Live and Let Drood

looked like breakfast stains on his waistcoat. He had iron-grey hair, an almost military grey moustache, a charming smile and piercing blue eyes. He looked amiable enough at first, but you had only to meet his steady gaze for a moment to see the unrelenting authority in the man. He reminded me a lot of Catherine Latimer in that both of them seemed very hale and hearty and full of energy for someone of their years. The Regent looked like he’d be only too happy to challenge me to a friendly bout of arm wrestling, and probably win two out of three.
    He came out from behind his desk with brisk movements and easy charm, and insisted on shaking hands with me and Molly. He had large bony hands and a firm hearty handshake. I found myself relaxing in his presence, despite myself, feeling safe and secure and at home.…Molly was friendly enough to him, but I could sense the reserve in her. She never was easily impressed by anyone.
    I made a point of looking round the Regent’s office to keep from staring at him. It looked more like a retired gentleman’s study than a place where important decisions were made every day. More like a quiet room to sit and relax in and refresh the inner man. A comfortable setting, cosy and cheerful, with richly polished, wood-panelled walls. No framed portraits anywhere, for which I was grateful. I’d had enough of that for one day. Books filled the shelves of a battered old bookcase, but they were well-thumbed paperbacks rather than leather-bound first editions. And there were yet more fresh flowers, blooming in elegant vases.
    There was just the one window, firmly closed, looking out over a late-evening view of wide-open fields spreading away to lap up against a dark forest, half-silhouetted against the dying day. More evidence, if more were needed, that we weren’t in London anymore. Beside the window stood a tall grandfather clock, its heavy pendulum swinging slowly, ticking loudly in an impressive and reassuring way. I was half-convinced the entire office had been specially designed to put visitors at their ease, to lull them into a false sense of peace and security. I did my best to resist it. Molly seemed entirely unimpressed by her surroundings, but then, she always did. On principle.
    She’d liked Catherine Latimer’s office only because it was full of things she intended to liberate and take home with her. Or sell for a healthy profit. Fortunately, I couldn’t see anything in the Regent’s office worth stealing.
    He smiled easily at Ankani, who was still hovering in the open doorway. “Thank you, Ankani. That will be all for the moment. I can take it from here. Do try and have those execution warrants on my desk by the end of day. There’s a dear.”
    Ankani nodded quickly, smiled brightly at all of us and left in a swirl of sari, shutting the door quietly behind her. The Regent gestured invitingly at the two stiff-backed visitors’ chairs set out before his desk, and Molly and I sat down. She made a point of moving her chair a little to one side, so she wouldn’t be sitting with her back to the door. The Regent sank into his much more comfortable-looking chair on the other side of the desk. There were no in or out trays, no scattered papers; an entirely empty desktop, as though he’d deliberately cleared everything away so he could concentrate on Molly and me. He leaned forward and clasped his large hands together on top of his desk. But before he could say anything, his door flew open and a large, plain, middle-aged woman in a cheap print dress bustled in, bearing an enamelled tea tray, complete with a delicate willow-pattern china tea service, and all the makings necessary for a good cup of tea. She strode right up to the desk and planted the tray on the desktop. The Regent beamed at her.
    “Thank you, Miss Mitchell. Right on cue. And a plate of chocolate hobnobs! You’re spoiling us today.”
    “Those are for the visitors, sir,” said Miss Mitchell. “You told me to remind you you’re on a diet.”
    “So I did! So I did…”
    “Shall I be mother, sir, and pour for everyone?”
    “No, no, that’s fine, Miss Mitchell. I can cope. That will be all for now.”
    “Call if you need anything, sir. I’m never far away.” She smiled briefly about her and hurried off, closing the door firmly behind her.
    “A very efficient, and almost frighteningly friendly woman, that Miss Mitchell,” said the Regent. “I inherited her from someone, and if I ever find out who,