Poppy makes a rapid detour.
“Maxine,” Poppy says as she approaches. “I wonder if you can help me?”
Maxine glances up. “Ms. Buchanan, hello. Enjoying your first night at sea?”
“Lovely. I have a question. Who arranged to have the gift left in Lillith McGregor’s suite? She’d like to send him a thank-you note.”
Maxine’s brow furrows. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“Roshaan said you asked her to place a small gift box in Lillith’s room.”
“There wasn’t a card with it?”
“Well, it was sort of anonymous.”
Maxine looks more puzzled. “Is everything all right with the gift?”
“Yes, it’s all fine. But we don’t know who sent it. A secret admirer, it seems. Is it common practice to put mysterious packages in guests’ rooms without knowing who they came from? What if there was something malicious in it?”
“Oh, I didn’t think it was a secret or a mystery, Poppy. I apologize for any confusion. Ms. McGregor bought his ticket—she paid for hispassage. He’s part of your group. And I checked with her before leaving his gift in her suite.”
Confusion cuts through Poppy. “Part of our group? Who is?”
Maxine’s eyes flicker. Poppy can literally see her calculating whether she’s made a big blunder.
“You’re her personal assistant, right?”
“I am. And her travel companion.”
“Perhaps you should ask Mrs. McGregor directly. Again, apologies.”
Poppy hears the subtext loud and clear:If you don’t know who Lillith invited, it’s probably because she doesn’t want you to know.
Maxine quickly presses her hand to her earpiece. “If you’ll excuse me, urgent matter.” She pivots away, leaving Poppy standing there.
Her mind whirls. She turns, stares in Lillith’s direction. The man is gone. Lillith sits alone in a pool of silver moonlight.
Poppy hurries over.
“Lillith, just checking in—is everything all right?”
“Lovely, thank you.” She doesn’t suggest that Poppy join her.
“I saw you had a companion?”
“He’s gone to the gents’.”
“He—he looks nice.”
Lillith nods.
“I, uh, who is he?”
“Hendrick Lodewijk.”
Not A.G. then.
Poppy waits for more context, but Lillith offers none.
