Hotel du Barry

by Lesley Truffle

  Edwina sank her teeth into the fleshy part of Jim’s hand but he grimly retained his hold. His blood dripped down onto her bare breasts. Jim flipped Edwina onto her back and pinned her to the hearth rug. She spat a gobful of saliva in his face. ‘You bastard. Get your hands off me. How dare you!’

  Jim flinched but didn’t let go. He wished he could get away with hog-tying her up with the curtain cords. Her head slumped backwards and Jim glimpsed the whites of her eyes. She’ll live. She’s made a hash of her wrists but no real damage. But what the fuck is she on apart from gin?

  Doc Ahearn rushed in. He took one look at the boss’s wife and Jim locked together in a bloody embrace, pulled out a loaded hypodermic syringe and plunged it into Edwina’s slender arm. She yelped and struggled before passing out. He stood up and wiped the perspiration off his face. ‘That should calm her down for a few hours.’

  After Doc had bandaged her bleeding wrists, Jim scooped Edwina up and laid her out on the sofa. Blood everywhere. Sebastian decorously buttoned up Edwina’s pyjama top and then covered her with a cashmere blanket. The two policemen eyed her warily from a safe distance.

  Doc Ahearn stood up and snapped his bag shut. ‘Mrs du Barry’s reaction seems extreme but she hasn’t been herself recently. I’ve been treating her for insomnia and other issues that I am not at liberty to discuss. Right now she’s in shock and is in no condition to be questioned. What Mrs du Barry needs right now is rest and recuperation. I’ll let your superiors know when she’s well enough to sustain a police interview.’

  The policemen left.

  As they went down the stairs, Williams said, ‘Danny du Barry was a good man. I knew his father, too. Maurie was a shyster and a successful conman. But even his enemies grudgingly admired him.’

  ‘He sure made buckets of loot.’

  ‘Maurie had brass balls. Smart people, the du Barrys. But it’s a mystery to me as to why such a brilliant chap like Danny married that shrew.’

  Brown gingerly touched the gash on his neck. ‘It might have been a mystery to him, too. Perhaps that’s why he jumped off his own fucking roof.’

  ‘We get any more like this and I am going to think seriously about early retirement. I’m getting too bloody old for this caper. I need a drink. Let’s go wharf-side.’

  *

  Cat woke up that morning with a slight hangover. That last glass of cognac had been a big mistake. But the French diplomat had turned out to be a thoroughly decent chap after all, and an invitation to join him in a nightcap had been hard to resist. He’d been an expert kisser but hadn’t pressed his advantage. Cat also had an ulterior motive in seeking Lucien Dupree’s company. As they’d sat in the Hotel du Barry bar, she’d told Lucien about her mother’s disappearance and he’d offered to use his contacts to see if it was possible to track her down. Cat lay in bed daydreaming as she waited for the chambermaid to light the fire and fetch her tea.

  There was a knock on her bedroom door and Bertha entered with a stricken face. Cat sat up. ‘Bertha, what’s wrong?’

  ‘They’ve just found Daniel downstairs. We don’t know yet what actually happened. It’s possible he fell off the roof.’

  Cat leapt out of bed. ‘He’s badly injured? Has the ambulance been? Should we just go straight to the hospital?’

  ‘No, sweetie. I’m sorry . . . but Danny is dead.’

  Bertha wrapped her arms around Cat, held her tight and gently rocked her.

  The metropolis ground to a standstill as the cortège headed to Westminster Cathedral. Traffic banked up but nobody honked their horns. Everyone knew Daniel du Barry had died an ugly death. Rumours swept the city and conspiracy theorists held court in pubs. Men, women and children lined the road to watch Daniel’s hearse go past. Sadness rendered them mute. If Danny Boy could die like that, then it could happen to anybody. Grown men cried into their lagers. Extreme wealth had failed to protect their best and brightest. At Daniel’s club they flew the flag at half-mast and the army’s top brass awarded him the honour of a twenty-one-gun salute.

  Westminster Cathedral overflowed with people from every strata of society. Street people mingled with the money and hotel staff shared pews with movie stars, aristocrats, royalty, diplomats, tycoons, politicians and robber barons. Cat sat with Mary and Bertha instead of Edwina. Tongues wagged but Edwina brazened it out.

