Page 35 of The Rum and The Fox

“Who?” she demanded, grasping his arm, her voice trembling as she realised what this could mean for him.

Ash shrugged. “I don’t know, truth be told. Tall, thin fellow with a neat little moustache.”

Keziah covered her mouth with her hand. “Martin!” she exclaimed in horror. “My father’s valet.”

She watched him nod, his face remarkably placid. “Thought that perhaps that was it,” he said, sounding resigned. “Had the look of a valet.”

“Oh, Ash, why didn’t you tell me?” she cried, wondering why he wouldn’t have confided in her. Did he not trust her after all they’d been through? “What happened?”

“Fellow tried to blackmail me, I refused him,” he said with such a simple shrug of acceptance that Keziah could only stare in wonder.

“You refused?” she repeated, admitting herself astonished.

Ash gave her an apologetic smile. “Don’t like blackmailers, nasty business. Once it starts, it won’t ever stop, of course, so … thought I’d call his bluff. Didn’t pay, by the looks of things.”

Keziah couldn’t think. Her mind was racing and even now she could hear the footsteps of the inspector and Grant crossing the marble entrance hall towards the study.

“Don’t say anything, Ash,” she warned, needing time to think. “Just don’t say anything. You were here with me. That’s all. Whatever he says to you.”

He nodded, though his eyes told her he thought it was a hopeless case.

Martin! She thought with utter fury. Well, she’d just see about that.