to present this honor to Professor Julius Hathaway.”
The room erupted into applause – all except Professor Carmichael and Alice, who glared at the stage. I turned around to see what Gerald thought of this announcement. He scowled at the bartender and swiped another cocktail.
Cynthia beamed, scanning the crowd as the applause died down. “If Professor Hathaway could come to the stage and accept his award. Where is he?”
“I don’t think he’s arrived yet,” David called out. “Christina and I haven’t seen him at our table, although his dinner’s gone, so maybe he came by while we were taking a turn of the room—”
“Nope. That was me,” Morrie said, rubbing his stomach. “I couldn’t very well let a perfectly decent duck confit go to waste.”
“So no one’s seen the good professor all evening?” Cynthia looked confused. Murmurs stole through the crowd.
“He attended the final lecture of the day,” said Christina. “I left to prepare for the ball, and he stayed behind to correct Professor Carmichael on one or two points of scholarship. I went to his room immediately before the ball to collect my mother’s jewels, but he wasn’t there. Professor Carmichael must’ve been the last to see him.”
“That’s hardly what happened,” Professor Carmichael stood up, her face flushed with anger. “He expounded on some problematic theories and I corrected him onfacts. I left him to continue with his favorite activity – blowing hot air out of his arse to a circle of adoring young women.”
Nervous whispers circled the room.
“He attended me in Uppercross,” Lydia stood up, her face aglow as she realized all eyes in the room were on her. “He was sitting by the fire and seemed in good spirits, although exceptionally tired. Perhaps he retired early?”
“Perhaps he retired with some new young conquest?” Alice muttered into her phone without looking up. The woman at the table behind her heard the comment and leaned forward to whisper it to her friends. On the other side of our table, David bristled. Christina’s face reddened. Gerald slammed his drink down on the counter and strode toward the stage.
“I’ll accept the award on his behalf,” he bellowed. “Seeing as it’s reallymywork that you’re awarding.”
“Oh, this is going to get ugly,” Morrie leaned forward, steepling his hands together in gleeful anticipation.
Christina’s face fell, her whole body crumpling as her father’s reputation become the talk of the room. And even though I thought the guy was a creep, I didn’t want to see her hurt, especially among her peers. “I saw him nodding off in his chair just before the ball,” I called out. “Perhaps he’s fallen asleep after the excitement of the day. I’ll go fetch him.”
Thinking it best to get the professor onto the stage before the room erupted into chaos, I raced into the antechamber where Professor Hathaway had been sitting with Lydia draped across his lap. The chair still sat beside the roaring fireplace. Tufts of his blonde hair poked over the top.
I knew it. I knew he must have fallen asleep. That fire looks so warm and cozy.
“Professor Hathaway?” I approached the chair, hoping I wouldn’t startle him.
