She seemed to be choking out all her words, and Michael looked at her sharply.
“Well, we’ll wait in the big room.”
“It’s rather untidy. You see, we—I wasn’t expecting you, Mr. Fane.”
“That’s all right,” said Michael. “Hulloa ...I say, Guy, go on into that room ahead. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
Guy mistook the direction and turned the handle of Lily’s bedroom door.
“No, no,” Michael called. “The double doors opposite.”
“My mistake,” said Guy cheerfully. “But don’t worry: the other door was locked. So if you’ve got a Bluebeard’s Closet, I’ve done no harm.”
He disappeared into the big room, and the moment he was inside Michael turned fiercely to Miss Harper.
“Who’s is this hat?” he demanded, snatching it up.
“Hat? What hat?” she choked out.