An Agent For Magdala Page 4

  Mary sat in one of the chairs near her son’s desk. “I hope we will be friends. I especially hope you can capture the thieves before we’re forced out of business.”

  The woman pulled a handkerchief from her cuff and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sure problems like these caused my William to die so young. He was only forty-four when he passed away in March.”

  Maggie rose to place an arm around Mary’s shoulders in a gentle hug. “Please allow us to express our sincere condolences. How wonderful that you have your son to carry on your husband’s work.”

  Mary looked up and offered a tremulous smile. “Louis William is doing this for me. He’s not really that interested in the hotel business and may decide to sell. He prefers managing our brewery. Nevertheless, we must put a stop to these robberies. Otherwise, the hotel will lose much of its value.”

  Maggie returned to her chair.

  Cloud leaned forward and met Louis William’s gaze. “We should introduce ourselves properly. You know we’re from the Pinkerton’s Denver office. I’m—”

  “No, don’t tell me.” Louis held up a hand then glanced from Cloud to Maggie. “I don’t want to risk giving away your real identity. For all purposes, right now you are Princess Magdala and the Duke of Montpelier.”

  Maggie inclined her head. “That’s probably best. We’re immersed in our roles at all times.”

  Cloud wriggled in his chair. “As you wish. What can you tell us about the recent robbery? Even a small detail may be helpful.”

  The young man exhaled. “The robberies always happen at night. Whoever is guilty is expert at entering and leaving without a trace. We’ve changed the locks, checked every employee, have guards patrol each hallway. Nothing Mama and I have tried has made any difference.”

  Cloud tapped his fingers on his knee. “I see. Will you give us access to your guest registers?”

  The Mengers exchanged glances before Louis answered. “We don’t want our guests harassed. No point driving away those who are loyal.”

  “Of course. We act with the utmost discretion and have no intention of contacting guests.”

  Louis glanced at his mother then nodded at Cloud. “Then you may access to any records we have. I can’t stress how important catching the guilty thieves is. Mama and I are at our wit’s end.”

  “I assure you we will act as if our visit is pleasant and perhaps we’re looking for investment opportunities. No one will suspect we’re Pinkerton agents.”

  Looking relieved, Louis leaned back in his chair. “I’m happy to hear you say that. I’ve arranged a tour of the city for you tomorrow at ten with another couple, the McMillans. You can familiarize yourself with San Antonio. This evening, dinner should offer an opportunity to see our staff in action.”

  Cloud stood. “Then, if you can place the registers in a briefcase to disguise them, we’ll get started on chasing these thieves. You’ll be helping most if none of your staff knows what you’re doing.”

  Louis bustled about. “I have a new registration book I’ll give to the reception clerk so you can see who’s currently here.” He left the room with the fresh ledger. When he returned, he carried the one in which Cloud had signed their names.

  Mary met Maggie’s gaze. “We save them year after year. I don’t know why.”

  Maggie smiled at the hotel owner. “There’s no need not to do so. You probably have signatures of famous people.”

  “Oh, yes. Sam Houston stayed here. Any famous person who came to San Antonio stayed at the Menger.”

  Cloud nodded at Louis. “We’ll need the dates of the robberies.”

  The young man handed him a sheet of paper. “I’ve written them here.” He snapped closed the locks of a case and passed it across the desk.

  Cloud folded the paper and put it inside his inside lapel pocket then took the case. “This should get us on our way. Thank you.”

  “We’ll probably see you at dinner.”

  Maggie and Cloud left the office and ambled across the lobby as if they had all the time in the world.

  Chapter Six

  Once they were in their suite, Cloud checked his pocket watch. “Time to change clothes for dinner.”

  Geneva appeared. “The dinner dress you indicated is pressed, Your Highness.”

  “Thank you, Geneva. I’ll need my jewelry case as well.” Maggie chose the ecru silk and crepe de chine dress to make a regal entrance. Malines lace at the low neck created a perfect frame to display her jewels. Green velvet trim decorated the waist and in bows of the draped overskirt. Two ecru ruched ruffles showed beneath the overskirt.

