“I do. But if you have the time, I would like you to accompany me to the Nicholson’s as well.”
“You have no leads and are desperate?”
She was on to him.
“What of the knife? Have you found anything there?”
He gritted his teeth. Then, exhaling through them, he shook his head. Gray was good at his job. The best, if he was honest. But he could get nothing on this case.
“And how will you explain my presence?”
“I’ll say you’re my assistant.”
She folded her arms, just like he did when he wanted to convey his annoyance to someone without words.
“Yes, because we would not want anyone to think a woman actually had a brain and could do detective work also.”
“Then what would you like me to say you are doing?” he said as politely as he could, when in fact he wanted to snap the words at her. She had a smart mouth, this woman. “I do not make up society’s rules, Miss Nightingale,” he added.
“Can I not be an adviser?”
“Of what?”
She thought about that. “I see the problem. We can’t say I’m going to try to see visions.”
“Exactly.”
“Oh, very well. I will just collect my coat then.”
“Is your family home? Do you need me to speak with them on the matter?”
“No.” Her smile was sly. “You are safe from a lecture, as they have all gone to the museum. Not that I need you talking to them on my behalf. I am capable of making my own decisions.”
“Fine,” he muttered as she left. The door was open, and even though she did not invite him in, he stepped inside anyway. There was every chance the protective males in her household would want to throttle him for this.
The click of nails on the floor had Chester appearing with a black shoe in his mouth. He wandered to Gray, dropped it on his foot, and barked once, loudly.
“What is it I’m meant to do after you bark at me, Chester? Say good boy for stealing that shoe?”
The large head tilted to one side, studying Gray.
He had no experience with pets or children. His family had none, and he had no friends he visited in their home with either.
The dog let out a big woof again. Gray leaned closer to pat his head, and the brute sat, so he continued to do so. He was sure the dog was making a purring sound when he saw Miss Bud reappear.
“You’ll take care of her.”
“She is simply going to consult for me.”
“What does a consultant do exactly?” the housekeeper asked. Her green eyes were narrowed and focused on him.
What was it with people in this house not trusting him? He added the neighborhood to that.
“Advise.” He wasn’t used to having his actions questioned, and especially not by the housekeeper. “We are visiting some people, and I would like Miss Nightingale to tell me what she thinks of them.” Why was he explaining these details to her? She was a housekeeper, for pity’s sake.
And therefore, did not deserve his respect?Was he such a hard man he didn’t respect those beneath him on the social ladder of life? He thought about his staff. They were paid well, but he did not get close to them. Albert, of course, pushed those boundaries, but he didn’t really know much about him.
He blamed Ellen Nightingale for stirring all these thoughts up inside him. Before her he’d never even considered if his staff were happy in his employ.
