“Bribed someone to get information he’s not at liberty to disclose? Surprisingly enough, I’ve never needed to.”

“That is surprising, and I wouldn’t call it a bribe. More of a...oh, a gratuity.”

“How much of a gratuity would you recommend?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Ten francs.”

“Ten francs? That’s rather exorbitant, don’t you think? My pockets are not endless.”

“Haven’t you collected dues this month?” she said under her breath.”

His brows drew together in confusion. “What?”

“Nothing.” She waved away his question. She had already decided it was best not to let him know of her suspicions.

“I could get a room here for ten francs.” He paused. “Well, half a room.”

“Then it should do the trick.” She waved him off. “Go on.”

He heaved a resigned sigh.

“And don’t forget to mention Heloise was last seen here. That’s very important in terms of encouraging his cooperation.”

“I shall keep that in mind,” he muttered and returned to the desk clerk. India didn’t actually see money change hands, but the desk clerk left for what was probably only a few minutes but seemed much longer. At last he returned and spoke briefly with Derek. Derek nodded and started toward her, the expression on his face annoyingly noncommittal.

“Did you learn anything?”

“Yes.” He took her elbow and steered her toward the door.

India’s heart jumped. “Tell me.”

“In the last six weeks, this hotel—as well as every other hotel in Paris—has been full to bursting with guests.” He hailed a cab. “A shockingly large percentage of which have been English or American. Our friend at the front desk apparently can’t tell the difference. There is a world exposition here, you know.”

“I don’t care.”

He leveled her a disparaging look and handed her into the cab. “A great many other people do, including, I believe, your cousin.”

India nodded. “That is one of the reasons she planned on staying for a time in Paris.”

“She and everyone else. Although the desk clerk says he did not see her name in the register, it is entirely possible he is mistaken. And just as possible he’s not.”

India’s heart sank. The news was not unexpected. She didn’t think they would be so lucky as to find Heloise the first place they looked. She forced an unconcerned note to her voice. “Then it’s on to the next Grand Hotel.”

“I’ve already given directions to the driver.” He paused. “How long did your cousin plan to stay in Paris?”

“She wasn’t entirely sure. Her plans were—”

“Vague? Indecisive? Undetermined?”

“No,” she said sharply. “Flexible.”

“Flexible?” Skepticism rang in his voice.

“Yes. She had never been to a world exposition before, and she fully intended to see everything there was to see. As well as everything there is to see in Paris. She has always dreamed of traveling, and Paris is one of the places she most wanted to see. She is quite fond of art as well and planned to spend a great deal of time at the Louvre. She also wanted to climb that iron monstrosity that is now towering over the city.”

“Monsieur Eiffel’s tower? You don’t like it?”

“I think it’s hideous.” She shuddered.

He chuckled. “In that you’re not alone. There’s a great deal of debate about the tower. I, for one, like it.”

“Why?”

“First of all, it’s an impressive feat of engineering, a symbol of progress—of how far man has come in the world if you will. Secondly—it’s the tallest structure on earth, also most impressive. And third—I like how something made of iron can look so light and delicate.”

She stared at him. “That’s rather fanciful of you.”

“I can be fanciful on occasion.”

“No doubt.” She sniffed.

“Besides, it looks like climbing it will be a great deal of fun.”

“We’re not here to have fun, Derek.”

“Nor shall we,” he said firmly, but his eyes twinkled. “Don’t you have any desire to see this fascinating city laid out before you? As if you were a bird in flight?”

“Not especially.”

“But you’ve never been to Paris, have you?”

“No.” She shrugged. “I’ve never traveled outside England.”

“Why not?”

Obviously, the man was not going to let this go. “I’ve never had the opportunity, nor have I had the desire. I’m perfectly happy in my own country, and I see no need to trudge about the world in search of adventure. Or for whatever other reasons people abandon hearth and home for. England has everything I want or need.”

“Which explains why you chose not to accompany Lady Heloise,” he said slowly.

“A fact I now regret. If I had, perhaps she would not be...misplaced.” Or at least, India would know where she was.

“Given the flexibility of her schedule combined with her desire to fully explore the exposition and Paris itself... I’d say it’s entirely possible she may yet be in Paris.”

