Mystery at the Regal Rose Hotel

by C Jane Reid

  She should have done all this at the beginning. Traced Herr Prinz’s tracks, learned who he had spoken with and about what, spoken to each of those people, but she’d been so fixed on proving Gordie’s innocence and then proving Miss Edie’s.

  And now everything had shifted on its ear.

  “We need to get rid of this tea,” Lola told her mother, interrupting her monologue about finding the right florist.

  Her mother looked around the room.

  “There’s always the potted plant.” she suggested with amusement.

  “You’re taking all this rather well, Mother.”

  “Lola, we had newborn calves in the parlor during a storm and a rattlesnake under the stove. I think a little poisoned tea isn’t going to kill me.”

  They stared at one another, then they broke out into laughter.

  “Honestly, I have no idea what is going on, dear, but I trust you. And this tea is odd.”

  “You didn’t drink any more of it, did you?” Lola asked, horrified.

  “No, of course not. Poisoned or not, who could stomach it?”

  “All right, then. Potted plant.”

  Lola looked at the door.

  “You know,” she said, having a sudden thought. “Miss Edie and Herr Prinz took their tea here. And Eugenie said that Miss Edie wasn’t feeling well that night.”

  “Yes, I recall.” Mother and daughter exchanged looks again.

  “You know who poisoned him, don’t you?”

  “I think I do.”

  “Then we should call Arthur.”

  “No, I don’t want to do anything sudden.”

  “But, Lola—”

  “Oh, I’m going to bring Arthur in on this. I’m just going to do it subtlety.” Lola stood and crossed to the ficus plant and poured both cups of tea into it. Then she refilled both cups and repeated it. While she did, she apologized to the plant because, most likely, it was not going to survive.

  Better it than them.

  Lola made a show of feeling slightly ill, and her mother picked up on what she was doing, as they left.

  “I think a long lie-in will be the thing,” her mother said as they exited the small tea room. Marilyn was waiting in the hall.

  “I hope everything was satisfactory,” the woman said with that overly cheery smile.

  “Quite,” Lola answered before focusing on her mother. “I agree. I am feeling off. Too much sugar, I think.”

  “It’s likely. You end up drinking more sugar than tea.”

  “I do hope I’m recovered by tonight,” Lola said, following her mother from the Tea Rose. Marilyn trailed after until they reached the entrance. “I would hate to miss dinner.”

  “Speaking of,” her mother said, turning once they were outside the tea shop but still within hearing of Marilyn, “I thought you might like to invite a few of your friends.”

  Lola quirked her brow at her mother and just managed not to smile. “Yes, I think they’d like that. I believe Gordie, especially, could use a pleasant evening.”

  “Excellent. I’ll inform Sir Caldwell. After a nap.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lola was extra careful. She didn’t want to clue in her plan, so she had her mother call Sir Caldwell to ask him if he wouldn’t mind asking Arthur to escort Lola to dinner. No doubt Arthur would question that, at least a little, given how Lola had been behaving lately, but she wasn’t certain who she could trust, and she knew how easy it was for the switchboard girls to listen in to conversations, even the two who worked at the hotel. Especially them. So the ruse was necessary.

  She then called down to the front desk. “Mr. Argyle,” she greeted, remembering to put a note of illness in her tone.

  “Miss Rose.” He paused. “Are you quite well?”

  “Just a touch under the weather. I’ve had a note from Miss Edie. She requests Detective Inspector Blythe’s presence.”

  Another pause. “I see.”

  “I hope you can tend to it? I fear I should stay in bed for the remainder of the day.”

  “I will take care of the matter at once, Miss Rose. Shall I send up tea?”

  Lola hesitated.

  “Yes, I think so. And perhaps send some up to Miss Edie? Along with those lovely scones. She does enjoy them.”

  She heard him sniff. “I will do so under your request,” he said stiffly.

  She smiled. Eugenie must have instructed that they shouldn’t be sent up.

  “Thank you, Mr. Argyle. What would we do without you?”

  “I’m sure I don’t know.”

  She was laughing as she returned the telephone its cradle.

