A Proposal to Die For (A Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery, Book 1) by Vivian Conroy

Author:Vivian Conroy [Conroy, Vivian]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

A group of guests was set to leave when they came in, porters carrying out the heavy leather suitcases to put into the waiting cars. A tall woman with white fur casually draped round her shoulders descended the steps with the grace of a duchess, casting an interested look at Jake from under her blackened lashes.

Alkmene had sat at her own dressing table this morning studying her face and wondering if it needed more than just the little mascara she put on her lashes and the little red she dabbed to her lips. Evelyn Steinbeck would of course size her up, and she fully intended to be a match for the American heiress.

She sailed ahead of Jake, past the elevators where a boy in the hotel’s red uniform with gold buttons was waiting to assist. The doors into the breakfast room were open, and a maid passed them with a tray full of cappuccino cups. Jake asked her to bring them two as well and took a table with full view of the windows and the lone heiress, studying the view with a lost look on her face.

She looked younger than she had done the night Alkmene had met her. Like the tragedy had stripped away some of her high society veneer, leaving her exposed.

Jake kicked her under the table. Alkmene looked at him, then as he winked, she rose and walked over, her most surprised expression in place. ‘Excuse me… Did we not meet recently? Yes, you were so busy adjusting the screen so it didn’t fall on the table with all the crystal glasses. You saved us from disaster then. I don’t think we were properly introduced at the time. Alkmene Callender.’ She added almost as an afterthought, ‘Lady Alkmene.’

Evelyn Steinbeck’s blank expression changed at once to excitement. ‘Oh, I remember. Please do sit down.’ She gestured at the empty seat across from her.

Alkmene said, ‘I am here with a friend. Do you mind if he joins us too?’ She nodded subtly in the direction of Jake Dubois.

Evelyn Steinbeck looked. Her eyes lit. ‘Not at all. Yoo-hoo!’ Her piercing voice drew all eyes to her. She waved ecstatically at Jake. ‘Come on over!’

Cringing, Alkmene lowered herself into the seat. Jake approached and shook hands with Evelyn, introducing himself as Dubois, journalist.

‘Mr Dubois is looking into a sea disaster,’ Alkmene said quickly. ‘Hair-raising, when you hear the details. You came here by boat too, I assume?’

‘Yes. There was such a strong wind during part of the journey. Terrifying.’

‘Your first time away from home?’ Dubois ventured. ‘You must have felt quite lost on the ship.’

‘I wasn’t alone.’ Evelyn fell silent as if she had already said too much. She added quickly, ‘My uncle had sent someone to accompany me.’

Alkmene glanced at Jake. That person would have to make the journey twice. Expensive, not to say extravagant. Why had Norwhich not simply written to his niece and arranged for the crossing? Evelyn wasn’t a child who couldn’t be left alone on a boat.

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