Page 19 of The Locked Room

‘He’s never been anything other than a perfect gentleman to me,’ Harry observed, feeling she should defend Percy.

‘Because you are a prize,’ Beth replied, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. ‘And to men like that, the Louisas of this world are two a penny.’

Harry opened her mouth to object, and closed it again because Beth was quite right. Percy himself might be innocent of the behaviour she had levelled at him, but many more of his status and sex were not.

‘Don’t lose any sleep over it,’ Beth said kindly. ‘I expect Louisa was trying to stir up trouble. A woman scorned, and all that.’

‘Perhaps,’ Harry conceded, because that was a familiar story too. ‘Now, tell me more about your adventures. Did you learn anything more about Serafina?’

The other woman looked extremely pleased with herself. ‘I done more than that. I met her. And so did you, in a manner of speaking.’

Harry stared at her. ‘I beg your pardon?’

Beth grinned, evidently enjoying her moment of triumph. ‘When I passed you and Percy canoodling in the corridor, or whatever you was doing. The girl next to me was Serafina.’

She should have known, Harry thought – Beth’s companion had clearly been a hostess and she was uncommonly pretty. ‘How did you find her? More importantly, how did you get her to talk to you? Did she say anything about Rufus?’

‘Slow down,’ Beth said, holding up her hands. ‘Finding her was a doddle – it helped that I knew her real name. I got chatting to one of the bartenders, told him I was looking for work as a hostess and had been told Ida was moving on. He said she might be willing to vouch for me, for the right price, so I asked where to find her and he pointed me towards the dressing rooms.’

‘Which were at the top of that little staircase,’ Harry said, putting the pieces together.

Beth nodded. ‘I knocked on the door, asked for Ida and there she was, bold as brass and twice as glossy. It took a bit of fast talking for her to trust me but she decided to take a chance when she saw the coin I laid down.’

Harry did her best not to wince. Between Beth’s new outfit, the champagne and now this unanticipated expense, their visit to the Hot Spot had been a costly evening, although Seb had footed the bill for the drinks, at least. She had earmarked the money left over from Beth’s shopping trip as payment for the work she had done but it sounded as though that had been eaten into. ‘What did she tell you?’ she asked, hoping it was something useful.

‘She said I’d heard right, that she was planning on leaving the Hot Spot,’ Beth said. ‘Her young man had popped the question and, since he was a man of means, she didn’t expect to have to work no more.’

It was just as they had suspected, Harry thought, but it didn’t mean Serafina didn’t care for Rufus. ‘How did she seem when she talked about getting married? Happy? Excited?’

Beth cocked her head. ‘I’d say satisfied. Like she’d worked hard and been rewarded.’ She stopped, as though replaying the conversation. ‘But I wouldn’t say she was happy. If anything, she came over a bit blue when she mentioned the wedding. I got the idea she’d been let down before.’

It was interesting information, Harry thought, and certainly seemed to suggest Serafina might be swayed by money. ‘Did she happen to say when she expected to be married?’

‘Next week,’ Beth said. ‘By Thursday, it seems, since that’s when I’m due to take over her job.’

Harry gawped at her. ‘What? You can’t be serious.’

‘Why not?’ Beth replied, shrugging. ‘It’s good money and I ain’t been able to find work anywhere else.’

‘But—’ Harry broke off as the many reasons Beth should not take a job at the Hot Spot crowded into her mind. ‘But Oliver says it’s no place for a lady.’

The answering smile was thin. ‘I daresay it’s not. But I’m no lady, and a job is a job.’

‘Come and work for me,’ Harry blurted out. ‘I can’t offer accommodation, but I’ll pay a decent wage.’

‘For what?’ Beth asked doubtfully as she glanced around the neat apartment. ‘There’s not enough here to keep me busy.’

Harry thought fast. ‘As a personal assistant,’ she suggested. ‘A bit of light housekeeping mixed with digging around and investigating. What do you think?’

Beth still seemed unconvinced. ‘Forgive my bluntness, but how much investigating do you actually do? I know Mildred Longstaff was your friend, so you looked into that case, and obviously Rufus is your brother, but what else do you need me for?’

Harry eyed her pensively, wondering how much to reveal. Beth had proved reliable and resourceful so far, and if she was to be working for Harry, she would have to trust her further. But it didn’t follow that she had to share all her secrets at once. Getting to her feet, she opened the drawer where she kept the newspaper clippings of Moriarty’s messages, and the articles about the stolen diamond. ‘It began on New Year’s Day,’ she said, laying the newsprint in front of Beth. ‘And then it got much, much more intriguing.’

The policeman on the door of number 48 Berkeley Square had clearly been told to expect the arrival of Mr Thompson and Mr Gill, but that did not prevent him from giving them a stern once-over when they presented themselves. Harry did her best to exude an air of unconcern, while secretly worrying that the padding creating her portly stomach had come loose during the short walk from Hamilton Square. Oliver looked every inch the patrician gentleman detective – the cane John Archer had suggested he use to alter his height worked perfectly – but she had less faith in her own ability to fool anyone trained in the art of observation. It was, however, too late for a crisis of confidence. Steeling herself, she let out a huff of impatience and glared at the officer. ‘Come, man, do you think we have all day? Inspector Wells is waiting.’

The mention of his superior had the desired effect. The policeman bobbed his head. ‘Of course, sir.’

Turning, he rapped on the door. It was opened instantly, revealing another uniformed officer. ‘Messrs Thompson and Gill, to see Inspector Wells.’