  Edwina noticed that Sean had arrived late and was seating himself in the reserved pew directly behind Mary and Cat. He leant over and whispered in Cat’s ear. Edwina craned forward and tried to eavesdrop. Why does he have to console those two? He should be looking after me. And letting everyone know I’m not all alone in this world.

  As the mourners filed into the church, Mary watched them from behind her black veil. Who really knew him? They all admired Danny but failed to understand just how fragile he was. For Christ’s sake, just look at his grieving widow, dressed in a black satin gown better suited to the stage. If we can’t find a more recent Last Will and Testament that woman will inherit the fucking lot. And where will that leave our Cat? She’ll be penniless until she comes of age. Oh Danny Boy, how could you leave us this way?

  Sean gently touched Mary’s shoulder and handed her his handkerchief. Edwina glared at him but Sean was oblivious to her presence.

  Mary bowed her head to hide her tears. She wept for both the man she’d always loved and the man he’d become. She recalled him waxing enthusiastically about his various philanthropic projects, patiently explaining Italian Renaissance art to her or getting crapulous on whiskey and creating mayhem at three in the morning. But more than anything else, she remembered Danny as being the man who cared too much.

  Mary glanced at Daniel’s daughter sitting next to her. Cat’s face was closed and she kept a firm grip on Bertha’s hand.

  Bertha gently touched Cat’s cheek. It was hard to know what the kid was thinking. She’d been silent for days. Does Cat have any idea what’s in store for her?

  11

  Ladies Doing the Darndest Things

  Once her father was buried, Cat turned even further inwards. She retreated into a sleep that lasted for days. Nothing could arouse her interest and she was usually found curled up in a foetal position on her studio floor or dozing under the chandelier in the Winter Garden.

  Mary held a meeting down in the labyrinth and it was agreed that Cat should have someone with her around the clock. The staff all took turns keeping an eye on her. But the only people Cat woke up for were Sean Kelly, Jim Blade, Mary Maguire, Doc Ahearn, Henri Dupont and Bertha Brown.

  Sean was able to retain Caterina’s attention by telling her stories about his youthful escapades in Dublin. ‘So, there I was, kid. With my fucking pants caught on the iron fence and nine coppers’ narcs bearing down on me. Brenda was screaming and carrying on like a pork chop. Rat-faced as usual. What could I do, Cat? Well, it went like this . . .’

  Belinda was anxiously eavesdropping and so word filtered down to the labyrinth that Cat was coming good. It was the first time anyone had heard her laugh since the boss had died.

  *

  Mary was summoned to the du Barrys’ private apartment. Sebastian opened the door. His chin was trembling and he wasn’t his usual arrogant self. Her heart went out to him. ‘It’s a tragic loss, Sebastian. You must be missing him something awful.’

  He was too upset to speak and turned away.

  When she entered Daniel’s study, Mary was stunned to see that Edwina looked well rested and radiant. Clearly she was done with the mourning and it was business as usual. Edwina waved Mary towards a low stool on the other side of the desk. ‘Well, Miss Maguire, I suppose I should thank you for organising the funeral. It was surprising the number of people who incorrectly assumed I’d arranged the whole thing. I didn’t expect such a turnout.’

  Mary perched uncomfortably on the stool. ‘Daniel was well loved by many. And I knew what he’d have wanted.’

  ‘How very modest of you, my dear. No doubt you developed an eye for detail when you we
re trained up as a Hotel du Barry maid. How lucky you’ve been, landing on your feet like a clever little cat. Plucked out of the orphanage and set straight down in a sumptuous hotel. In your case it could be viewed as a sort of finishing school, a way of smoothing away the edges of your rough beginnings.’

  Mary’s face remained impassive. Saucer of cream, Madam?

  Edwina arranged two delicate Limoges teacups. ‘You’ve always been such a busy little bee, Miss Maguire. But I shall be very busy myself from now on. Now that I’m going to be actively managing the du Barry empire.’

  ‘I see.’

  They sat in silence as Edwina poured the tea. She plunged the silver tongs into the sugar bowl and held up a lump of sugar. ‘One lump or two?’

  ‘Three, please.’

  And this was from a woman who never took sugar. They both stirred their cups more vigorously than required. Mary felt a bubble of mirth rising upwards.

  Edwina daintily nibbled on a digestive biscuit. Mary noticed a smear of blood-red lipstick on Edwina’s teacup. Daniel had mentioned that Edwina’s lipstick was all over their apartment: on towels, napkins, bed sheets, glassware and even his clothing.

