She reminded herself that there was at least one onboardresponsibility that she really should attend to.
London checked her list of passenger quarters to find AudreyBolton’s stateroom. Then she took the steps down to the Adagio deck andknocked on Audrey’s door. There was no answer. She realized Audrey might wellbe in the bathroom getting herself cleaned up.
Or maybe she’s just sulking.
London knocked again, and this time a voice called back.
“Who is it?”
“It’s London Rose. I’m just checking in to see how you’re doing.”
“Leave me alone.”
“Are you all right?”
“Just leave me alone, I said.”
Audrey sounded as though she might be crying. London was worriednow. Of course she had a master keycard that would open the door in case of anemergency. But was this an emergency? Should she take the liberty of lettingherself into the stateroom?
“I just want to make sure you’re OK,” London said.
“I’m OK,” Audrey replied, rather sharply.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure! For Pete’s sake, Ms. Rose, when are yougoing to learn to mind your own business?”
London felt stung now. But again she reminded herself of hermotto.
“The customer is always the customer.”
And if someone in London’s charge wanted to be left alone, shehad no choice but to comply.
“OK, then,” she said. “Call me if you need anything.”
London took the stairs down to the Allegro deck. She didn’tsee another soul as she walked the rest of the way to her own stateroom.
When she went inside, Sir Reggie came running up to her andjumped up into her arms. She plopped herself down on the bed with her dog inher lap.
Reggie immediately started sniffing the damp part of her blouse.
“Like that smell, do you?” London said.
As if in reply, Sir Reggie licked the spot. London gently thumpedhis nose.
“Stop that. Beer is not for dogs.”
Reggie whined and crouched in her lap. London sat there for amoment, relishing the peace and quiet after the noisy fiasco she’d just beenthrough. She thought about calling Amy to check in with her, but decided notto. Amy would probably just find some new way to put London out of sorts.
Anyway, she’s probably in town just like everybody else,she figured.
If so, London could hardly blame her.
The words Bryce had said when they’d parted a few minutes agowere still running through her mind.
“I really hope you’ll decide join me. It would make thingsmuch more fun.”
She also remembered his flirtatious smile.
London thought it over as she scratched Sir Reggie’s head.
It’s really pretty silly for me to stay here.
After all, there seemed to be absolutely nothing for her to doaboard the Nachtmusik except maybe sit right here feeling sorry forherself.
She set Sir Reggie down on the floor and headed to the closet. Itwould feel good to get out of her uniform and put on regular clothes again. Shetook out one of her basic black mixable pieces, a pair of swingy gaucho pants.She chose a colorful blouse, dangly earrings, and a pair of cute flat-heeledshoes, and went to the bathroom to wash up and change.
When London came out of the bathroom, she found Sir Reggiesitting right next to the room door with his leash in his mouth.
“Sorry, Reggie,” she said. “I’m—”
She stopped herself before she said she was going out on a date.
This isn’t a date, she told herself.
There surely wasn’t much chance of anything romantic happening inthe midst of all that revelry. Which she figured was just as well. Surely itwas best to stick to her vow to keep things between herself and Bryce Yeatonperfectly professional.
“Come on then, let’s go,” she told Sir Reggie.
She clipped the leash on Sir Reggie’s collar, and they headed outto find out what adventures might be in store for them.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“This is not going to be a date,” London said to Sir Reggie asthey wended their way through the streets of Bamberg toward the raucous soundsof the Hoffmann Fest in full swing.
Sir Reggie let out a yap that actually sounded sarcastic, as ifhe were saying, “Yeah, right.”
London sighed. Of course, she’d been trying to convince herself,not Sir Reggie.
Even my own dog doesn’t believe me, she thought.
And the truth was, London more than half wished it did turn outto be a date, unprofessional though that might be. The thought of spending therest of her time in Bamberg with Bryce certainly put a renewed spring in herstep. Reggie had to trot especially fast just to keep up with her.
Soon they arrived at the edge of the broad Maximiliensplatz,which was much more crowded than it had been earlier—and much noisier. Londonlooked out over the sea of people with mild dismay. Many of them were still incostume, but some had reverted to more ordinary clothes.
How am I ever going to find Bryce in this crowd? shewondered.
If only she’d accepted his invitation from the start, they couldhave arranged to meet in a particular spot—the Maximilian Fountain, perhaps.
“Do you think you can find Bryce, pal?” she said to Sir Reggie. “Canyou catch his scent, maybe?”
Sir Reggie let out a doubtful growl.
London said, “I guess that’s too much expect even from a crackcanine detective like you. Come on, let’s start looking.”
She picked up Sir Reggie to avoid having him trampled by the manymoving feet, some of which were already quite unsteady. As soon as they enteredthe crowd, she bumped into a tall man who made an unexpected turn. Lookingupward, she saw a familiar face. It was the security man who had intervenedduring her rant at the obnoxious man who had splashed both Audrey and her withbeer.
London felt herself blush with embarrassment.
“Guten Tag, mein herr,” she said.
The tall young man smiled and tipped his cap.
“Guten Tag, fräulein,” he replied.
London sputtered a bit as she started to explain herself inGerman.
“I owe you an apology, sir. You see, I work as Social Directoraboard the tour boat that arrived this morning, and that man had justbeen terribly rude to one of my tourists, and—”
The man laughed as he interrupted.
“No need to apologize, miss. You are not in the
