“Not if I’m careful. And not if we do indeed find my cousin soon, which we will surely do as we have only twenty or so more Grand Hotels at which to inquire.” Although it did seem rather a lot. She refused to consider their next step if Heloise was not at a Grand Hotel. If the word grand in her letter was nothing more than a description. Would they then have to inquire at every hotel with a grand appearance? And what if they didn’t find her in Paris at all? “And I did carry a little money with me.” India wasn’t used to asking anyone for anything, but pride did need to be set aside on occasion. “I would hate for him to know how foolish I was.” Strange, how important it seemed. Whatever else Derek might think of her, she would hate for him to think she was stupid.

“I can certainly understand that.” Estelle nodded. “Very well then, this shall be our secret.”

“Once again, you have my gratitude.” India released a relieved breath. “You’re being very kind, and I’ve done nothing to merit it.”

“Nonsense. I have no doubt you’d do the very same thing for me if our positions were reversed.”

India wasn’t entirely sure of that, but it was rather nice that Estelle thought so.

“I am also hoping that you and I can be friends.”

Friends? It had occurred to India the other day when Derek had mentioned something about her friends that, aside from Heloise and Martin, she had none. She’d never given it a second thought, and it had certainly never bothered her before. Odd that it did so now.

She smiled. “I would like that.”

“Good. Then as your friend, I must be honest and admit that providing you with a few garments is a benefit to me, as well. It gives me the opportunity to buy a few things here for myself.” Estelle grinned in what could only be called a wicked manner. “And I have always wanted a gown made in Paris.”


CHAPTER TWELVE


“I HAVE GIVEN this situation a great deal of thought,” Professor Greer said in a ponderous tone, as if he was about to make an announcement of importance or impart some gem of academic wisdom. For a moment, it was as though Derek had returned to the classroom.

“Which situation would that be, Professor?” Derek checked his pocket watch, then glanced once again at the parlor door. India had sent one of the maids to tell him she would meet him at this hour to continue their Grand Hotel search. She was late, which didn’t bother him at all really. Anything that extended their stay in Paris—even by as little as half an hour—was a benefit.

“Miss Prendergast’s lost luggage for one thing.”

“Nothing can be done about that, I’m afraid.” Derek shrugged in a helpless manner. “The best we can do is hope it makes its way to Paris. I gave the clerk at the station our address here and Miss Prendergast’s name, as well as pointed out she is the guest of the Marquess of Brookings. I further stated his lordship would be most grateful if Miss Prendergast’s trunk was recovered.”

“I daresay there isn’t more you can do than that.” The professor nodded thoughtfully. “Until then, however, Estelle and I would like to offer our services in the Paris search for Lady Heloise. Miss Prendergast was obviously quite distressed at learning her trunk had gone astray, so it occurred to me the sooner we find her cousin, the sooner we can leave Paris.”

“That occurred to you, did it?”

“It did.” He nodded. “There is nothing that upsets a lady more than knowing she has nothing to wear.”

Derek chuckled. “Miss Prendergast is not your usual female.”

“Yes, I have noticed that, as well. Still you cannot deny her dismay about the loss of her things.”

“She did seem quite distraught.” Indeed, she was far more upset than Derek would have expected. Although perhaps she was simply tired of her gray dress. Derek certainly was.

“I realize we are here only in the capacity of chaperone, but we would like to help.” The professor paused. “Do you and Miss Prendergast still suspect Lady Heloise may be staying in one of the numerous Grand Hotels in the city?”

“We do.”

“It will take a great deal of time to inquire at all of them, won’t it?”

“Well, we do want to be thorough and ask all the appropriate questions.”

The professor nodded.

“We’ve already visited the first seven on the list. There are only twenty or so left.”

“It will proceed much more quickly if my wife and I assist you. We can make inquires at half of those remaining. Divide and conquer, you know.”

“That’s most generous of you.” The last thing Derek wanted was to shorten their stay in Paris by speeding up the search. “But we couldn’t possibly accept your help.”

The professor frowned. “Why on earth not? The very reason you’re in Paris in the first place is to search for Lady Heloise.”

“Of course, but...” Why on earth indeed? Derek struggled for a plausible reason. “Miss Prendergast and I have it well in hand.”