  Before she donned her dress, Maggie sat at the vanity to complete her toilette.

  Geneva stood behind her and their eyes met in the mirror. “Shall I get a crimping iron?”

  Maggie shook her head. “I don’t think it’s good for the hair. I’ll wear mine as usual but with my diamond and emerald tiara. I’ll be wearing matching jewelry.”

  Geneva sent her a worried look. “I hope the thieves don’t target you.”

  When Geneva had arranged Maggie’s hair, Maggie opened her jewel case and withdrew her necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring. She decided against the matching brooch. Wearing these should attract the jewel thief’s attention.

  Playing her part in the Pinkerton drama, she intended to make heads turn. Perhaps tonight the thieves would strike. Carefully, she stepped into her dress without mussing her hair.

  When Cloud saw her, he bowed over her hand and kissed her fingers. “You look like a princess ready to dine with her court.”

  She placed her hand on his arm. “How about with my husband, the Duke?” She couldn’t help wondering how she would feel if they were really wed instead of only in a temporary, paper marriage. In dinner dress, Cloud was so handsome he took away her breath. If only he weren’t so hardened against women.

  The maid and valet stood near, both appearing proud of her and Cloud. Their rooms were attached to the suite. That reassured her that no one would have free access to the suite in her absence.

  She and her duke walked down the stairs to the dining room. She murmured, “Do you feel as much like you’re on display as I do?”

  Cloud whispered, “We’re getting the attention we need. That jewelry passes for real.”

  “I’m glad you approve. They are real, Your Grace.”

  He missed a step but recovered. “What was Archie thinking to use real gems? He could lose a fortune.”

  The same thought had occurred to her when she put them on this evening. Plus, there were those remaining in the suite. What would she do if all the jewels were stolen? The thought made her physically ill and she had to lean on Cloud.

  In spite of her misgivings, she hoped she presented a brave face. “I believe we’re supposed to prevent that. I have faith in us, don’t you?”

  They were the focus of most diners as the maitre de showed them to their table with a flourish.

  No sooner were they seated than two well-dressed men at the next table caught her attention. Each appeared to be in his mid to late thirties. She decided the men must be brothers because they closely resembled one another.

  The one seated nearest their table leaned their way. “There’s no one to do the honors so please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Johan Rambler and this is my brother Dominic.”

  Cloud nodded acknowledgment. “I’m the Duke of Montpelier and this is my wife, Princess Magdala of Bayergrovenia.”

  Johan stared at her jewelry. “I can’t help staring, Your Highness. You see, my brother and I are jewel salesmen—at least we were until last night’s robbery.”

  Cloud gestured to the two vacant chairs at the table. “Perhaps you’d like to join us at our table.”

  The brothers quickly changed seats, with Dominic sitting at Maggie’s right and Johan across the table from her.

  The waiter chose that time to take their dinner orders.

  Maggie read over the menu. “I’ll have the snapper soup, the quail wit
h orange sauce, and the mango ice cream.

  Cloud handed his menu to the waiter. “Sounds good so I’ll have the same. Is the snapper local?”

  The waiter wrote their selections. “The snapper turtles are from the San Antonio River. The quail are from a farm not far from the city. The mangos are from the trees in the hotel courtyard.”

  Louis Menger stopped by. He clapped Johan on the shoulder. “Nice to see you making friends, Your Highness and Your Grace. The Ramblers are frequent guests and will give you tips on San Antonio. However, in the morning at ten I’ve arranged a surprise.”

  Cloud pretended ignorance of the outing. “Sounds interesting. Are you going to reveal it now?”

  “There’s another couple staying here for the first time. Mama and I thought you’d enjoy a tour of our city. So, we arranged for a carriage to take you and the McMillans for a drive through town tomorrow. The driver, Finnegan, will point out sites of interest.”

  Maggie clasped her hands together. “That sounds lovely. Thank you, Louis.”

