Clem sank onto the settee and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “My leg pains me occasionally, and I’m afraid today is one of those days. Don’t worry, it’s something I’ve dealt with for a long time.”
Winnie hovered beside her. “Why on earth did you receive a visitor if you aren’t well? Should I leave?”
“Not at all. To be honest, the company will stop me from focusing on the pain.”
“That I can do.” She joined Clem on the settee. “Perhaps a macaron will help.”
Clem’s eyes lit up at the sight of the baby blue box wrapped in yellow ribbon. “You went to Henri’s Patisserie! It’s my favorite bakery in First Hill.”
Winnie carefully undid the box and offered Clem her choice of the macarons.
“Don’t they come in sets of four?”
“I already ate one,” she admitted.
Clem chuckled. “I wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation, either. In fact, that’s why we usually send out for them. Aunt Della grew tired of me arriving home with an empty box.”
“I knew we were friends for a reason. And how is Della?”
“She’s off gallivanting somewhere with Judith. They adore an afternoon drive. But how is it that you’re here? Did you finish the workday?”
“The Lanky Hobgoblin let me go early.”
Clem snorted. “Your scowl tells me that’s a bad thing. What’s the malicious creature done now?”
Winnie sank against the back of the settee, ready to indulge in a full pout. “He drives me absolutely mad. One minute he treats me like an equal, and the next he dismisses me like I’m manure on his boot. I simply can’t understand his mercurial moods.” She launched into her tale. Clem proved a captivated audience, nodding, frowning, and gasping at all the right parts.
“Good gracious,” Clem breathed. “No wonder you’re confused about him.”
“I’m notconfusedabout him—I detest him! I absolutely abhor how he used that adorable dimple to lure the interviewees to his side. And it was disgusting when the women went all wobbly at the sight of those ocean blue eyes.” She paused in her tirade. “Why are you smiling?”
“I can’t help but notice that even as you rail against the man, you compliment his appearance.”
Heat crept up Winnie’s neck, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Heisrather attractive, which makes it all the more difficult to be around him. If he weren’t so awful, I might—I might—”
“Be attracted to him?”
Winnie jumped to her feet and paced around the tearoom. “Absolutely not. I was going to say that I might be friendlier to him, that’s all. Attracted? Can you imagine?”
“You forget that I saw the two of you interact last weekend."
“And you saw what a colossal potato he was being!”
“I won’t disagree with you there.” Clem paused and studied the ceiling. “But I also heard his apology, and his remorse was genuine. I would even go so far as to say his outburst shocked him as much as it did us.”
“He is the first man to ever apologize for wronging me,” Winnie admitted, her voice wobbling. “Am I foolish for believing him?”
“It’s never wrong to give someone a second chance.”
Winnie mulled that over for a moment. “I don’twantto be attracted to him.”
Clem’s smile was kind. “One thing I have learned in my life is that the heart wants who it wants. Besides, Mr. Donnelly’s own attraction was unmistakable—he was oblivious to everyone in that square but you. Olive also had mud on her clothes, but he never noticed.”
Winnie’s lips parted, her mouth going dry at the possibility. “That’s because I was the only person he knew.”
“He recognized Rhoda, yet she might as well have been a prop tree in the background,” Clem pointed out. “All I’m saying is that there may be more beneath the surface.”
Winnie grunted, uncomfortable at how badly she wanted to believe it. She was better off alone, and she would do well to remember it. She sat down and popped another macaron between her lips, allowing the sugar to work its magic. Mack Donnelly had occupied enough of her thoughts for the day. “Distract me, Clem. What are you working on for the Society? Can I help?”
