The Merryweather Jewel Thefts.

Chapter 6

"No!"

I looked critisizingly at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a deep red ruffled dress, with black lace down the front of it. I looked far too depressing for a ball. Unfortunately for me, nobody had specified until three o'clock on the same day that I had spoken to Newham, that there was a monthly ball happening in the country club starting at five forty-five. This left me with only three hours to decide what to wear and do my hair, which for me, was not long. I decided to change again, looking through my wardrobe to see what I could find. I pulled out a cream dress, which had emerald green swirls down the front of the bodice, and the same emerald green swirls in a single ruffle arranged in a sort of large continuous W shape around near the bottom. The sleeves were puffy, with emerald green lace around the bottoms, and only came to about halfway down my forearm as I put it on. It looked rather good, I thought, spinning around to check the back. It would have to do, I decided, pulling over a chair so I could start on my hair. While I had been back in Paddington, Isabel had taught me a few new hairstyles, but there was only one which really suited tonights's purpose. It was supposed to be a low bun, with plaits leading into it, and I thought it looked rather good, actually, when I was done. I then started on my makeup, something which usually I barely bothered with. Not wanting to overdo it too much, I kept it quite natural, before slipping on some cream shoes, elbow-length cream gloves, and an interesting green jewelled tiara-thing that was like a tiara but lay flat, so I suppose it was just a headband that I had to pin down. That in itself was a struggle, and by the time I was finished it was already 6pm. Sighing and shaking my head at my own tardiness, I poked my head out of the door. I could hear a buzz of people already downstairs, and I decided to join them, putting on a slightly fake smile as I took to the top of the stairs. I could see Barnes, Fisher, Arthman and Newham with Evangelyn clinging to his arm, in the general bustle of people heading to what used to be the dining room, but I assumed now was the makeshift ballroom. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Fisher presented himself rather nervously in front of me.

"I, er, well, I was wondering, er, whether you had-well, an escort for the evening, er, Miss Dalton" he stammered. I looked at him, and a small smile played across my lips.

"I don't" I replied. "Would you be so kind, Deputy Inspector? It's been so long since we've had a proper conversation."

Fisher looked like he was about to say something else, but I raised my eyebrow the tiniest bit, and he didn't, offering his arm, which I took, and I walked with him into the makeshift ballroom, as Arthman and Newham stared after us. I attempted to keep my composure, and found myself failing.

"What is it, Miss Dalton?" Fisher asked interestedly.

"Arthman and-Carter. Well, Arthman, mostly. I think he was expecting to be my escort tonight" I murmured. "Carter, I think,  will be more annoyed by seeing me with you."

"Oh" Fisher bit his lip. "Should I have..."

"No" I smiled. "I don't want to have to dance with Arthman, and Carter seems very satisfied with Miss Savoy over there. Drink?" I then asked, steering Fisher away from the door, as Newham and Arthman entered, Newham escorting Evangelyn, Arthman Davinia.

"Drink!" Fisher muttered, almost pulling me over to the bar table. We got cocktails each and stood in the corner, watching Newham dancing with Evangelyn, and Arthman standing watching Davinia dancing, and flirting, with every young man in the room.

"There's something odd about her, Fisher" I murmured from behind my drink. "She doesn't act like a lady, does she?"

"Well, should she?" Fisher asked. "I mean, her father was Mr. Savoy's secretary,  wasn't he? Her family might not have been so well off."