Page 10 of The Maid's Secret

Sometimes a smile is not a smile.

“So you’re Molly the Maid,” said Brown, his apple cheeks curving down to a chiseled jawline.

“How did you know?” I asked.

“Your name tag was my first clue,” Brown replied as the crowd laughed.

“So you’re in charge of special eventsandyou’re a maid here at this hotel?” Beagle inquired.

“That’s right. I love my job. My gran always said if you choose the right job, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

“So true. I’ve never worked a day in my life,” Beagle said as he preened his glossy, dark curls.

“Descended from nobility, you’re a most regal Beagle,” Brown quipped.

“I’ve been called worse things,” said Beagle with a shrug.

“Molly, as a hotel maid, you must see so many things behind all those closed doors. Tell us, what treasures have you stumbled across in your time here?” Brown asked.

“Once, I found the diamond wedding ring of a dead tycoon in my vacuum cleaner, and let me assure you, that was quite a surprise. Another time, I stumbled across a guest’s snake coiled on a chair in the lobby, but while exotic and valuable, I wouldn’t exactly call that serpent a treasure. Oh, and I regularly find untouched turn-down chocolates left behind in guests’ rooms, the kind wrapped in gold foil and placed on your pillow? Believe it or not, not everyone likes them.”

“Who doesn’t like chocolates?” Brown said.

“Especially when wrapped in gold foil!” Beagle added as he slapped his knee.

Suddenly, the audience’s laughter was so shrill I could hardly think. I looked out at a sea of jeering faces and wide-open mouths.

“Are they laughing with me or at me?” I asked the Bees.

“Oh, isn’t she justdarling?” Brown drawled, his blue eyes sparkling.

“She’sthe treasure,” Beagle replied, and suddenly both stars were clapping—for me! The entire audience joined them, and I had no idea why.

“Molly the Magnificent Maid,” Brown said. “Are you ready to show us the contents of your little ol’ shoebox?”

“Yes,” I said. I removed the lid and placed the box on the table in front of me. “I’ve brought a few things that belonged to my gran. I wish she could be here today to meet you.”

“Why didn’t you bring her?” Beagle asked.

“Because she’s dead,” I replied.

Beagle’s eyes grew two sizes. “An excellent excuse,” he concluded.

“There you have it, folks. Molly tells it like it is,” Brown said.

Beagle leaned forward, peering into my shoebox. “My, my, what do I spy with my appraiser’s keen eye…”

“Well, well, what have we here?” Brown added as he donned a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses from the breast pocket of his scarlet waistcoat.

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing, Bax?” said Beagle.

“I am, but I’m not quite believing it,” Brown replied as he slowly shook his blond head.

“If you’re looking at my gran’s favorite teacup, it’s fine bone china, Royal Standard, and these are pure silver souvenir spoons, and a Swarovski crystal swan…” I explained.

“Yes, all trinkets,” Beagle pronounced with a wave of his delicate, jewel-encrusted hand. “Worthless.”

“Not to me,” I said. “I also brought that old skeleton key that I’d love to know more about. My gran claimed it was the key to her heart.”