Maggie pulled out something large and heavy, wrapped in tissue paper. “… and pulled out …” Is that what I think it is? Could it be? “The Crown Jewels?”
The crown she held was the Imperial State Crown, gold and encrusted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and pearls in crosses pattées and fleurs-de-lis, topped with purple velvet and trimmed in white ermine. The large diamonds glittered in the dim light. “ ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,’ ” she whispered, thinking of all the heads who’d worn it over the ages.
“Look!” said Margaret, pulling out from another hatbox the long Sovereign’s Scepter, topped with a diamond as large as her fist.
“Goodness,” Maggie breathed.
“Look at this,” Lilibet said, pulling out the Sovereign’s Orb, a golden ball set with bands of gems and pearls, topped with an amethyst and then a diamond cross. “Charles the Second once held it—can you imagine?” She held it out to Maggie. “Go on, give it a try.”
Maggie accepted the object; it was cool to the touch. “It’s heavy,” she whispered. Then, trying to remember her role as teacher, “Shouldn’t these be in the Tower of London?”
“Here for safekeeping. They will be mine one day, after all,” Lilibet said. “I wanted you to see them.”
“Thank you—both of you,” Maggie said. “This was, well, quite an unexpected treat.”
“We can give you a tour of more of the dungeons, if you’d like,” Margaret said, wrapping the jewels back in the papers and putting them in the trunk.
“Thank you,” Maggie said. “A tour would be more valuable than jewels, really.”
The next day, after lessons with Lilibet, Maggie took the Windsor and Eton Central train back to London. After arriving at Paddington, Maggie took the Tube’s Central Line to the Circle Line, exiting from the Bond Street stop in Mayfair. Above ground, she walked until she saw the imposing, tall red-brick building that was Claridge’s. She walked past the doorman, who tipped his hat, over the gleaming black and white tiles, through the perfumed air, to the concierge desk.
The concierge on duty was a tall man, thin, with a long face and droopy eyes and jowls, like a bloodhound. “Good morning, Miss,” he said. “May I help you?”
“Good morning,” Maggie answered. She pulled out her picture of Lily. “I was wondering if you could help me—have you seen this woman at your hotel?”
“Miss, here at Claridge’s, we treat our guests with the utmost respect, which includes respect for their privacy.”
“I understand, sir, but the young lady in the photograph is dead. Any information you could share would be most appreciated.”
“Are you with the police?” he asked, voice low, making sure the hotel’s guests checking in couldn’t hear.
“N-no,” Maggie stammered. “I’m—a friend.” She pulled out a few pound notes, as she had seen done in the movies.
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no,” he said, wagging his finger. “We don’t do that here. I’m afraid I can’t help you. Good day.”
Ugh, I’m such an amateur, she thought, annoyed. If Nevins were doing his job properly … Maggie walked back to the door, and when she got outside, out of sight of the front desk, she showed Lily’s photograph to the doorman, slipping him the pound notes. It went a bit smoother this time. “Have you seen this woman?”
He studied the photo. “Yes, Miss,” he said, pocketing the pound notes. “She used to come here regular, about once a month, I’d say.”
“Did you ever see her come or go with anyone?”
“Sometimes some lady friends. Young, like ’er.”
“Pale, black hair, red lipstick?”
“That’d be them, Miss.”
“Anyone else?”
“Sometimes, Miss,” he said in lower tones, “people don’t come and go with the people they’re here with, if you get my meaning. But the chambermaids always know. Go around the corner to the staff entrance, ask around there. You may get someone who knows more than I do.” He gave a broad wink.
“Thank you,” Maggie said, “very much.”
She walked into the staff entrance, a world away from the polished surfaces and high ceilings of the lobby—low and dim.
“Miss, you’re not allowed in ’ere,” a thin older woman said, her rough hands testament to the cleaning she must do.
“Actually, I was wondering,” Maggie said. “Have you ever seen this woman here at the hotel?”