  “I feel guilty for leaving you on your own so much of the time.”

  Cloud smiled at their host. “Nonsense. We realize you have a thriving business to operate that keeps you buzzing around constantly. We’ll enjoy a drive around town.”

  “Well, I’d better make my rounds.” He nodded and was off to where the desk clerk was waving at him from the lobby.

  Cloud turned to Johann. “I believe you were about to tell us your story.”

  Johan gestured toward his brother. “We’re waiting for word from our insurance company. If they don’t pay, not only will Dominic and I be ruined, but so will our family.”

  Maggie sympathized but didn’t understand. “Surely there’s no question of them paying since there was a theft?”

  Dominic’s sad brown eyes reminded her of her father’s favorite hound. “They’re protesting because the same thing happened two months ago when we were here.”

  Cloud looked from one brother to the other. “You’ve been robbed twice? Don’t you store your valuables in the hotel safe?”

  Johan shook his head. “How can we sell jewels that are locked away? No, we have specially fitted cases to protect and display the gems we carry. We always keep them with us. Always.”

  The same waiter brought their food on a trolley and set the plates on the table. Then, he poured their beverages. They’d chosen a Riesling wine even though the Mengers owned a brewery.

  Dominic paused until the waiter left. “We don’t have the cases with us now because there’s no point. Normally, we would keep them with us all the time. At night, we store them between our beds.”

  Cloud leaned back in his chair. “Someone entered your room while you were sleeping and stole cases that were between your beds?”

  Johan nodded. “The same with everyone who had things stolen. You must be very careful, Your Highness. Those are spectacular pieces you’re wearing.”

  Maggie sliced a slab of white meat from her quail. “Thank you, Mr. Rambler. This set is one of my favorites. However, some of those we brought with us go back several generations to my three times great-grandmother in Bayergrovenia. Losing those would be a tragic loss. Not just financially, you understand, but emotionally. They’re part of my heritage. I’m only the steward until I can pass them to my children and grandchildren.”

  Dominic reached for her hand. Apparently he thought better of the idea and withdrew before he patted her. “That’s a moving way to value your treasure.”

  Cloud stopped carving his meat to peer at Johan. “Tell me about the robberies. Were they both the same?”

  Johan exhaled. “We come here about once a month unless we have reason to go home to New York. We have a regular route, you see. Twice we’ve been robbed but last time we were here there was a robbery and we weren’t included, thank goodness. I don’t understand why unless perhaps the robbers were interrupted or something alarmed them.”

  Dominic leaned forward. “Lucky for us because we had an unusually large inventory with us that time. If we’d been robbed, there would have been huge losses.”

  Maggie’s curiosity drove her. “How do you get enough merchandise to come so often? Getting here is not that easy. I thought the stage ride would never end.”

  Dominic’s mouth made a perfect O. “We get our merchandise by ship at Galveston. Where did your trip start?”

  Maggie glanced at Cloud before she lied. “We started at New York then to Washington DC and then west. We’ve seen wonderful scenery but I enjoyed it more by train. I’m not a fan of stage coaches.”

  Dominic chuckled. “I share that opinion. We travel to Austin by stage. I always feel as if my teeth will be shaken loose.”

  Maggie tilted her head and smiled. “Where does your inventory originate?”

  He glanced at his brother who was busy conversing with Cloud. “Our family in Belgium sends them to our family in New York and they send them to us at Galveston.”

  “Are you from Belgium?”

  “Oh, yes. We’ve lived in New York for about ten years but we grew up in Antwerp. I suppose you’ve been there.”

  She chose not to answer. “And do you speak French or Flemish or Dutch?”

  Dominic shifted on his chair. “Our family speaks Dutch.”

  She filed that tidbit away in her mind. “That’s interesting. Of course in Bayergrovenia officially we speak both French and German, but my parents insisted I also learn the old Bayergrovenian dialect.”

