“I thought you would.”
Daphne returned her attention to Arthur. “How kind of you to tell me that my work compares favorably with noted male authors. Goodness, but compliments like that do leave my little female heart all aflutter.”
Arthur raked a hand through his hair, leaving it more disheveled than ever. “Please do not say that you’re taking what I believewas a compliment as an insult because, believe me, that was not my intention.”
“I’m sure itwasn’tintentional, considering you want to hire the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency,” Daphne said coolly. “With that said,asa partner, I’m already convinced it wouldn’t be a good idea for us to take up your case, as we here at the agency normally expect to enjoy working with our clients.”
“That’s exactly what I already told him,” Eunice said.
“And it’s reasoning I find rather faulty,” Arthur argued. “I cannot believe that some of the clients you’ve taken on before me—or at least the ones connected with the New York Four Hundred—are enjoyable to work with.”
Daphne tilted her head. “I suppose that is a valid point, but you see, dealing with a disagreeable society lady is completely different than dealing with a contrary gentleman. Contrary gentlemen tend to make women nervous. I don’t imagine you’d enjoy spending time with nervous inquiry agents who often happen to be armed.” She smiled a tight smile. “Nerves and firearms really shouldn’t go hand in hand.”
For the briefest of seconds, Eunice was certain Arthur was going to concede the point and take his leave, until he crossed his arms over his chest and began considering Daphne in a very calculating fashion. “I’ve clearly made a grave misstep today, one I’m sure I can’t remedy with a simple apology, so allow me to present my case a bit differently.” He took a step forward. “You, Mrs. Henderson, are known for penning mysteries with unusual twists and turns. I assure you, the mystery I need solving is incredibly complex and would certainly provide you with fodder for a future book.”
To give Arthur credit, as a strategy it was brilliant because Daphne’s eyes began brimming with curiosity.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to hear a few particulars about your case,” Daphne said before Eunice could do more than settle the tip of her pointy black boot directly on top of Daphne’s delicate afternoon slipper, earning a rather guilty look, along with a touch of a grunt, from Daphne in return. However, before Daphne couldrevoke her invitation, Arthur was settling an encouraging smile on her.
“As I’ve already told Mrs. Holbrooke, I’m interested in procuring the services of your agency to locate a missing person. It’s a complicated case, one that stymied the Pinkertons, and it’s rife with intrigue, danger, and a person who has been missing for over seven years—and there is an unsolved murder at the center of everything.”
It was almost impossible to hold back a groan when Daphne raised a hand to her throat. “A missing personandan unsolved murder?”
“Indeed, and if that’s not enough incentive to at least listen to the details of my case, know that I’ve also offered to pay your agency three times your usual fee.”
Daphne turned to Eunice. “It reallywouldn’thurt to hear the particulars of his case.”
“You just said you were convinced we shouldn’t take him on as a client,” Eunice pointed out.
“But he’s willing to give us three times our usual fee.”
“Which is not enough of an incentive to convince me we should look into his case.”
The wide smile now residing on Arthur’s face suggested the man smelled victory in the air. “What if I not only pay three times your usual fee but also include a two-thousand-dollar bonus as an added inducement to take on my case?”
Daphne gave the sleeve of Eunice’s black mourning gown a tug. “Two thousand dollars would be quite the inducement.”
“We’re not going to take on Mr. Livingston’s case merely because he’s offering us what amounts to a bribe.”
“He called it a bonus, and, again, it wouldn’t hurt to hear what he has to say. It does sound like an intriguing case, and you can’t tell me you’re not at least a little curious to hear more.”
Truth be told, Eunicewasmore than a little curious to hear what Arthur had to say regarding the missing person and the murder that had occurred, especially given that she was involvedwith both of those incidents. She was also curious to learn why he was willing to part with a substantial amount of money to secure the services of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency.
Even though her instincts were screaming at her that lingering in Arthur’s company was not a good idea, she gave a nod of her veil-covered head, which had Daphne directing her full attention to Arthur.
“If you’d be so kind as to resume your seat, Mr. Livingston, we’ll then get down to business.”
After everyone was settled, Arthur turned a charming smile on Daphne, one he’d never turned Eunice’s way. “What would you care to know first?” he asked.
Daphne straightened from rummaging around in the large bag she was never without, brandishing a notepad and pencil. “Let us begin with the basics regarding this missing person and then we’ll move on to the murder. Who is he, and he’s been missing for, was it seven years?”
“It’s a she, not a he, and yes, she’s been missing for a little over seven years.” Arthur reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded-up piece of parchment.
Trepidation began swimming through Eunice’s veins when Arthur got to his feet and smoothed the parchment out on Eunice’s desk, gesturing for Daphne to take a closer look. “This is Miss Eugenia Howland, the missing woman. I had an artist create this flyer from a painting that hangs in Eugenia’s home in Montana. As you can see, she’s an unusually beautiful woman, possessed of very light blond hair and eyes that are a unique shade of blue. I’m of the belief that those distinctive features will eventually lead to a resolution concerning her disappearance.”
It really came as no surprise when Daphne’s mouth gaped open as she peered at the image staring up at her from the desk, an image Daphne was all too familiar with considering it just happened to be an image of Eunice.
CHAPTER
