“That had nothing to do with me and any suggestion that I was involved is slanderous. Now get out!” He grabbed hold of Oscar’s arm, but Oscar wrenched free.
Miss Wheeler jabbed the end of her umbrella against the butler’s stomach, forcing him to take a step back. “Let’s keep this civilized.” She lowered her umbrella. “You realize we can simply go to that house and learn more about you. This way, you have the opportunity to give your version of events.”
He stared wide-eyed at her and his lips parted, but he failed to utter a word. I quite understood his shock. Miss Wheeler was a revelation.
Footsteps on the staircase signaled the arrival of Mr. Kinloch. “What the devil? Barratt, Professor? And Miss Wheeler, too. What is this all about?”
“We’re investigating the disappearance of the two women from Moray Place,” Oscar said.
“Why?”
“We felt compelled to assist the police.” Oscar indicated Redmayne. “We learned that your butler worked as a footman at another house before coming here, and that a young woman went missing from there. She was later found dead.”
Mr. Kinloch tensed but showed no surprise. “That was years ago. It also had nothing to do with Redmayne. His departure from that household to come here was merely a—” He cut himself off and his gaze slid to the butler.
“Merely a what?” Oscar prompted.
“A coincidence.” Mr. Kinloch stepped around us and opened the front door. “I’m asking you politely to leave us alone.”
“You’ve thought of something.” Oscar spoke to Mr. Kinloch, but kept his gaze on the rigid figure of the butler.
Mr. Kinloch grunted. “I wondered if I would regret selling the book to a former journalist, but I’d thought you were a level above the gutter press, Barratt.”
His vehemence took me by surprise. Perhaps he stole the book back, after all. But, if so, why leave an effigy behind? “How much do you regret selling us the book?” I blurted out.
“What?”
Oscar ushered me outside. “Not now, Gavin.”
I stopped on the porch and peered past him to the doorway where Mr. Kinloch stood, arms crossed over his chest. “But?—”
“Not now,” Miss Wheeler repeated. She led the way down the steps.
Oscar indicated I should follow.
My nerves jumped as the door slammed shut behind us. “Do you think he’s guilty? Redmayne?”
Oscar peered over his shoulder at the house. “I don’t know, but Kinloch remembered something about Redmayne’s previous employment. Something that I suspect is relevant.”
“Surely he’d mention it to us if it were. Lives are at stake!”
“You have more faith in people than I do, Gavin.” He fell into step alongside Miss Wheeler. He sported a curious look on his face, one that I couldn’t quite decipher. I’d seen him flirt with women before—women he wanted to get to know more intimately—but this was something else. “I’m glad to see I’m not the only one you like to stab with your umbrella.”
“Only the deserving, Mr. Barratt. Only the deserving.”
“That was well done with Agnes. You got her talking.”
“You could have, if you’d played your cards right.”
“How so?”
“If the way she looked at you was any indication, she would have answered any questions you had. Didn’t you notice the blush and fluttering eyelashes in your direction?”
“No,” I said before Oscar replied.
Both turned to me, causing me to blush. I muttered an apology for interrupting. “Please continue your conversation as if I’m not here.”
Miss Wheeler dropped back and hooked her arm through mine. “It’s I who should apologize to you, Professor, for not including you. It was rude of me.”