  “So between Sir Caldwell and Mr. Argyle, you believe Arthur will take the hint and come quickly?” her mother asked from the sofa.

  “If Sir Caldwell also speaks with him soon, then it is likely Arthur will come. I can’t believe he’d allow such a coincidence to pass without notice. Though I suppose I could be giving him too much credit,” she added with a little smile.

  Her mother let that pass. “Are you certain all this precaution is necessary?”

  “I’m not at all certain, but I’m taking it all the same.”

  “And requesting tea?”

  “In case it turns out funny again.”

  “But won’t that tip off whoever we are avoiding tipping off?”

  “How unusual is it to request tea around here?”

  Her mother laughed. “Too true.”

  “The difficulty,” Lola continued, “will be getting in to see Miss Edie while Arthur is there.”

  “Yes. She is still under guard, isn’t she? How will we manage it?”

  “We?”

  “Oh, I’m in this now, Lola Lucille.” Her mother crossed her arms, the engagement ring on her finger catching the light.

  Lola thought. “I suppose you could attempt to see Miss Edie. I know they have special instructions not to let me in.” Lola frowned. “Arthur would have seen to that.”

  “Are you certain?”

  Lola hesitated. “No, I suppose not. Though given how he’s behaved since this began, I wouldn’t put it past him.”

  “Given how he’s behaved,” her mother repeated. She chuckled.

  “I’ve behaved myself,” Lola defended.

  “As I’m very aware, but Arthur doesn’t know you the way I do.”

  “Mama, aren’t you worried what will be said if you are involved? Not just what Arthur might think, but Sir Caldwell and society? I don’t want you caught up in a scandal. I know belonging to society is important to you.”

  But her mother was already waving her hand. “I’ve been in scandals, darling, and it still follows me, as I was reminded last night.”

  “Last night?”

  “We’ll speak of it later. And,” her mother continued before Lola could speak, “I am involved. You weren’t the only one given poisoned tea. I’d hardly be Mrs. Deborah Allington Rose of Sutterhill and the Rim Rose Ranch if I took that lying down.” Her mother’s eyes flashed with steel, and Lola was pleased to see it.

  “Thank heavens! I was afraid you were going to start kowtowing to those blue bloods.”

  “Let’s not push matters, Lola,” her mother warned. She stood. “I believe I will wait in the lobby for Arthur to arrive. If he cannot gain me entry, he can at least escort me back to the suite. And I can insist he stop in for a drink.”

  Lola grinned. “Mother, you do have a devious turn of mind.”

  “Where do you think you got it, dear?”

  Chapter Twenty

  The telephone in the suite rang. Lola picked it up, remembering at the least moment to sound ill.

  “Yes?”

  “Penthouse call for Miss Rose,” one of the switchboard girls said.

  “Lola?” It was her mother.

  “Mother, how is Miss Edie?”

  “Demanding your presence. You’d best come up.”

  “Are you certain? I wouldn’t want her to become ill.”

  “Arthur is coming
for you now.” The line went dead.

  Lola swallowed. She hastily freshened her face with a little more rouge, powder, and lipstick, straightened her floral day dress, and exchanged her ruby necklace for her ruby beads and wrapped them around her neck in a knot. She finished as a knock came on the suite door.

  Arthur was standing on the other side looking professional and entirely too appealing in his dark suit with a black Homburg hat in his hand, but his expression was guarded.

  “Arthur,” Lola greeted, trying for a smile. The tension between them was unavoidable.

  “Miss Rose.”

  Lola nearly waved the name away but caught herself. She’d been rather back and forth with him on it.

  “Won’t you come in?”

  “I don’t think that a wise idea. Miss Edie is waiting for you.”

  Lola wasn’t sure if he meant it wasn’t a good idea because Miss Edie was expecting her or because he simply thought it was a bad idea to be with her. Wordlessly, she closed the suite door and followed him to the lift.

  Carmen greeted her with a quiet nod. He seemed to sense the tension and remained silent as they went to the penthouse floor. When they reached the penthouse, Arthur led the way to the door. He nodded to the uniformed officer, who knocked twice before opening the door. Another officer was on the other side.