  He waved a hand as if dismissing the idea. “There are so many dialects it’s difficult to learn all of them. I’m not good with languages. English was difficult for me.”

  The waiter cleared the dishes from their table while another served them ice cream.

  As he set out the dessert, he said, “This is Mrs. Menger’s specialty, mango ice cream.”

  Maggie picked up her spoon. “I love ice cream but I’ve never tasted this flavor.” She dipped up a spoonful and savored it in her mouth.

  Cloud smiled at her. “Better than from a street vendor?”

  “Mmm, I admit this is superb. Such an interesting flavor.”

  After dinner, they chatted with the Rambler brothers before moving to the lounge to meet other guests and listen to the pianist. Apparently, word of her being a princess had spread. She and Cloud were the objects of attention from other guests clamoring to meet royalty.

  During a brief respite, Cloud leaned near. “Enjoying yourself, Princess?”

  “I prefer being plain Maggie Harper but, yes, I am enjoying the evening.”

  About nine, they excused themselves and headed to their suite. Although it was early, they’d had a long day. She couldn’t help thinking of the fact there was only one bed in their suite. Neither of them could sleep on one of the two luxurious couches. Having servants meant their actions would be monitored. Maggie yearned for privacy.

  Cloud placed a hand at her back. “You look worried.”

  Shocked he could read her mood, she forced a smile. She wasn’t willing to share her true concern. “Only wondering if we talked to the thieves this evening.”

  “Does it frighten you that we probably did?”

  “On the contrary, I hope wearing this jewelry caught their eyes. The sooner the burglar’s strike—or try to, the sooner we solve this case.”

  “Did you meet anyone today who went on your list of suspects?”

  After a few second’s contemplation, Maggie decided on two couples. “The Vandivers and the Jessups. What about you?”

  “I’ve added Mr. Kennedy to that list. He pumped me about your jewelry and its value. I didn’t like his lack of manners.”

  “You can’t add him to the suspects list simply because you don’t like him.”

  His lovely blue eyes sparkled. “Sure I can and did. I’ve been thinking—what if the burglar isn’t a guest? What if he or they slip in to carry out the robberies?”

  She glanced at him. “We’ve already talked about that, Cloud, and we agr
eed the thief has to be either an employee or a guest of the hotel.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know that but my mind keeps going on possible situations. I’m still thinking there’s something slimy about Kennedy.”

  “Using that as criteria, you can add Mr. Young.”

  “Why him?”

  She suppressed a shiver. “He stands too close when he talks to me and he leers.” She rubbed her arms. “He makes me want to rush and take a bath.”

  Later, after Geneva and Alec had been dismissed for the day, Maggie sat in the vanity’s chair brushing her hair. Her green brocade robe covered her lawn nightgown but she felt exposed. Exhaustion weighed heavy on her and she craved sleep.

  Cloud took the brush from her and laid it on the vanity. He pulled her to her feet and turned her toward the bed. “Stop worrying, Princess. We’ll manage the way we did in Santa Fe. Go ahead and get comfortable. I’ll sleep on top of the sheet but under the blankets.”

  She sighed with relief. “I thought as much.” But, she’d wondered what he would do or say. She rose and turned out the nearest lamp before removing her robe and climbing into bed.

  He did the same except he scrambled on top of the sheet as he’d said. “Ahhh, stretching out like this is what I’ve needed for several hours. Make that several days.”

  He wriggled as if burrowing into the mattress. “Sure beats the time I had to camp in a bedroll and a downpour drenched me to the bones. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Maggie tried to imagine the refined man he’d been tonight camped in the rain. Being a good Pinkerton agent required not only acting ability, but versatility. Obviously Cloud had both. How adaptable was she? She couldn’t imagine herself sleeping under the stars—especially not in a thunderstorm.

  He turned and slid his arm across her middle, snuggling to her. She froze but his breathing told her he was sound asleep. Should she wake him? Having him near with his arm around her comforted her. Not that she needed consoling but the sensation relieved her concerns about… everything.

  Chapter Seven