Chapter 2 – American in London
Katherine's delighted smile upon arriving at Heathrow Airport never wavered during the customs inspection or as she made her way through the jostling crowds towards the ground transportation area. A small folding umbrella fit neatly inside either her briefcase or purse as needed, but she was pleased to see that it was only slightly overcast when she exited the terminal. Even though it was the end of May, she was glad for the light jacket she carried once she stepped outside. She had packed a hooded jacket with a zippered lining as well as a cardigan sweater in case she needed layers in the early summer temperatures. She had even packed a pair of gloves in the jacket's pocket. She had registered in advance with the hotel's airport service, and was pleased to see a van with Brown's stenciled on it was exactly where the hotel's confirmation email had said she would find it.
She had chosen Brown's hotel on purpose. It was situated in Mayfair and was one of the first true "hotels" of the 19th century, maintaining an air of Victorian elegance but with modern amenities. From the traditional doorman outside to the rich woodwork throughout the lobby to the courteous and respectful staff, she felt welcomed into another culture. She declined assistance with her two bags and headed to the elevator. "No , it's a lift" she reminded herself with another smile.
It was a short ride to the third floor and her room was at the far end of the hall, away from what could be the noisy lift area. Unlocking the door, she paused and smiled at the charming room, so unlike her more modern condo. Silk wallpaper covered the walls down to wood wainscoting, which covered the lower surface of the wall from a chair rail to the floor. The room's furniture was a light wood as compared to the darker woodwork of the lobby. It was absolutely perfect, exceeding all of her expectations. Looking around the room, she quickly spotted the room's personal safe, and moved the scroll from her briefcase to the safe, locking it firmly. Checking the time, she wondered if 4PM was tea-time for Sir Hellsing or if it was safe to call to schedule an appointment.
She chuckled at herself. Sir Hellsing answering the telephone personally? Not very likely. She would probably be speaking with an administrative assistant. Following the detailed instructions David had provided, she called, identified herself and successfully scheduled an early evening appointment in two days time. That was the evening she had reservations for the Observatory display, but the delivery shouldn't take more than an hour, so she should be able to arrive with time to spare for the planetary convergence program. Because this particular alignment of the planets was a rare occurrence, happening only once in a millennium, and she was delighted to obtain a ticket to the prestigious event.
She unpacked her clothing, hanging up a pair of khaki twill pants and a pair of dressy black silk pants. Three long sleeve knit tops with decorative stitching or beadwork at the color joined them in the closet along with one black blazer and a pair of dressy black flats. With the blue jeans, light brown sweater and walking shoes, she was done with the closet. She moved her lingerie and under garments to the dresser, then put the wheeled suitcase back in the closet.
She plugged in her laptop to check email and then paused. Shaking her head, she decided to walk a little outside the hotel instead. Email could wait. She put several pound and five pound notes into her jeans pocket, planning to walk without a purse. As she reached for her jacket and room key, she was surprised by a knock on her door. Checking the security eyehole, she saw a bellman holding the package she had shipped herself several days earlier. She opened her door and the man briefly touched the rim of his hat. "Begging your pardon Miss, but this was just delivered for you", offering her the small shipping box. She flashed him one of her warm smiles and thanked him, making him feel as if he had just delivered her a rare and precious item. She reached into her pocket for one of the notes and slipped it into his hand in exchange for the small box. He returned her smile, touched his cap again, and said "Just ask for Bert if you need anything Miss" before walking away.
Closing the door, she put the jacket back down and unwrapped the box, ripping off the sealing tape. She was pleased that it wasn't stopped by Customs and that her paperwork had been adequate. She slipped the small arm sheath to its customary place under her sleeve and fastened it in place. Picking up her jacket, she slipped another smaller knife into the jacket pocket. She unlocked the room safe and placed her Sig Model P226 X-5 pistol, rounds and the carry permit into it beside the scroll case. Slipping on the jacket, she left and paused to be sure she heard the lock catch on the door, then headed to the stairs. Reaching the lobby, she noticed Bert standing by the desk and nodded her head to him and headed outside.
A light breeze made the temperature feel a little chilly, but the jacket was all she needed to stay comfortable. Turning left, she decided to walk a few blocks and look around. Just noting the differences in the building architecture from her home base in Chicago was satisfying, reinforcing the awareness that she was truly away from her hectic ever day life. When she noticed a little teahouse, her stomach growled as if in recognition. She chuckled and opened the door, listening to a bell tinkle as it announced her entrance. The teahouse had several open tables, and she was quickly seated. A good looking young man introduced himself as Alec, offered her a menu, and took her order for herbal tea. She selected a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich and at Alec's suggestion, added scones coupled with clotted cream and jam to the order. She laughed quietly to herself as she realized she had included the scones simply because she found his British accent so appealing. "Downright sexy in fact" she acknowledged to herself. He was attentive without being obtrusive, and he had been right about the scones. As he cleared her plates, she sipped her tea and reviewed her plans for the next few days. She hoped to see Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and St Martin-in-the-Fields all in the next two days, followed by her delivery to Sir Hellsing and capped with the Royal Observatory program. Perhaps it was too much for two days. She decided she would move seeing the church to the following day if she was tired. She sighed in complete satisfaction as she finished her tea, then smiled warmly at the waiter, being sure to place a generous tip on the table before leaving to return to the hotel. Alec spent much of the rest of the evening thinking about how a good-looking woman with a lovely Yankee accent and infectious smile could make such a difference in an otherwise long shift.