Chapter 11
Mr. Hobart greeted me the moment I entered the hotel foyer. It was late in the afternoon, but not yet time for him to leave. He was all smiles as he asked me how my day had been.
“Productive,” I said. “And yours?”
“Pleasant, thank you.” The manager did enjoy his work, although I suspected he wouldn’t describe it as pleasant if he was answering someone who wasn’t related to the Bainbridge family.
“I’ve been tasked with informing you about three things, Miss Fox.
The first is to give you a message from Sir Ronald.
You are expected to join the family at dinner tonight. ”
“Thank you. And the second thing?”
“There is a meeting tomorrow afternoon at four to discuss specifics for security at the Bella Vita Company’s presentation. I thought you should be there, considering you know this Pierce fellow. Harry should, too. I’ll telephone him before I leave to let him know.”
“I’ll be there. And the third thing?”
“Miss Cotton wishes to see you if you can spare the time. She’s using my office to make some telephone calls.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hobart.” I was about to walk off when I thought of something. “Have you bought Harry a gift for his birthday?”
“My wife bought him a tie and matching handkerchief. She spent quite a bit of time last night embroidering his initials into the latter.”
“I don’t know what to get him. Do you have any ideas?”
“None. If we did, we’d buy something more interesting than a tie.”
I sighed. “It’s in three days and I can’t think of a single thing.”
“Your presence at his birthday lunch will be gift enough for him, I’m sure.”
“You’re too kind, Mr. Hobart, but I must arrive with something. His mother will think poorly of me if I don’t.”
“Ah. If the gift is to impress my indomitable sister-in-law rather than Harry himself, then may I advise something that proves you know him well. Nothing ostentatious or expensive, but shows you care enough that you want to give him something that reflects his character.” The corners of his eyes crinkled with his smile.
“Not a tie or handkerchief. I hope that helps.”
I thanked him and walked off, feeling more anxious about what to get Harry than before.
Harmony was just hanging up the telephone earpiece when I entered Mr. Hobart’s office. I indicated the desk, the telephone and papers. “This suits you, Harmony.”
“Getting my own office is a long way off, Cleo, but thank you. I’ve finished here, and Mr. Hobart will be requiring his office back. Shall we go up to your suite?”
“All right, but what did you need to talk to me about?”
“I thought you might want help doing your hair for dinner tonight.”
“You’re not my maid at the moment. You don’t have to do my hair.”
She rounded the desk, clutching a folder full of papers. “I want to.”
“Don’t be silly, Harmony. I’ll ask Jane or one of the other maids.”
“I insist.”
“This isn’t about my hair, is it? You want to talk to me.”
She sniffed. “Very well, I admit it. I’ve missed our chats after you’ve spent a day investigating.”
We’d had breakfast together that morning, but I didn’t remind her of that. I looped my arm through hers. “I’ve missed them, too. But you can chat to me of an evening without doing my hair. You don’t need an excuse.”
“I’m doing it anyway. Jane isn’t as good, and neither of us will be as carefree with our conversation with her around.” She had a point.
Once in my suite, I put in an order to the kitchen through the speaking tube for tea to be sent up. After it was delivered by one of the footmen, we both took off our shoes and sat on the sofa with contented sighs.
“Tell me what you learned today,” Harmony said. “Have you narrowed down your list of suspects?”
“We’ll discuss the investigation in a moment, but first, I have to ask you something more important.”
“More important than solving a murder?”
“Perhaps not quite, but it is tying my stomach in knots just thinking about it.”
“You poor thing. Is it Mr. Lombardi?”
“It’s Harry’s birthday present. I don’t know what to get him.”
“A tie? Handkerchief?”
“It’s the first birthday gift I’ll ever get him, and there’ll never be another first. It needs to be special.”
“You could embroider the handkerchief yourself.”
“Aside from the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Hobart are giving him that exact thing, I do not think my embroidery skills are up to the task. I’m adequate, at best.”
“You’ll think of something, Cleo.”
I sighed. She was even less help than Mr. Hobart.
“You will,” she insisted. “You have good instincts.”
I pulled a face. “Not always. For instance, Mr. Lombardi likes men as well as women, but I would never have guessed. Possibly Dr. Iverson, too, although he vehemently denies it. That’s two men in a matter of days, and I was quite oblivious. I can’t always trust my instincts.”
“Men who like men are very good at hiding their nature. They have to be. You can trust your instincts, Cleo. They’re right about most things.”
I studied her over the rim of my teacup, but she seemed quite serious. “Are you forgetting that I accused Harry of murder last Christmas, based on instinct?”
