The cart stopped in front of a wide set of double glass doors that opened into an insanely manicured tea garden with heavily trimmed topiaries, rose bushes, and a fountain in the center. As soon as we parked, two maids opened the glass doors.
Huh, how much would I get done in a day if I had someone to do all my chores for me? Would I get bored with life? Maybe it was worth looking into a weekly housekeeper.
Focus!We’re possibly walking into the home of a ruthless murderer.
I know! I didn’t forget.
…you totally forgot.
“Monsieur Chevalier, his eldest son, and two of the young ladies will be down to meet you soon. Madame Chevalier would love to be here, but she is currently abroad.”
My ears perked up at that. Howconvenientfor her to be in another country. Was she really, or was it a ruse?
For what it was worth, the maid was being truthful, but it was quite possible that she just didn’t know it was a lie. Not that itwas,but after everything I’d been through, I supposed I’d grown a bit paranoid.
“Of course,” Paul said, back to his normal, unflappable self. “Please, extend my gratitude for them being able to meet me on such short notice.”
“It is no issue, Master VanMarche. The Chevaliers realize this is a very delicate time for your family and wish to be available for anything you might need. Their alliance with your pack still holds as strong as it was a hundred years ago.”
Paul nodded, and I realized Jackson would have been a better distraction for what I needed to do, but oh well. I could manufacture a little diva attitude when it was needed.
Stepping forward, I cleared my throat and began to speak. “While Master VanMarche is waiting, we would be ever so obliged if you would fetch him sparkling water with a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice as well as some protein-rich hors d’oeuvres. Perhaps steak tartare or some Gold Osetra caviar—or even Beluga Almas—if you have it, preferably with Saint-Andre triple crème or an aged Comte or Fontina.”
Had I spent all morning looking up what rich people liked to eat when they were feeling particularly fancy? Yes. Was I now ridiculously hungry for things I hadn’t known existed the day before? Also yes.
“Of course, Mademoiselle…?”
“Michele,” I said, crossing to the maid and offering my hand for a shake. “Michele Hawk, assistant extraordinaire.” She looked down at my extended palm a moment before gently clasping it and curtsying. Aw, that was actually kind of cute. I’d meant to keep her off balance, but clearly she knew how to roll with the punches. “I don’t mean to be a pain, but before you go, if you’d be willing to tell me where the ladies’ room is, I’d be most grateful.”
“Miss Granady here will escort you,” she said, gesturing to the other maid, who was a bit more severe-looking and had red hair but was otherwise largely identical to the maid I was speaking to. Were they related, or did the Chevaliers purposefully hire people who looked alike? A question for another day.
“That’s so sweet, but you don’t have to?—”
“Please, Iinsist.”
Welp, there that was. Having a babysitter wasn’t ideal, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still work it out.
“By all means then, lead the way, Miss Granady.”
I left Paul sitting on the insanely expensive and stylized couch in the sitting room and followed the second maid as she quickly walked down an adjacent hall.
It turned out that, yeah, I actually did need a guide, because we ended up turning twice and going down another short corridor before the maid opened a door for me, then stepped to the side, gesturing within.
“Do you wish for me to wait for you to finish and return you to the sitting area or would you prefer privacy?”
“You’re absolutely lovely, but I’m not exactly hot to trot on you being witness to the sins my afternoon coffee is about to release in there,” I said with a beaming smile.
“I understand. By your leave, Mademoiselle Hawk.” She gave a little bow, then walked off just as quickly as she’d led me to the bathroom. I heaved a sigh of relief. Time to waste two or three minutes, then get to snooping.
After checking my phone, then a quick bit of powdering my nose, I judged enough time had passed and headed out. I tried to walk the line between looking like I belonged, while also trying to observe everything I could. It was a lot of pressure, but it eased when I ducked into a side room and found myself in what looked like a personal library/study.
Belle, eat your heart out,I thought to myself as I went over to the desk and started opening drawers. I wasn’t sure what I expected. The room had so few emotional echoes. I doubted anyone had been in there in a couple of weeks, but one never knew when a bread crumb could lead somewhere else. That was pretty much how I had ended up in my situation, wasn’t it?
Unsurprisingly, however, the study was a bust. But one unsuccessful search definitely emboldened me, and I hurried back out into the hall for my next destination.
Cue a rather long montage of me footing it from room to room, doing my best impersonation of a spy without muchsuccess. That was until I approached a staircase only to hear what had to be the two Chevalier daughters descending.
“—cutie, though, isn’t he?”