Amalie waited until the tour group had disappeared into the conservatory for tea and cookies before she emerged from behind the front desk. Nearly overwhelmed with gratitude, she approached Vincent Hyde.
Vincent looked up. “Miss Vaughn. Congratulations on the success of your new tour program. It appears to have been a stroke of publicity genius.”
“Thanks in large part to you, Mr. Hyde. It was very gracious of you to offer to give everyone on the tour an autograph when they came back downstairs.”
“Not at all.” Vincent winked. “We are both well served by your brilliant idea. You will get some good word of mouth going about your inn and I will have yet another opportunity to get my name in the papers again.”
Amalie smiled. “I’m sure the Herald will mention that everyone on the first tour got to meet you and that you were kind enough to give each of them an autograph.”
Vincent chuckled. “I think I can guarantee you that the news of the success of your tour and the fact that I was seen handing out autographs like Halloween candy will also appear in Lorraine Pierce’s column tomorrow. A good day’s work for both of us, hmm?”
“I certainly hope so.” Amalie started to retreat to her post behind the front desk. “Thank you, again, for being so nice to the tour group.”
“Believe me, Miss Vaughn, I am delighted to be able to sign autographs. That is one of the reasons why I chose to stay here rather than the Burning Cove Hotel. As I’m sure you know, management at that resort does not allow anyone on the premises who is not actually registered there. And it has a strict ban on journalists.”
“The Burning Cove Hotel has established a reputation as an exclusive resort that promises privacy to its guests.”
“That is all very well if one actually seeks privacy, Miss Vaughn. I, however, am an aging actor who is trying to refloat a sinking reputation. I am in desperate need of fans and publicity.”
It may have been the truth but Amalie was shocked to hear Vincent admit it.
“You saw the way that tour group responded to you, Mr. Hyde,” she said. “They were thrilled.”
“Trust me, in the old days—say, a year and a half ago—they would have been screaming for autographs, not simply requesting them. No, Miss Vaughn, I have to be realistic about my future. Everything depends on me getting the lead in Nightmare Lane. I cannot afford another disaster like A Garden in Winter.”
“I’m sure your next movie will be a box office smash,” Amalie said.
Vincent picked up the Herald. “If it is a success, I will owe you and your inn a debt of gratitude. You have provided me with more publicity in the past week than I’ve had in the past six months.”
Amalie smiled. “Happy to be of service, Mr. Hyde.”
The sound of Matthias’s car in the drive distracted her. She hurried back to the front desk, determined to maintain at least the façade of professionalism. The entire town, including Vincent Hyde, had no doubt concluded that she was a mobster’s floozy, but she did not intend to add fuel to the fires of gossip.
Matthias came through the door a moment later. He had a bag of golf clubs slung over one shoulder. She was eager to hear what he and Luther Pell had discussed on the golf course, but she couldn’t ask any questions now, not with Vincent Hyde sitting a short distance away.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Jones,” she said in her most professional tone. “I hope you enjoyed a pleasant round of golf.”
“It was an excellent game,” Matthias said. “I noticed a lot of cars and bicycles parked out front. I assume that means you got a good turnout for the first tour. I hope there’s some shortbread left. I need sustenance.”
She knew by the heat in his eyes that something very important had been discovered inside Futuro.
“The tour group is enjoying the tea and cookies,” she said, “but I’m sure there are a few extra in the kitchen. I’ll bring them out to you.”
“Thanks.” Matthias nodded at Vincent. “Hello, Hyde. I’m surprised to see you here this afternoon. Thought you’d be having drinks with one of your Hollywood friends at the Burning Cove Hotel.”
“An actor doesn’t have friends,” Vincent said. “He has rivals and competitors.”
Matthias nodded amiably. “I know what you mean.”
“Yes, I imagine you do,” Vincent said. He looked amused. “The situation is no doubt much the same in your profession.”
“Hard to know who to trust these days,” Matthias agreed.
“Mr. Hyde was kind enough to sign autographs for everyone in the tour group,” Amalie said. “His fans were very excited.”
Matthias raised his brows. “I see. Looks like your cursed mansion tour idea is working out well for both you and Hyde.”
“One takes publicity where one can find it,” Vincent said.