Daphne’s pencil dropped to the ground, which she ignored. “If I’m remembering correctly, the newspapers wrote that James W. Mason died of an unfortunate accident with a pistol, an accident that was self-inflicted.”
“That would be part of that official story I mentioned.”
“I see,” Daphne said, retrieving her pencil and putting it to immediate use before she lifted her head. “I also see that you weren’t exaggerating when you claimed this is a complicated case. With that said, I’m now going to ask you to repair to the receiving room. Obviously, your caseisexceptionally complex and will certainly demand many working hours to solve. I need to confer with Eunice before we waste your time with additional details because we may not be able to devote the time needed to do justice to your case.”
“Have you forgotten that I’m willing to pay exceedingly well for all those hours needed?”
Daphne gave an airy wave of her hand. “Not at all, but it would hardly benefit our reputation if we were to neglect cases we’ve already taken on. As a businessman, I’m sure you can understand the importance of caring for a reputation.”
“Indeed, but as a businessman, I also respect the value of profitability. It would be unwise for your agency to reject my case simply to take up cases that won’t help your bottom line nearly as much as my case will.”
Irritation flashed through Daphne’s eyes. “True, but Eunice and I will also need to discuss the advisability of taking on a case where we’ll frequently be subjected to a condescending attitude toward the feminine set. It’s rather disconcerting to find myself being lectured by you on profitability, as if my feminine mind is incapable of grasping the nuances of profitability in the first place.”
“I wasn’t being condescending.”
“That’s debatable, and we can debate that right now if you’d like, but I assure you that will not benefit you in the least, especially when it’s all but certain it will have mine and Eunice’s feminine emotions rising to the occasion.”
A blink of an eye later, Arthur was rising to his feet. “Since the bluntness I’m known for in the business world is not helping my argument of why you should take on my case, I believe it may be best if I just hie myself off to the receiving room to await your verdict.”
“A sensible decision on your part,” Daphne said, rising to her feet as well. “I’ll accompany you and see you settled with a nice cup of tea and plate of scones. A tasty snack should keep you occupied while Eunice and I debate the merits of your case. Fair warning, though, it may take us a while to come to an informed decision.” With that, Daphne headed for the door, Arthur trailing after her.
“And while you get him settled, I’ll pull out our calendar to see what cases we currently have on the books,” Eunice said, even though the second Daphne and Arthur disappeared, she rushed for the agency’s nearest door and barreled toward the Holbrooke boardinghouse, which was only five houses away.
Bursting through the back door moments later, she drew in a much-needed breath of air as Alma Kozlov, cook for the boardinghouse, but more importantly, a woman who knew all about Eunice’s past, looked up from where she’d been assembling a pie.
“Goodness, Eunice, whatever is the matter?” Alma asked, dusting flour off her hands as she stepped away from her worktable. “You never use the back door.”
“I didn’t have time to run around to the front, but I have something of the utmost importance to tell you—Arthur Livingston is at the agency, looking to hire us on to locate, I jest you not, Eugenia Howland.”
Alma sat down on the closest stool available to her. “Arthur Livingston wants you to find, well, you?”
“Yes, he does, which is an odd circumstance to be sure. But because he’s still at the agency, I need you to make certain that when Ivan returns, he remains out of sight until Arthur takes his leave.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if I sent Ivan straight over to the agency? Arthur could pose a danger to you if he discovers who you are.”
“Ivan can’t show his face because Arthur will certainly recognize him as well as remember that Ivan was my bodyguard. Being an annoyingly astute gentleman, I don’t believe it’ll take Arthur long to figure out that the widow Eunice Holbrooke is actually the woman he’s searching for.”
Alma snatched up the morning newspaper and began fanning her face with it. “I’ll watch for Ivan, but should I begin making preparations for us to disappear again?”
“That might be premature. Besides, I have no desire to pick up and leave New York City to reinvent myself again. But there’s no time for me to say more. Daphne is undoubtedly bursting with questions for me, and I won’t have much time to explain my story to her, not with Arthur currently cooling his heels in the receiving room.”
She gave Alma’s arm a reassuring squeeze before bolting out of the kitchen, the odd thought coming to her that given the amount of physical exertion she was currently doing and what with how her breathing was more labored than usual, she might need to increase her daily activities, especially if Arthur couldn’t be convinced to give up his desire to hire the agency, which would mean she’d need to go on the run again.
CHAPTER
Four
Slipping through the back door, Eunice made her way as quietly as possible into her office, finding Daphne pacing around the room.
“I suppose it’s too much to hope that you have a doppelgänger who goes by the name of Eugenia,” Daphne said after Eunice plopped down in the nearest chair, flipped her veils up, and dashed a handkerchief over a face that was now perspiring.
“I’m afraid it is.”
“Then youareEugenia Howland?”
“I am, but I didn’t murder my grandfather, if that’s what you’ve been thinking.”
Daphne rolled her eyes. “Well, of course you didn’t. But tell me everything as quickly as possible because I didn’t get the impression Arthur Livingston is a patient man.”
