. “Alright you have had your night cap, Smidge,” his nickname, though she did not care to know why, “now it is time to say good night.” “Well alright Nellie, but I thought we would cuddle a little before we went straight to bed. My, you are a horny little lady, aren’t you?” Nellie blustered and huffed at his presumption.

She wandered the long hallways, noting the room service food trays that laid outside and the “Do Not Disturb” signs already hung on doorknobs. Doubtless they were young couples in love to retire so early, and she wished, not for the first time that some romance would come into her life.

Penelope’s father had been one of the lightest fingered men he ever knew, but Niles had no reason to think Penelope shared those talents. There would be no nepotism here, not on his watch. She would not get this call. This was too big a coup to send a mere woman on. This required a man’s finesse.