Page 16 of Nothing Hiding

Juliette was interested to see that his home was listed as being in central London, just a few miles from the ambassador's residence. That meant he would have had a chance to do all the research and following, without even traveling too far.

CHAPTER NINE

Walking around a pop-up museum with three children under the age of seven was not how Savannah Evans would have chosen to spend her Saturday. She was an au pair and general house help for one child. One! And Toni-Ann was enough of a handful on her own.

The six-year-old girl, with her blonde curls and her baby blue eyes, was the epitome of an angel ... to look at.

But add in a ferocious will, the ability to throw a temper tantrum that could be heard a mile away, and an unstoppable energy, and you had dynamite on your hands.

"We're going to take a walk around the museum now. This is a fashion history museum so you can look at all the pretty dresses," Savannah said in strained tones, wishing that her employer had not insisted that 'the kids must go to a museum of some kind and get some culture in them.’"

"I'm bored," Toni-Ann's friend, Traci, complained loudly, forcing Savannah to grin apologetically at the cashier.

"You can't be bored," she said. "We're still standing in line to go inside."

She paid for four entrance tickets, half price for the kids, and they headed into the thankfully cool exhibition hall.

"Look here! What a beautiful ball gown," she said, leading them to the first exhibit. It was exquisitely designed, with beading all over the bodice and delicate filigree lace on the sleeves. As for the skirt, well, Savannah had always harbored dreams of wearing one of those puffed out skirts that were covered in lace and jewels. They were so pretty and so majestic.

Of course, looking at the size of the bodice, you'd have to be wrapped up in corsets and most likely unable to move or breathe, she decided ruefully.

Then she was almost pulled off her feet as the third of her charges, Jolene, practically dragged her over to another one of the dresses on display.

"Look, Savannah, look! It's pink! A pink dress. I want it!" she declared shrilly.

"Well, of course it's here on exhibition, so nobody can actually take the dress," Savannah explained, feeling a pang of horror as she saw Jolene's large, brown eyes first widen and then well up with tears.

"I want the dress," she sniveled.

No, no, please no hysterical tears already. It’s not even lunch time, she thought. She had the whole day to manage with these rambunctious three.

"How about a photo? Come on, I'll take a photo of you beside the dress," Savannah said, rummaging in her purse for her phone, trying to herd Jolene to the side so that other people could view this gown.

Luckily, the photo op saved the day, and soon, she and the children were moving on to the selection of jewelry, with the kids oohing and aahing over the fancy tiaras, the ornate necklaces, and the bejeweled shoes that were worn at formal occasions in times past. With any luck, she thought, they would be able to get through this hall without an actual catastrophe occurring. It was a shame, though, that there were three kids, and she only had two hands. Even with one small, sticky hand holding each of hers, that still left a third child to run rampant, and among the crowds, it was a nonstop effort to keep track.

As they turned a corner into a dimly lit room filled with antique headdresses, Savannah breathed a sigh of relief. The children seemed more subdued now, almost reverent, as they gazed at the beautiful, high structures.

Then her phone rang. It was her employer, wanting to know how things were going.

Savannah quickly picked up the phone, trying to keep a watchful eye on the children at the same time. "Everything is going well," she said, trying to sound upbeat despite the chaos around her. "We're looking at some amazing headdresses right now."

"That's great," her employer replied, and Savannah could hear the faint sound of laughter in the background because her employer was out for lunch with her girlfriends. She did that a lot, which was why Savannah had the job. "Listen, I know it's been a long day, so why don't you take the kids out for some ice cream afterwards and buy something from Waitrose to heat up for them tonight? Not too unhealthy. Nutritious, you know?"

"I'll do that," she promised.

"And do me a favor, you have the plumber's number on your phone, don't you? I think our little princess might have flushed one of her Barbies again."

"Yes, I do have it. Let me give it to you."

Letting go of both the sticky hands, distracted momentarily from her charges, Savannah scrolled through the phone, finding the number that her boss needed.

She read it out, needing to reread it twice because of the noise levels.

"That's great, thank you. See you later!" she said cheerily.

Savannah hung up, put her phone away, and looked around. Then she looked around again, her heart rapidly accelerating.

Not a child in sight. Not any of the ones she was supposed to be looking after, anyway. There were a few others, all in their parents' care. But none of hers. All three had disappeared. No sign of Toni-Ann, or Traci, or Jolene. All, gone.

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