  “Two? Still? What is she going to do, Detective Inspector?”

  “It wasn’t my decision,” he said with clipped words.

  “That’s right, it was the chief inspector’s.” Lola huffed. “I hope he eats crow when Miss Edie is cleared.”

  Arthur cast her a closed look as he led her inside the penthouse.

  Her mother was seated in the chair across from Miss Edie, who looked pinched and strained.

  Lola hurried to her and took the elderly woman’s hands. “Are you all right?”

  “As well as a prisoner in her own home can be, I suppose.” She sounded as though she hadn’t slept, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

  Or were there?

  Lola peered closer. Makeup. She’d bet the ranch on it.

  She bit back a smile as Miss Edie’s gaze met hers. The corners of the old woman’s mouth tipped upward ever so slightly.

  “You dear thing,” Lola said, patting her hands. “What can I do for you? Did your tea arrive?”

  “Yes, it did.”

  “Miss Rose,” Arthur snapped. “Do sit down.”

  “Manners, Detective Inspector,” Miss Edie warned. She patted Lola’s hand. “Do sit, though, dear.”

  “You’re excused,” Arthur said to the officer inside the door. “Wait in the hall with Jeffries.”

  The officer hesitated, but he capitulated under Arthur’s stern glance. As he opened the door to the penthouse, Arthur spoke.

  “I’ve brought your personal assistant as you request, Madame,” he said to Miss Edie. “I trust this meets with your approval, and we can continue with the questioning.”

  The door closed behind the officer.

  Arthur sank onto the sofa next to Lola. “What are you two up to?” He eyed Lola and his great aunt.

  “Why do you immediately look at me?” Lola demanded.

  “Why would I not?”

  “Children, do behave,” Miss Edie said, her voice back to its normal strength. “Lola, tell Arthur what Deborah told me.”

  Lola repeated what happened at the Tea Rose.

  “I recalled how Miss Edie came down ill that evening after she was at the Tea Rose,” she added at the end of the tale, “and how it was the same night that Herr Prinz died.”

  Arthur was silent for a long moment, and Lola prepared to defend her reasons for calling them together. Instead, he made a sharp nod. “Continue.”

  She hadn’t expected that response, so it caught her off guard.

  “I thought we should know how much of the tea Miss Edie drank that day. Dr. Tate was very specific in the lethal dosage necessary.”

  “You’ve spoken with Dr. Tate?” Arthur stared at her.

  “It was Vera’s idea. But, yes, we did.”

  Arthur sighed.

  “How much did you drink?” she asked Miss Edie.

  “Only a quarter of a cup. Being in that man’s presence made any more unpalatable.” Miss Edie’s lip curled and her eyes flashed with disgust.

  “Just what is it between you and Herr Prinz?” Lola asked. She noticed that Arthur focused on his great aunt as though equally eager for the answer.

  Miss Edie’s gaze went far away, then she closed her eyes, but not before Lola saw the flash of grief.

  “He is the reason why my Michel was forced to leave France.” Miss Edie’s voice was distant. “Michel loved France. It was his home. He had thrown himself into the rebuilding efforts after the war, but it became more difficult to find work as word spread about what his relative had done. We were forced to leave.” She sighed and clutched her hands together, looking at Lola and then Arthur before fixing her gaze on Lola’s mother. “You understand.”

  Lola’s mother nodded. “Yes. It is hard to leave your homeland.”

  “We had no other choice. I had never intended to return to England. I was happy in France. I adore France. It broke our hearts to leave, but Michel found joy again in this, his Regal Rose.” Miss Edie smiled fondly. “If only he had lived to see her completed.”

  “What happened?” Lola asked.

  “Michel grew ill. He would not speak of it. I knew he was receiving letters, however, and suspected they were adding to his distraught, but I did not realize how very much so until he hired Gaspard Brodieur.”

  Lola sat upright. “Gaspard?” She glanced at Arthur, who did not seem at all surprised.