“That doesn’t count. It was your way of flirting with him.”
“Hardly. I wasn’t interested in him at that time.”
“Ha!”
“Also, it’s a terrible way to flirt with a man. ‘Excuse me, sir.’” I playfully batted my eyelashes at her. “‘You’re far too handsome and charming to be true, so you must be guilty of poisoning the guest.’”
She laughed softly. “I didn’t say you were a good flirt.”
I giggled. “At least I didn’t pretend to eat food I don’t like to flirt with one of the cooks.”
“I do like Victor’s cooking!”
“I saw you stuff the results of his experimental flourless cake into your apron pocket.”
“I was saving it for later.”
“You took a bite first and told him it was delicious.”
She flashed a grin. “It was truly awful. Fortunately, we’re now at a point where we don’t have to flirt anymore or try to impress one another.”
I sighed again. “Unfortunately, Harry and I are not at that point. I have to buy him something special for his birthday.”
“Trust your instincts, Cleo. They are good. You’ll think of something to get him. Now, drink up then let’s choose you something to wear to dinner.”
If I’d known who we were dining with, I might not have gone out of my way to look nice. The last person whose attention I wanted to attract was Mr. Lombardi. Unfortunately, he and I were the first to arrive at the table.
Mr. Lombardi took advantage of being alone and trapped my hand in his. He drew it to his lips but didn’t kiss it. “It is a pleasure to dine with a beautiful lady.”
“Two ladies. My cousin will be joining us any moment.” I tried to remove my hand, but he held it tightly. I was glad I was wearing gloves so I couldn’t feel the hair of his moustache or his breath on my bare skin.
“Of course, of course. Miss Bainbridge is a flower, but you, Miss Fox, are a gem. A diamond, if I may be so bold.” He finally kissed my hand.
I whipped it away. His smile didn’t waver, however. He moved his chair closer to mine.
“I am very glad that we can speak alone, Miss Fox. I think you and I understand each other, yes?”
“No, I don’t think we do.”
“Ah, but I sense you are a woman of great spirit. I think you like adventure, and I am a great traveler.” Was he suggesting I run away with him? “You were an orphan, and I did not have my family’s support.”
“Our situations are not the same, Mr. Lombardi.”
His hand whipped out and grasped mine again, catching me unawares.
“I worked hard to be successful, but now I can enjoy my success.” His tongue darted out beneath the moustache like a woodland creature inspecting its surroundings.
“I would like to enjoy it with you while I am in London, Miss Fox. I am a generous man. Very generous.”
Harmony told me I had good instincts. I was going to trust them now and be rude to a guest. I snatched my hand out of his grip, shifted my chair away, and grabbed the fish fork. “Touch me again and I will stab you in the thigh.”
He tipped his head back and laughed.
Floyd approached, frowning. “Did my cousin say something amusing?” He may have addressed Mr. Lombardi, but he watched me closely.
“She is a diamond, Mr. Bainbridge. Exquisite. I cannot believe she is not married. In Italy, she would have been snapped up by now.” He snapped his fingers. “Women of such passion are rare jewels, particularly in England I have found.”
Floyd’s frown deepened. “Passion? Cleo?”
I set the fork down beside the others. “Mr. Lombardi was telling me how he is a very successful businessman. I was about to respond by asking if that’s due to the popularity of the Nerve Elixir.”
“Yes, it is.” Mr. Lombardi straightened his shoulders, puffing out his chest. “I do not want to boast, as I know you English do not like that, but my tonic is the best in Europe. Perhaps the world!”
“I thought you didn’t mean to boast,” Floyd said, his smile hard.
“Ah! But it is not me who says this. It is everyone. The actress Sarah Bernhardt, the writers Rudyard Kipling and Jules Verne. Even your queen says it is fortifying!” Mr. Lombardi emphasized the statement with raised arms, as if he were an evangelist preaching to his disciples.
“I have read the advertising material, Mr. Lombardi. It is quite the list of testimonials you’ve acquired. As a fellow businessman, I admire your promotional endeavors.”
Mr. Lombardi attempted to look humble but failed. “It is only because the tonic is so very good at curing all manner of ills. Have you tried it, Mr. Bainbridge?”
“No. I’m not ill.”
“I will give you a bottle tomorrow. I have been wanting to give one to your mother, but I have not seen much of Lady Bainbridge in the hotel. I think she suffers from her nerves, yes? She will benefit from my tonic, I guarantee. The entire world cannot be wrong.”