  He’d said, ‘Animals mark their territory with urine, it scares off their competitors. My wife does it with lipstick stains. Often when I remove my coat in public, someone tells me I’ve got lipstick on my collar. And I’ve got no bloody idea as to how it got there.’

  Edwina and Mary sipped their tea in icy silence. Mary could hear Sebastian fluffing up the cushions on the balcony. It was a strange thing for him to be doing, given the army of maids on hand. The only sound in the study was Edwina biting into what Mary assumed was her second biscuit but it was actually her sixth as she had started in on the biscuits before Mary arrived. Finally Edwina spoke. ‘With the death of my husband, your position has become redundant. However, I’m willing to offer you another position within the hotel.’

  ‘Oh?’

  Edwina’s slender fingers hovered over another biscuit. ‘Yes. I’m willing to offer you your old position back. As a chambermaid here at the Hotel du Barry.’

  She took a big bite of the biscuit.

  ‘Really?’ Mary hid her smile behind the teacup. She tried flexing her buttocks to ease the discomfort of the hard stool. Edwina was poised to pounce on her prey and finish her off, but Mary held her tongue and waited.

  Edwina delicately licked the biscuit crumbs from her lips as she shoved a cigarette into an elegant holder. ‘Yes. You must admit it’s a generous offer. Naturally it will pay substantially less than what you are used to.’ She slowly lit her cigarette. ‘However, as you already know, this is the best offer you’ll get. Given you were never qualified to become Daniel’s secretary in the first place.’

  With a flourish, Edwina extended a blue enamel cigarette box towards Mary. A rainbow display of expensive cigarettes. Mary selected a gold-tipped, turquoise cigarette. Edwina snapped the lid shut. Click clack. Mind your fingers.

  Mary picked up Daniel’s large desk lighter. It weighed at least five pounds and required both hands. When she lit the cigarette, the flame was so long it nearly singed off her eyebrows.

  Edwina blew smoke in her face and Mary wondered if Daniel had ever wanted to chuck the heavy lighter at his wife’s neatly coiffed head. Just thinking about Daniel made her heart contract painfully. She blinked several times and her tears retreated. ‘Actually, Edwina, I’ve already received three job offers.’

  ‘How extraordinary.’

  ‘Not really. You’re one of the few people to underestimate me. Anyway, I’ve accepted Dr Rubens’ job offer. I’m his new personal assistant. It’s a very well paid position and includes a lovely apartment above one of his consultancy suites.’ Mary languidly blew smoke at the ceiling.

  The lengthy silence was broken by the sound of Sebastian thrashing the cushions with renewed vigour.

  Edwina finally spoke. ‘You’re lying. I know Dr Rubens socially, he attended my last soiree and I saw him only last night at Lady Astor’s dinner. He made no mention of it to me.’

  ‘That’s because I asked him not to. I wanted to tell you personally. Ring him, if you don’t believe me.’

  Edwina felt decidedly unwell. She tried to compose herself and failed.

  Mary stood up and stubbed out her cigarette. ‘Must be off. Thank you for the tea but given your nastiness, I could’ve used a drink or two. We’ve never liked each other but had you been left with no prospects, I wouldn’t have rubbed your nose in the shite. Goodbye, Madam.’

  Mary left the room taking great care not to slam the door. She was determined to keep herself nice. Sebastian pumped her hand.

  ‘Well done and congratulations. She doesn’t know it yet but I’m leaving in a few weeks’ time to become Lord Harwood’s personal valet.’

  With a light step Mary left the apartment. Instead of taking the hydraulic lift she slid down the banisters just as she used to do when she was a chambermaid. Her actions used to drive Mrs Brown spare. Stiff penalties had been in place for improper behaviour and Mary frequently had her pay docked. She laughed at the memory of her former self.

  Veering onto the second landing she plummeted straight into Sean Kelly. He staggered backwards and they almost toppled over the edge. ‘Jaysus, Mary! Are you trying to kill us both?’

  ‘Fuck me, it’s the prince himself.’

  She kissed him full on the mouth and laughed again.

  Sean leant against the banisters with Mary still in his arms. He breathed her in, tilted her backwards and kissed her deeply. It was the best thing that had happened all week and he fervently kissed her face, throat and décolletage. Mary’s skirt slithered up, revealing the creamy flesh at the top of her stockings. He lightly caressed her thigh but she slapped him away and yanked her skirt down.