  “Yes. Michel thought I was unaware of Gaspard’s past, but he underestimated me.”

  “That seems an unwise thing to do,” Lola’s mother observed.

  Miss Edie favored her with a smile. “Yes, it is. I confessed the knowledge, of course. There was nothing I did not tell Michel, and he confessed as well. Keeping it from me had made it all the worse.”

  “Keeping what, exactly, Aunt Edie?” Arthur asked, as rapt to the conversation as Lola was.

  “The extent of his illness, and the content of the letters.”

  “Why were the letters disturbing?”

  “The man wanted to purchase shares in the hotel. He inferred that he would be a better friend than enemy.”

  “How so?”

  Miss Edie’s expression hardened, and she straightened, holding herself with regal condemnation. “The letters were from Herr Eckhardt Prinz. He was the German commander behind Javier Meunier’s treason.”

  Lola gasped, and Arthur jerked as though slapped.

  Miss Edie continued. “He convinced Javier to commit treason in return for releasing his brother from captivity.”

  Lola’s gut twisted. What a decision to make. The life of a brother for the lives of nameless men. Lola wanted to say she’d never have sacrificed so many for one life, but when she thought of her mother or father or even Wyatt, what might she have done to save them?

  “Javier helped the Germans, many men died, and he was discovered and executed.”

  “And his brother?” Lola asked. “Was he released?”

  Miss Edie pursed her lips, then looked away. “Yes.”

  “But?”

  “He did not survive the war.”

  Lola sank back on the sofa in stunned silence. Arthur leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

  “My God.” His voice was choked.

  “Such tragedy,” Lola’s mother whispered.

  “Michel refused to respond to threats,” Miss Edie continued with a trace of pride in her voice. “And he would never sell any part of his beloved hotel to such a man. He had learned, though I cannot say how, of Gaspard and asked Sir Winston to extend an employment opportunity.”

  “Why Gaspard?” Lola asked. “Aside from the fact that he’s cordial, competent, and completely loyal.”

  That gained
her a slight smile, but it quickly fell. “Gaspard had learned the commander’s name,” Miss Edie said. “He had made it his mission after the war. How he learned, he has not said, but he discovered it not long before Michel reached out to him. Gaspard had intended to take revenge against Herr Prinz, but Michel convinced him to let it go. Instead, he explained how Gaspard’s proof of Herr Prinz’s involvement would hold him in check.”

  “Only it did not,” Arthur observed.

  “That was folly on my part,” Miss Edie admitted with a sour look. “I thought he would have given up on any chance at owning the Regal Rose by now. I did not believe he would come here to speak to me directly. As if threats would work on me.” She pursed her lips at the very idea.

  “His coming here was a very bad idea on all counts, then,” Lola said. “Right into the lion’s den, as it were, and without any sign of concern.”

  “The man was nothing if not arrogant. No doubt he could not possibly conceive that anyone would attempt to kill him.”

  “He and Jack Edgars were overheard speaking of it,” Arthur said with a glance to Lola.

  “I considered it myself,” Miss Edie confessed without remorse.

  “Aunt—”

  “I do not need a lecture from you, Arthur. Considering it is not executing it.”

  Lola flinched at the word choice. She had the feeling Miss Edie had chosen it on purpose.

  “That was the secret.” Lola sat up. “Michel and the letters and that he knew who was behind Javier Meunier’s treason. That was what Gaspard wouldn’t tell me and Gordie when we spoke to him.”

  “You spoke to Gaspard?” Arthur asked accusingly. “With Gordie Canfield?”

  “Do you know another Gordie?”

  “Behave, the both of you,” Miss Edie warned. “What did Gaspard say to you, Lola?”

  “That what he knew was something he would never speak of. That it might damage you and he would never do that.”

  Miss Edie smiled sadly. “Michel made him swear to it, poor man. Arthur, call down and have Gaspard sent up.”

  “Not yet.” Lola grabbed Arthur’s arm before he could rise. He glanced at her hand, then at her, but she didn’t move it. “We know Gaspard didn’t poison Herr Prinz. And neither did you, correct, Miss Edie?”