Page 27 of Empire of Shadows

“I will put you in Room 201,” he announced. “That way, you will be nearest to my wife and myself in case you require any assistance while you are here. We are just down the hall.”

Ellie blinked at him, startled by this unexpected thoughtfulness.

“That’s very kind of you,” she said.

He flashed her a genuine and decidedly charming smile. Ellie felt compelled to smile back.

“The rate is six shillings a day. Unless you are paying in dollars?” he prompted.

Ellie shook her head.

“Dinner is served at seven,” he continued easily. “Breakfast at eight and a fine lunch at half past twelve. All are included with your fare. Should you wish to undertake any excursions—a boat ride to the cays or a bit of shell collecting—simply inquire and we will be happy to arrange it. And if you will forgive me for the informality, I do like to mention to our guests that the hotel is in possession of a full bath. I find that our arrivals fresh from the sea are quite appreciative of it. If you would like, I can reserve it for you and have hot water sent over for an additional shilling,” he added with graceful delicacy.

Ellie had been making do with ablutions at a basin in her small cabin on theSalernofor the last two weeks. The notion of a proper soak in an actual tub sounded like the very picture of luxury.

“That would be delightful,” she replied.

“Óscar!” Mr. Linares called out, directing his voice into the back office. “Llene la tina para esta señora. Téngala lista en un cuarto de hora—¿Entendido?”

A lanky teenager poked his head through the doorway.

“Aarite, Papá!” the boy replied with just a hint of adolescent irritation.

Mr. Linares handed Ellie the key.

“You are at the top of the stairs on the right. You will find the bath on the ground floor directly beneath your room—and please let us know if there is anything else we can do to make your stay comfortable. Welcome to Belize Town, Mrs. Nitherscott-Watby,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

“I am very glad to be here,” Ellie replied—and she found that she meant every word.

?

Six

Fifteen minutes later

Hotel Rio Nuevo, Belize Town

Adam Bates wasexhausted, mosquito bitten, and covered in mud. At least, he hoped it was just mud.

He had acquired the filth earlier that morning when he had spent the better part of an hour hauling a mule out of a swamp. He had been on his way back from surveying a new land grant upriver when an iguana the size of a small pig wandered onto the trail and spooked the beast carrying Adam’s gear.

Adam had been sorely tempted to leave the mule out there for the vultures, but Aurelio would never rent any animals to him again if Adam lost yet another piece of his inventory.

Adam looked like hell. Given that he felt like hell, he supposed that was only fair. When he entered the Hotel Rio Nuevo, which had served as his home base for the last six years, he saw Diego Linares Rivas’ face fall into familiar lines of dismay and felt a slight twinge of regret.

In all honesty, Adam might’ve hopped into the river on his way back to wash off the worst of the muck instead of flaking little pieces of it across the lobby floor, but he had been too damned tired to bother. All he wanted was to crawl into his room and stop moving for a while.

“Dios te salve, María,” Diego muttered, his eyes rising dramatically to the ceiling as Adam approached.

“It’s not that bad, Diego,” Adam countered.

The hotelier answered him with a skeptically arched brow.

Diego’s wife, the lovely Ximena Castillo Ramirez de Linares, stepped into the lobby from the back office. Her dark brown hair was lightly streaked with silver and her white blouse contrasted with her brightly colored skirt.

She let out a sharp, high shriek, dropping the basket of laundry she was carrying.

“What are you—a swamp monster?” Ximena exclaimed.

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