‘Oh, Lily, how to choose. Shall we start with fishy things? Caviar? Oysters? Oh, I spot some salmon up there. Mademoiselle, I’ll have the salmon. And some soured cream and watercress sauce if you have it.’
The girl smiled and raised the plate she was holding ready for him. She fixed the prince with what Lily, in her state of alertness, recognized as a conspiratorial look and, with a flourish, wiped her napkin across it. A gesture that clearly said, ‘Clean plate, no problems.’ One of Sandilands’ team? How many women did he have on his books? The girl seemed to have the advantage of Lily, apparently knowing exactly who or what she was — there was no mistaking the swift complicitous smile she directed at her. In a gently accented voice she persuaded the prince to sample one or two more of the dishes … ‘almond-studded fricasseed tails of Persian lamb … shellfish tossed with spices …’
With smiling good manners, the prince watched as his simple choice of salmon was shouldered aside by piles of highly seasoned exotica. Lily turned to the male server. ‘That looks utterly delicious! I’ll have exactly the same dishes, please, if you can remember them.’
‘But of course, mademoiselle.’ Up came the plate and the ladles worked, scooping and spooning, producing a replica of the prince’s plate. They followed a footman to a corner table laid for eight and the prince indicated that Lily should sit by his side. They settled to wait for friends of the prince to emerge with their plates from the throng now steadily making inroads into the display.
Edward sniffed appreciatively at his food. ‘Ah! The scents of the east! I really grew accustomed to this sort of thing in India. Wonderful cooking! I say — not used to this new style of going on — how long do we have to wait before we can tuck in?’
‘Until at least one other couple has settled with us,’ Lily said firmly, inventing the etiquette. ‘But look, before you start — and you’ll think this a bit fussy-’
He interrupted her. ‘You’re the policeman. Just tell me what to do. I’m your obedient servant this evening.’
Lily took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to change plates. I took exactly the same dishes as you.’
‘Oh, no,’ said the prince with instant disobedience. ‘And have you slide under the table stricken with something ghastly? That’s just not on. I’ll send out for two plates of fish and chips if you like … there’s a stall over the road in the park that does wondrous haddock … but I’m not having a girl act as my food taster. Besides — it’s unnecessary. You saw that waitress — the pretty girl who served me? She’s one of Sandilands’. He’s planted some of his best people in there. She gave me the all-clear. And if any of the dishes were poisoned — well, the whole room’s going to be frothing at the mouth in minutes. You can’t target a single person with a dish at a buffet. Not possible.’ He lifted his knife and fork rebelliously. ‘Something else I learned in India!’
In a second, Lily had swept the plate from under his chin and replaced it with her own. ‘Orders, sir,’ she said firmly. ‘It’s all right — I’m not intending to eat any of this. I’ll just stir it about a bit. I ate before I came,’ she lied. ‘Ah — here comes someone who knows you, I think …’