Free Room With a Clue (Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery) by Kate Kingsbury Page A

know how much she puts into them tablets—”
    “Tableaux,” Madeline murmured, her mind obviously on another plane.
    “Whatever you call ’em. Anyway, I said I’d ask you to help me look for him.”
    “I absolutely knew this was going to happen.”
    Mrs. Chubb looked at her suspiciously. “How’d you know?”
    “I saw it quite clearly in the stars last night. I told Cecily this morning. A ring around the full moon, I said. I tried to warn her.”
    “Well, I don’t know how the moon knew Henry was going to go missing, but ask it where the blue blazes he’s hiding, will you?”
    Madeline focused her gaze on Mrs. Chubb. “I’m not referring to the snake. I’m talking about Lady Eleanor.”
    “Oh, that.” Mrs. Chubb nodded her head. “Yes, very sad that. But first things first, I say. The lady is dead, poor thing, but Henry is still very much alive, as far as we know, and if we don’t find him soon he’s going to get hungry.” She paused, folding her arms across her chest. “And you know what that means.”
    “I do hope he doesn’t attack the cats. I’m quite sure one of them is a reincarnation of Sir Francis Drake. He has such a fascination with water, you know. So unusual for cats.”
    Mrs. Chubb huffed her disapproval. “Are you going to help me look for him or not?”
    Madeline sighed. “Oh, very well. I suppose my dinner can wait. But I insist on a snack first, or I shall positively faint from hunger.” She floated off, followed by Mrs. Chubb, who couldn’t help thinking that Madeline could do with a good meal to fatten her up.
    *     *     *
    Sounds of laughter, accompanied by the sprightly strains of a polka drifted up behind Cecily as she mounted the stairs. She thought uneasily how out of place the music seemed, given the circumstances.
    Her light tap on the Danburys’ door went unanswered, and she rapped her knuckles a little harder. After a long pause a voice asked curtly, “Who’s there?”
    “It’s Mrs. Sinclair, Mr. Danbury. I wonder if you would do me the courtesy of answering a question or two?”
    Another long wait, then the door opened abruptly. Robert Danbury looked displeased and somewhat disheveled. He’d changed out of his uniform, his dark hair was mussed, and he’d apparently donned his jacket in a great hurry, as one button remained unfastened.
    Stepping out into the hall, he closed the door behind him. “What is it you want to know, Mrs. Sinclair?”
    “I was wondering if you’ve spoken to Miss Morris, and if there’s anything I can do?”
    His eyes narrowed. “I have informed Miss Morris of her mistress’s death. She has taken it well, under the circumstances, and is resting at the moment.”
    “Yes, well, perhaps I should look in on her, just to be sure.”
    He gave a clipped nod of his head. “As you wish.” He moved his hand toward the door, and Cecily spoke quickly.
    “Mr. Danbury, I was wondering why Lady Eleanor would have been in the roof garden by herself at such an hour. Especially since she was dressed for the ball.”
    Robert Danbury’s hand hovered for a moment, then dropped to his side. “I’m afraid I can’t help you with that, Mrs. Sinclair. Miss Morris was helping my wife prepare for the ball when I left to search for the dog. Miss Morris had taken it for a walk earlier, and it had slipped its lead. When I returned to the room, my wife had already left. I assumed she had become tired of waiting and had decided to accompany one of our acquaintances to the ball.”
    “You found the dog?” Cecily asked, trying to remember if he had it with him when she saw him earlier.
    “Not at that time. Miss Morris brought the dog to my rooma little while later. She had managed to find him in the gardens. After she left I changed into my uniform for the ball. I was about to leave myself when I received your message.”
    “I see.” Cecily frowned. “Did Miss Morris not say why your wife had left?”
    “She told me only that she had left