In case he was merely a convincing lunatic who had wandered in off the street.
“I represent a man who would like to remain anonymous for the time being. He is a man of some means who, for his convenience, keeps a number of suites available at all times for his use in the ton. I am his man of affairs. We will pay handsomely.”
Of all the practical and whimsical things they had discussed regarding the running of The Grand Palace on the Thames (What if the king should stop in? Should they one day plan to keep a horse?That sort of thing.), letting a room to an invisible man had not once come up.
A silence fell.
Delilah began, carefully, “Well, you see, Mr....”
“You may call me Mr. X.”
There was a protracted silence during which Delilah and Angelique carefully did not look at each other, such was the temptation to roll their eyes.
“One would think your employer would have reserved such a splendidly mysterious name for his own use,” Angelique suggested.
Delilah bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing.
“Nevertheless,” was all Mr. X said.
“Nevertheless” was neither an explanation nor a sentence. It was, however, arrogant.
“Perhaps his employer prefers to be called Mr.... E,” Delilah suggested politely.
Angelique pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.
“Amusing,” said Mr. X, clearly not meaning it.
Mr. X, whoever he was, was growing impatient. “All we ask is that you keep the room in a state of preparation should he choose to use it.” Thatweagain! “The room should remain locked and comfortably clean as though he is, in fact, occupying it, and should he wish to use it, you will be informed so that you can make other preparations accordingly.”
“But Mr....”
Delilah couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“X,” he prompted patiently.
“It’s our goal to make The Grand Palace on the Thames feel like home for all of our guests, a safe and secure haven, and that means knowing who is coming and going and who is in residence. We like to conduct interviews before welcoming someone new. It’s difficult to interview an invisible guest for suitability.”
He regarded them sympathetically for a tick or so, head at a slight tilt.
“Guests?” he queried, gently.
For the second time today, Delilah’s cheeks heated. Part temper, part mortification.
She held his gaze.
“For two months,” said Mr. X. “At which point we would like to either renew or release our claim. You have our assurances that my employer knows how to behave properly.”
There was an unusual emphasis on the wordknows. As though he knew how but considered proper behavior optional.
The man reached into his coat and opened his wallet.
Then he clinked two sovereigns on the table. As indolently as if they were bread crumbs.
She’d seldom hated a person more. How she longed to be able to say no and send him on his way.
“Is your employer indeed a gentleman, sir?”
He seemed to consider this.
