A study in scandal Read Online Free

research. He hadn’t walked out of the Yard only to forsake his research for lack of funding. So despite his pride and snobbery at working a silly case, he would give the Watersfields what they were willing to pay for.
    He was an inspector for hire and he would solve this case. Or at least he would appear as if that were what he was doing. If they found this sort of thing entertaining, he could work slowly and give them their money’s worth.
    On to the investigation. He retrieved his lens from his bag and went first to the table from which the missing statuette had been stolen.
    There was nothing that indicated that a priceless artifact had once resided here. No outline indust or glass cover. Which meant it was probably handled regularly—the servants would have to pick it up daily to wipe it and the stand free of any settled dust.
    He glanced around the room to see if anything seemed amiss, but it was hard to tell if something was truly out of place or not. Books and papers were scattered about the desk. A few more books, all on ancient Egypt, sat opened on an occasional table, indicating a recent read.
    The office was cluttered, one could even say messy, a far cry from Colin’s own pristine environment, where everything was in its place. Rather, this office looked to be a part of a home—every inch occupied by the owners.
    A bit of scarlet caught his eye, and he walked toward the door to get a closer look. Bending to investigate, he found it to be a small piece of red fabric caught in the doorframe. He dug in his bag to retrieve his tweezers, then knelt in front of the door to remove it. No sooner had he gotten in position than the door flew open, whacking him in the head and knocking him flat onto his backside.
    He looked up to find a wide-eyed Miss Watersfield standing above him.
    “Oh, Inspector Brindley, I’m so very sorry. How clumsy of me. Oh, dear.” She covered her mouthwith her hand. “I didn’t realize you’d be right there,” she said through her parted fingers.
    He looked up at her, simply disbelieving his current position.
    “Can you hear me?” she said loudly, leaning down farther.
    He rolled his head to the side and caught sight of her ankle, and he nearly forgot to breath. Why a stocking-clad ankle could be breath-stealing, he wasn’t certain, but there it was, the most attractive ankle he’d ever seen. More than likely the only ankle he’d ever seen save his own, but that mattered not. Must be the door to the head that had him so addled.
    “Yes, I can hear you,” he finally said.
    She released a loud breath. “Thank heaven. I was certain I’d knocked you senseless.”
    It was a distinct possibility.
    “Can I assist you?” she asked, holding her hand down to him.
    Brilliant . Simply brilliant . Get off the floor .
    “No, I believe I can manage. Thank you.”
    He got to his feet and took several steps away from her. Standing too close to her, he was certain to notice how delicate she seemed next to his overly tall self.
    She was attractive in an unassuming sort ofway. Certainly not the type of woman to garner stares on a public street, but handsome nonetheless. It was her smile, he decided. It was easy and engaging and rather constant. Too constant to ignore her wide mouth and perfect teeth.
    She was distracting with that smile of hers, not to mention those ankles. Ironically enough, if it turned out that Amelia Watersfield was indeed the perpetrator, then he could certainly give a detailed description of her to the authorities.
    He rolled his eyes. It was no wonder women generally ignored him. He was an idiot.
    “I informed the servants that no one is to enter this room without permission,” she said.
    “Excellent. Servants. Ah, right, I will be wanting to question them.”
    She frowned, and he watched in fascination as tiny lines furrowed her brow. “I understand your thoroughness, Inspector, but I can assure you our servants would never steal from us.”
    “Duly noted, Miss