A study in scandal by Robyn DeHart

“Yes, well, I hope to finish it someday, and that my findings will be useful in some way.”
    “Oh, I’m positive they will be. I would wager most people will find the study vastly interesting.”
    That he doubted. She was either being obnoxiously kind or again her naïveté colored her view. No one had ever found anything about him vastlyinteresting. Or vaguely interesting, but he saw no reason to point out either fact right now.
    He hated to admit it, but it was quite charming that Miss Watersfield found his work so interesting. It was in direct correlation to her infatuation with Sherlock Holmes, he realized that, but it was charming nonetheless.
    “Do you have a list of questions for the antiquities dealer?” she asked.
    “I will have some ready by tomorrow morning,” he said.
    “I am most excited to hear what he has to share.”
    “I should warn you, Miss Watersfield, that you mustn’t get too eager, especially in the presence of the dealer himself. People can often misrepresent information in the midst of the excitement of a case. We want to give him every opportunity possible to be accurate and honest.”
    Her eyes narrowed some as she listened intently. “That is a very good point, Inspector.” She rounded her shoulders. “I shall be most severe in the meeting. He shall not detect even a glimmer of excitement from me.” She poked him in the arm, then grinned broadly. “But it will be difficult to suppress it, as I am most excited indeed.”
    It was rather unnerving how she touched himso casually, as if they’d been friends for many years. And the way she was so honest—it was disarming. Most people were barely honest about something as simple as how they preferred their tea, but not Miss Watersfield. No, he doubted she even knew how to tell a friendly lie.
    It simply wasn’t in her nature. He appreciated that about her, as he held honesty as the greatest character strength of them all. Without honesty, there was no real communication. It was why he rarely spoke with people. No one seemed to appreciate the art of simply telling the truth. Because she seemed not only to understand this principle but to live by it, it was ever so much easier that she was to be his assistant in this investigation.
    “I shall appreciate the effort, Miss Watersfield,” he said.
    “Inspector, I do believe it would be appropriate for you to call me by my Christian name, since we are to be partners. I would find it awkward if you continued to refer to me so formally.”
    “I do not believe it is appropriate in public. I would not want anyone to perceive me as being disrespectful,” he said.
    “But you would never be disrespectful. I do seeyour point, though,” she conceded. “Perhaps only when we’re reviewing our notes and discussing the case.”
    “Very well,” he said. “And your Christian name is?” He very well knew her name, but for some reason—a reason he cared not investigate—he didn’t want her to know that he knew. He nearly rolled his eyes at his foolishness.
    “Amelia.”
    “Amelia,” he repeated dumbly. “And you may call me Colin.”
    She flashed him a broad smile.
    “I should be on my way. I trust you’ll be ready when I call on you tomorrow. We don’t want to be late for our appointment.”
    “I shall be ready,” she said.
     
    Amelia took a deep breath, then put pencil to parchment and wrote her first paragraph. She sat back with a satisfied smile. This past week had provided enough inspiration that she was ready to begin.
    She read back over her work.
    Lady Catherine Shadows read over the letter, then looked up at her client.
    “In order to solve this, I simply must know why you are being blackmailed,” said she. “And for such a hefty amount; ’tis quite a story, I’d wager.”
    Three hours later, Amelia had finished the first chapter. She had a few questions to ask Colin about protocol, but the story was coming alive.
    Perhaps Willow was right. Perhaps she really was a