Pardonable Lie by Jacqueline Winspear Page B

no, it’s far too early. As you know, I may have to travel to France after I have conducted inquiries in London at the records office. I hope to have the confirmation you require within the agreed time limit to my investigations, though as you know, there are no guarantees.”
    Lawton moved toward the door. “Right you are. Now then, I’m off for the afternoon. Shooting, followed by a spot of tea with Professor Goodhaven, a great legal mind. I’ll have Brayley show you to the room that was Ralph’s and have various boxes of his belongings brought to you.”
    “I see.” Maisie frowned. The room that was Ralph’s, not Ralph’s room . “But Sir Cecil, I’d very much like to spend some time speaking with you about Ralph, in a more informal manner.”
    Lawton seemed agitated as he reached for the door handle. He stuttered and shook his head. “I—I’m sorry, Miss Dobbs, not today, previous engagements, you see. But to put your mind at rest, I’ve been in contact with that solicitor chappie, the one acting for the girl. I’ll let you have further details next week. Good luck, Miss Dobbs. I hope you find something that might assist you, though frankly I can’t see how Ralph’s personal effects will prove anything. Now then, must be off.”
    He’s running away from me . Maisie knew that Lawton, though prepared to support the promise to his wife with action, wanted little to do with the actual depth of inquiry that came with retaining the services of an investigator. What intimidates a man like Lawton? What truth undermines a man in his position? Maisie pondered such questions for a few moments, and then Brayley, Lawton’s manservant, returned to the room and announced that Ralph’s effects had been brought up to the room that he had occupied on the second floor.
    The large room had been freshly decorated, the lead paint fumes causing her to hold her hand to her nose.
    “Gosh, this is strong.”
    “It was only finished recently, m’um.”
    “I see.”
    “The work was booked just after Lady Agnes passed away.”
    “What was it like before?”
    Brayley moved toward the windows, which he opened wide. “Well, it hadn’t been changed since Master Ralph lived at home. Of course, he was only here on school holidays and exeats, and he hardly came back after joining the Flying Corps, but his mother wanted it left untouched in any case.”
    “Because she thought he’d be coming home.”
    The manservant moved to the door and paused. Maisie was aware that, whenever she was about to ask a deeper question about Ralph, someone ended up at a door and was about to leave the room.
    “Wait…please, just a moment, Mr. Brayley.”
    “M’um?” The man’s eyes seemed to blaze for a second, and Maisie knew that his loyalty was to only one person: his employer.
    Maisie adjusted her posture, so that she was not in any way reaching or leaning toward Brayley, and she took a step back, knowing that the movement would diminish any sense the man might have of being cornered. He would be more likely to speak freely if there was space around him, though there would clearly be a limit to his revelations.
    “Mr. Brayley, I wonder if you could tell me if there was any reason for discord between your employer and his son.”
    Brayley became flushed, though only for a second, before composing himself. “I—I wouldn’t say so, m’um. Of course, being father and son, they had their ups and downs, and the boy was very close to his mother, who had different ideas about how to educate him and so on.”
    “Yes?”
    “A man likes to see himself reflected in his son.”
    “And Ralph didn’t reflect Sir Cecil?”
    “Well, not in the way of enjoying the same things. Master Ralph did not care for the hunting field or for shooting. He was more like his mother.”
    “And how would you describe Lady Agnes?”
    “A softhearted soul and a very gentle person is how I would describe her.”
    “I see.” Maisie walked to the window and looked