Page 37 of Hearts Aweigh
“Sir” again. Would she ever treat him as a father instead of a stranger? He noted her apprehensive posture, softened his tone, and lowered himself to her eye level. “It’s time for lunch. Then we’ll check if your governess has recovered. Is that okay with you?”
She gave her customary nod. Had Priscilla prohibited her from speaking? He could barely get a word out of her. The guilt hit him again. If he’d been around more, he might have noticed sooner.
Abby bent to Madeleine. “You’re going to love the surprise we’ve planned at the Kids Kingdom.” She met Spencer with a professional smile that was nothing like the effervescent beam she directed at his daughter. “If you come by with Maddie around two o’clock, my required duty will be finished, and I can nanny full-time for the rest of the voyage.”
“Perfect,” he said. “I’ve made another appointment with my mother for three.”
Abby snickered. “You need an appointment to meet your own mother?”
“When she’s Daisy Randolph Masterson, I do.”
The pity that crossed her face irked him. He might not have had a conventional upbringing, but he was still a Masterson. He didn’t show weakness to anyone.
“Come along, Madeleine,” he said. “Let’s get some lunch.”
His daughter recoiled. “Like last night?”
Spencer chuckled. “I promise the food won’t be bleeding this time. You can order whatever you want.”
She hopped up and down. “Pizza with pineapple?”
He sighed. “As long as I don’t have to eat it, sure.” Spencer held out an open palm, and to his great relief, his daughter placed her hand in his. He straightened and acknowledged Abby. “Until two o’clock, Ms. O’Brien.”
She jiggled her fingers. “I’ll be there with bells on.”
CHAPTER 17
ASTEADY STREAM OF PASSENGERSdressed in everything from raggedy cutoffs to feather boas traversed the marble-tiled floor of the luxurious lobby. Emily and Gerry stood at the front desk, talking to yet another Monarch employee. The receptionist was their third interview.
“Please tell me you’re joking,” Emily groused. It had been a frustrating morning following a fruitless trail from the waiter to the bartender to the receptionist. “You found a padded envelope at your station when you returned from the restroom?”
“Yes,” Malaya said. “It was sitting on my desk with a sticky note telling me to deliver it to the lido deck bartender. He and I have been”—she simpered—“shall we say, becoming better acquainted? I spend all my breaks with him. I admit I was curious and peeked when he opened it.” Her eyes took on a sharp glint. “I wanted to be sure no one was stealing my man. But there was only a smaller envelope inside with another sticky note saying give it to the waiter who works the splash pad.”
“It’s like a twisted chain letter,” Gerry muttered as she scribbled in her notebook.
“Were you there when your boyfriend passed it on?” Emily leaned on the desk.
Malaya giggled. “Boyfriend? It’s not official yet. But if you want to slip him a hint, I don’t mind.”
“Focus, Malaya.” Emily tapped the shiny wood. “We can talk about your love life later. What did the waiter find when he opened the message?”
“A black envelope with another sticky note that said deliver it to the man wearing an orange ball cap at the splash pad.”
“It doesn’t make sense.” Emily moaned. “How could the writer be sure he’d still be there? Anyway. Thanks, Malaya.”
They moved away from the desk.
Gerry snapped her notebook shut. “Dead end.”
“Hello, hello.” Barney Bosko scooted to their side, hands in his pockets. “What are you ladies up to today? Making more trouble?”
“Always,” said Emily.
“Well, don’t leave me out of the fun.” He bumped her. “This round of cruisers is calmer than a Sunday afternoon at the public library.”
“The library’s closed on Sundays,” Gerry said.
“Exactly,” he grumbled. “I’m about to die of boredom. Be sure and tell me if you find anything interesting.”
