His gaze narrowed further. “Are you angling for a commission?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve heard of ladies offering their services as decorators.”
“Good lord, no. That would involve shopping, and I’m not terribly good at that. Flossy would enjoy it, but she’d ignore your budget and shop at the high-end stores. Not that she’d be allowed to start such a business venture.”
“Of course. Bainbridge women don’t work.”
The way he said it, I suspected he was lumping me in with Flossy. I’d long suspected he and everyone else thought I was wealthy. It was an easy mistake to make, considering my mother and Aunt Lilian were the only children of a wealthy businessman. Few people knew that Aunt Lilian inherited everything after my grandfather cut my mother out of his will when she married my father. My father, an academic at Cambridge University, had not been the sort of man my grandparents wanted their daughter to marry. At first, I wondered why everyone here in London didn’t realize I was quite poor, when I had to move in with my uncle and aunt, but in time I learned they simply assumed I wanted companionship. They weren’t to know that my only income came from the allowance Uncle Ronald paid every month.
Part of me wanted to set Mr. Armitage straight, but only a small part. My financial situation was my business, not his or anyone else’s.
Mr. Armitage offered me the guest chair then sat behind the desk. “You said you have a case for me.”
“No, I saidperhapsI’m a potential client.”
He tilted his head to the side. “So…you’re not?”
“No.”
He heaved a sigh. “Then why are you here, Miss Fox? Please be brief. I’m a busy man.”
“Oh? You have a case already?” Perhaps it was a little cruel, considering he’d clearly just opened for business, but his brusque manner grated me the wrong way. I never thought I’d miss the charming assistant manager I’d first met on my arrival at the Mayfair Hotel, but today I did. As false as that charm might have been, it calmed my fractious nerves.
“I do, as it happens.” He smiled one of his winning smiles when my face fell.
I quickly rallied, however. This could work in my favor. “That’s marvelous. You’ll need a partner to help with the case load.”
“It’s hardly a load yet, but hopefully it will lead to more clients.”
“I’m sure it will. You ought to prepare for that eventuality now.”
“By having a partner?” He shook his head. “I’ll learn to walk before I run. Besides, I don’t want a partner.”
“You will when the right partner comes along.”
He leaned back in the chair and regarded me. “Miss Fox, do you have someone in mind?”
“I do, as it happens.”
“Please inform him I’m not looking for a partner. If I find I need help as I get more cases, I’ll contact you for his details and I’ll interview him. I can’t promise anything, however, since I don’t know his qualifications.”
“She’s very qualified. She solved a murder.”
“She?” He laughed, but it quickly faded. “Are you putting yourself forward as an employee?”
“No. As a partner.”
He laughed again, then stopped, then barked another laugh for good measure. I shifted in my chair, willing my face not to flame. Unfortunately it betrayed me.
I gathered my wits about me and forged ahead. I was here now, and it was too late to turn back. “Why do you find it so amusing? You can’t possibly know anyone more qualified than me who is willing to work with you for no pay until the client settles the account.”
He tilted his head to the side and studied me. “You’re serious,aren’t you?”
“Would I subject myself to your humiliating reaction if I weren’t?”
He gave the smallest wince and put up his hands. “I’m sorry. My reaction was uncalled for.” It was nice to see that he could still act the gentleman in my presence. He did spoil it somewhat when his lips twitched as he tried not to smile. “Please allow me to explain why I can’t accept you as a partner, even if I were looking for one. First of all, we don’t get along.”