“It’s equally possible Paris was not as intriguing as she’d hoped, and she’s gone on to Italy or Switzerland or parts as yet unknown,” she said with far more irritation than his comment warranted. At least, this comment.

No, it was what he’d said about India choosing not to accompany Heloise. She really hadn’t made a choice. She’d thought nothing of it at the time, but when Heloise had announced she was going to spend upward of half a year traveling Europe, she had not included her younger cousin in her plans. Certainly, such a trip was not something India would have joined in anyway, but Derek was wrong. India had not chosen not to travel with Heloise.

Cousin Heloise, who’d never done anything even remotely daring or adventurous in her entire life, had never asked her.


CHAPTER TEN


DEREK SLANTED A quick glance at India beside him in the cab. They’d managed three hotels yesterday before he’d insisted they return to change for dinner. Not that India had anything to wear other than her staid gray traveling dress. He did feel rather bad about that, but it couldn’t be helped. Anything he could do to keep them in Paris he would indeed do. The number of Grand Hotels in the city was a help he hadn’t expected.

Thus far today they had checked two more Grand Hotels off the list in his notebook—a rather brilliant idea on his part. He had never in his life thought to impress a woman with efficiency, organization and—God help him—a list, but it did indeed seem to warm India’s frosty heart.

It probably wasn’t at all fair of him to think of her heart as frosty. As much as she tried to hide it, it was obvious to him that she was worried about her cousin. And he had once or twice seen what might possibly be the hint of a genuine smile. India was the only woman he’d ever met with such an unrelenting grip on her emotions. It was at once admirable and terrifying. On occasion, he had noticed a look in her eye that indicated the control she so tightly held might be on the verge of slipping away. But that was rare, and who knew what might happen if someone wound as tight as India were to let go? On one hand, he would pay to see that happen. On the other, it might be best to be as far away from her as possible when she was at last pushed over the edge.

Even so, there had been something about her yesterday morning in her room when she was very nearly relaxed. Something far more appealing than he had suspected. He was fairly certain Val had noticed. Derek’s past sins and indiscretions paled in comparison to his stepbrother’s, not that there had ever been any sort of competition between the two. India was just the kind of challenge Val would enjoy. The fact that she’d looked unexpectedly delicious would only make that challenge more enticing. Derek was not about to let the man seduce India. For good or ill, she was under his protection and he would not see her hurt. It was not far-fetched to assume she had little experience with men. Especially men of Val’s ilk.

“I need to send a telegram,” she said abruptly.

“A postcard would be less costly,” he pointed out.

“And it takes a great deal longer to reach its destination.”

“Of course, but—”

“Derek.” She pinned him with a hard look. “If you are making assumptions about my finances, I can assure you I have funds sufficient to pay my expenses for at least the next six weeks. I am hopeful we will not be gone that long.”

“As am I.” He thought for a moment. He didn’t wish to insult her, but only a fool would fail to note the offhand comments she’d made or how her dress—while not quite shabby—was well worn. “Should you find your expenses exceeding your budget, I do hope you will allow me to assist you.”

She raised a brow. “Financially?”

“Well, yes.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you here in the first place because you couldn’t afford the cost of a detective agency to track down my cousin?”

“True enough.” He nodded and wondered how much his uncle was paying.

“A hundred or so pounds a month doesn’t seem to go very far, does it?” she said quietly.

What on earth was she talking about? “What?”

“Nothing important. It simply seems to me that your funds, too, are limited.”

“Nonetheless—”

“And I have no intention of discussing the matter further. No, Derek.” She shook her head. “It must be a telegram, and it must be sent today. And I should like to send it as soon as possible.”

“I thought we’d stop for a bite to eat first.” He paused. “And perhaps a glass of wine.”

“Wine?” The disapproval in her voice matched the look in her eyes. “In the middle of the day?”

“Shocking, I know, but we are in Paris.” He gestured at the passing scene. “Paris is known for its sidewalk cafés, and we do have to eat.”

“I’m not particularly hungry.”

“And yet I am famished,” he said firmly. “I would very much like to savor a good poulet or poisson.”