“It seems to be going rather slowly to me.”

“On the contrary, we are progressing steadily, leaving no stone unturned and all.” And yet no plausible reason came to mind.

“I daresay—”

“However, while I am confident we can make inquiries at the Grand Hotels without assistance,” Derek said slowly, “there is something you can do.”

The professor smiled knowingly. “I thought there might be.”

“Lady Heloise had long wanted to visit Paris, and she intended to see everything there was to see here.”

“Quite right,” the professor said. “My wife expresses the same sentiment. I, of course, have seen it all before, but I, too, would like to reacquaint myself with the sights of the city.”

“Then we shall kill two birds with one stone, as they say.” Derek nodded. “You and Mrs. Greer can continue your own tour of Paris, and, in the process, inquire at the various monuments and museums if anyone has seen a woman matching Lady Heloise’s description. You have seen her photograph, haven’t you?”

“Miss Prendergast showed it to us on the train.”

“Excellent.” Derek beamed. “That will be a great help.”

“It seems rather inefficient to me,” the professor said.

“It is. But then we are looking for an older lady whose plans were not the least bit efficient or organized.”

“You do have a point.”

“I can think of no other way to go about this. She only sent two letters from Paris. In one, she wrote about a driving tour she took of the city, and in the other, she wrote in great detail about a daylong visit to the Louvre.”

“We can certainly query the attendants in the various galleries,” Professor Greer said, “as well as talk to those purveyors of driving tours around the city.”

“And, as you do, you will be able to see all the sights of Paris for yourselves.” Derek leaned toward him and lowered his voice in a confidential manner. “I would imagine Mrs. Greer would be most displeased if you didn’t. Unlike you, she has never been to Paris, and unless you plan on returning—”

“Probably not.” A regretful note sounded in the professor’s voice.

“Then this is her only opportunity.” Derek shook his head mournfully. “I would not want to be the one to deprive her of that.”

“Neither would I.” The older gentleman shuddered.

“In which case, this shall work brilliantly,” Derek said with an encouraging smile.

“It still strikes me as a haphazard way to search for Lady Heloise.”

“Professor,” Derek said sincerely, “if you have a better idea, I am certainly willing to consider it.”

“I wish I did.” He shook his head. “I’m afraid finding lost items has never been my forte. It’s an enormous city, and given the influx of more travelers than usual for the exposition and the opening of Monsieur Eiffel’s tower, it seems rather futile, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, I’m afraid it does.” Derek considered the other man for a moment. The professor was a good sort and could no doubt be trusted. And Derek could certainly use an ally. “Might I confide something to you? In the strictest of confidence?”

“Certainly.”

“My uncle offered to assist in our quest by hiring detectives. He suggested I keep Miss Prendergast searching for Lady Heloise in Paris while his investigators retrace her path and try to locate her. It will keep Miss Prendergast’s mind off the possibility that something terrible has happened to her cousin. And if something has, well, it might be best if she and I are not the ones to discover that.”

Professor Greer nodded.

“The longer we keep her here, the better the chances that my uncle’s endeavors will bear fruit.”

“I see.”

“There is one other thing.” Derek chose his words with care. “Miss Prendergast does not trust me. I have not lived a spotless life, but I assure you, while my misdeeds might have walked the edge of scandal, they did not include violations of the law.” At least not any serious, important laws.

“That is good to know.” The professor chuckled wryly, then sobered. “I know better than most the kinds of ill-conceived behavior young men are prone to. However, even in the most reckless youth, I have usually been able to ascertain his true nature. See what kind of a man he will eventually become, that sort of thing. I have long prided myself on my judgment of a man’s character.” He met Derek’s gaze directly. “I am confident you are a good man.”

The oddest flush of pride washed through Derek. “Thank you, sir.” He paused. “There is one other matter.”

“Go on.”

“While I wish to find Lady Heloise, I also wish to protect my great-aunt. Miss Prendergast is convinced the Lady Travelers Society is to blame for her cousin’s disappearance through ineptitude or incompetence or misrepresentation. I have discovered that before we left England, she spoke to police about the society.”

Professor Greer’s eyes widened in indignation. “I cannot believe anyone would think such a thing about any endeavor involving Lady Blodgett.”