The Rum and The Fox by Emma V. Leech

Author:Emma V. Leech
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2018-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

A bully trap - a brave man of mild appearance

- The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, by Francis Grose.

Ash wondered if he might lose his stomach for the second time that day as Inspector Formby walked into the room flanked by his constable. Both of them were grim-faced, and it seemed to Ash that the inspector was giving him a particularly searching look.

Once Grant had removed himself, Ash took a breath and his courage in his hands.

“To what do we owe the pleasure, inspector?” he demanded, hoping he sounded as cool and irritated as he’d meant to and not as if he were quaking in his boots.

The inspector gave Ash another measuring look that made his heart kick behind his ribs before taking out his blasted notebook. Ash was of a mind to have that notebook from him and throw the damn thing in the fire, he was so sick of seeing the wretched thing. But the inspector took his time, flicking through the pages one by one and then reaching for his pencil, licking the end with a thoughtful expression which nearly had Ash reaching for his pistols again in frustration.

Of course, he knew the inspector was doing it simply to rattle him, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t working.

“Ah yes, here were are,” Formby said, sounding satisfied and looking up at Ash with a smile that seemed wholly inappropriate. “I had an unexpected visitor this afternoon,” he said, scratching his chin and staring at the book as though the secrets to the universe were written there. Perhaps they were, but Ash wished he’d bloody well get on with it. “Reckons he saw you at the scene of the crime, your grace.”

Formby looked up from his notebook to stare at Ash. “What do you say to that, sir?”

“I say it’s a hum,” Ash replied, turning away to fix himself a drink and taking care that his back was to the inspector so that he couldn’t see how badly his hands were shaking. He took a fortifying swallow of brandy, closing his eyes for a moment before turning back to the inspector. “You see, I had a visit myself, rather earlier than you did,” he added with a thin smile. “From a man who said he would tell you he’d seen me at the scene if I did not pay for his silence.”

Ash had the pleasure of seeing that he had surprised Mr Formby.

“I see,” the inspector replied, staring at Ash as if he could read his thoughts if he looked hard enough. “I take it that you did not pay?”

“Of course he didn’t pay,” Keziah retorted, glaring at the inspector. “Why should he? He’s done nothing wrong, and the man is a thief and criminal.”

Formby’s eyes narrowed. “You know who it was, then, Lady Todd?” he asked, his tone curious.

Keziah nodded. “I can take a guess based on the description of the man Lord Ashwicke told me about. I would suggest that it is Martin Snyder, my father’s valet and often partner in crime.

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