  ‘Tsk, tsk. Always the opportunist. Guess what? I’ve accepted Dr Rubens’ job offer and have just given my notice to Madam. I’m free of her.’

  ‘I’m just on my way up there – she’s expecting me. Eddie’s offered to clear my gambling debts. I’m in danger of being knee-capped by the hard boys.’

  ‘Frankly, boyo, you’d be better off losing the use of your legs for a while. To be sure she’ll find a way of sucking the marrow from your lying, scheming bones. Pretty soon there’ll be nothing left of you but an expensive pair of brogues sitting on the carpet.’

  Sean winced. ‘Don’t I know it. I reckon she’s having me followed. She’s always interrogating me about where I’ve been and who I’m seeing. Eddie expects full return on her investment.’

  ‘She obviously knows how devious you are.’

  ‘Mary, it’s not always going to be like this. You and I –’

  ‘Enough. You know damn well I can’t commit while you’re busily making a living from your little black book. Do you have any idea how much that hurts me?’

  ‘Mary, I –’

  ‘Start doing an honest day’s work and maybe I’ll take you more seriously. Danny told me you were the best hotel manager he ever had. He reckoned your people skills were outstanding even when you were a bellhop, and that a member of the royal family tried to poach you when you were promoted to valet. Strangely enough, he made no mention of your skills as London’s most sought after gigolo.’

  ‘Don’t be like that, Mary. I’m just utilising what I’ve got going for me.’

  ‘Bollocks. You’re wasting your talents. You could sell your art collection and buy your own hotel or restaurant. Sean, there’s nothing you couldn’t do if you set your mind to it.’

  He tried to kiss her but she shoved him away. ‘C’mon, Mary, don’t be so hard on me.’

  ‘You and I are nothing more than friends.’

  ‘That’s not what you said last time I made love to you, darlin’.’

  ‘You got me in a weak moment, Mr Kelly. And now I must be off.’

  She tried to brush past him but he pinned her against the wall and caressed her cheek. ‘Ah, Mary, you always give the game a
way when you blush. Don’t go. How about I cut detention and we drown our respective sorrows at The Dirty Duck?’

  ‘Sure. Right now I could use a drink or three.’

  Edwina was smoking on the balcony when she saw Sean walk down the front steps of the hotel arm in arm with Mary. Her eyes narrowed when he pulled Mary close and gave her a slow, tender kiss. His expression was an open declaration of his love.

  Tears streamed down Eddie’s face. If he’d looked at her like that just once, she would have forgiven him everything. She watched the two of them until they turned the corner and disappeared from view. Then, tossing her cigarette over the balcony, she stepped back inside.

  Edwina furiously tugged the servant’s bell and paced the floor. Sebastian was certainly taking his time. Insubordinate sonofabitch. On hearing his footsteps on the stairs, she rushed into the hallway. ‘Did Mr Kelly leave a message for me?’

  ‘No, Madam.’

  ‘Are you absolutely sure there wasn’t a note? A phone call? Anything?’

  ‘Quite sure, Madam.’

  ‘Don’t just stand there. Make yourself useful. Take these damn tea things away. Mix me a very dry martini. Double. Five olives. Then order me up two bacon sarnies, a chip butty and spotted dick with clotted cream. Wait. I also want a bowl of ice-cream and two chocolate éclairs.’

  Sebastian’s face registered shock, then he quickly regrouped and changed his expression to that of obsequious submission. ‘Yes, Madam, right away.’

  Edwina sat down, demurely crossed her ankles and thoughtfully studied her fingernails.

  12

  Bring Him to My Tent

  Jim rolled over and stared at the alarm clock. By the light of the moon, he could see it was only a quarter past three. He grunted, rearranged his pillow and pulled the quilt up around his ears. Turning over, he shut his eyes tightly. Sleep still eluded him. He felt the cruel exhaustion of his bones and tried willing himself to sleep. Counting sheep never worked for Jim. Instead, he pictured himself in a hydraulic lift. Beginning on the hundredth floor, he imagined himself reading out the floor numbers as the lift descended, hoping sleep would overcome him around the thirtieth floor. No such luck. As the fifth floor flashed past, he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. Bertha was leaning over him. Her long, loose hair tickled his bare chest. ‘What is it, darling? Can’t you sleep?’