Toby wanted everyone in their party who would be boarding the train to see the place, so that if they had to make a last-minute dash onto the train to avoid any pursuers, they would know the layout of the building.
He steered the children, Diana, and Helga to one side of the concourse and pointed out the platform and the tracks, presently empty, as well as the gates in the railing through which passengers wishing to board had to pass. He took a moment to fix the sight in his own mind.
Subsequently, he checked the overhead noticeboards, but as he’d expected, there were no trains scheduled to leave that evening.
He glanced at Diana and Helga. “It would be best if you and the children wait here. The ticketing clerk can see you from his booth and will doubtless glance over, taking note, when I ask for the tickets.”
Diana nodded and looked at the children.
Bryce and Evelyn were happy to remain with Diana and Helga, but Roland fixed Toby with his gaze. “Can I come with you? I’d like to see how the ticketing is done.”
Toby exchanged a swift glance with Diana, then nodded. “If you like. Just remember our charade.”
“Of course.”
To Toby’s surprise, Roland grasped his hand. He instantly masked his reaction and settled the boy’s smaller hand in his. Together, they walked across the largely empty concourse to the ticket booth.
As they approached the ticketing window, a clerk rose from a desk in the room beyond and came to serve them.
In his sophisticated Italian, Toby inquired after the next train to Milan, and the clerk informed him it left at noon the next day.
“Boarding begins at eleven.”
Allowing none of his impatience or even his resignation to show, Toby requested tickets for his family—himself, his wife, the three children, and their maid. While the clerk gathered the tickets, Toby switched to Austrian and spoke with Roland, once again planting the notion that they were an Austrian family traveling through Europe, seeing the sights.
Roland did well, evincing a desire to see Rome as well, a comment that made Toby’s lips twitch.
The clerk had been listening to their banter. He returned to confirm the arrangements Toby had stipulated, namely two adjoining sleeper compartments in the first-class carriage, each with two bunk beds and a long bench seat, and given they were traveling with young children, the clerk had agreed to allot them the compartments at the very end of the carriage, effectively at the end of the train.
Satisfied, Toby paid the clerk, gathered the tickets, and he and Roland returned to their party.
“As expected, we can’t leave until tomorrow, so let’s get back to the carriage and go and find a hotel with a decent dining room.” He arched a brow at Roland and Bryce, both of whom nodded in immediate agreement.
As he ushered their group outside, Toby noticed Roland hanging back enough to ensure that his brother and sister were going ahead of him.
Keeping an eye on them.
Clearly, Roland felt a degree of responsibility for his younger siblings.
Once back at the carriage, with Gunter listening, too, Toby explained the arrangements and that the train wouldn’t leave until noon. He looked at Gunter. “So once you drop us off at the station tomorrow, most likely a little after eleven, you’ll be free to return to Vienna.” Toby half bowed. “With our humble and heartfelt thanks.”
Gunter smiled. “I was pleased to help. Last thing I could do for the master, as it were.” He nodded at the youngsters and Helga. “But no need to get maudlin just yet. I’ll see you all tomorrow, and by your leave, I’ll wait and watch the train pull out so that we at Lowelstrasse will know you’re well away.”
Diana put her hand on Gunter’s arm. “Thank you. That would be helpful and will ease everyone’s mind.”
With that decided, they piled into the coach and set off to find the right sort of hotel to cater to a family of their station.
Toby noted with amusement that, this time, it was Diana who reminded the children and Helga of the importance of maintaining their charade, and she went on to coach them in some of the finer points of polite family behavior.
* * *
While Diana approvedof the hotel they found on the central piazza—it was definitely a step up from the inn they’d stayed at the previous night—the instant she set eyes on the hotel’s concierge, she realized the place might pose different challenges.
As their party crossed the tiled foyer and approached the reception counter, the mustachioed man stationed behind it looked up and, at first, smiled in beaming welcome at her and Toby, then he noticed the children, and his expression froze. He straightened, and his features grew haughty; he didn’t quite grimace in distaste, but it seemed a near-run thing.
From the quick glance Toby threw her, he’d noticed, too.
Instinctively defensive, she raised her chin.
