“Proficiency?” my aunt exclaimed. “It would seem that she was most proficient.”
I suspected that was completely lost on Mr. Adams who considered himself quite the master of music. He hadn’t a clue, unlike my aunt and myself, that Lily had achieved exactly what she had intended. And it was an amusing little ditty, I had to admit. The sort that one cannot forget and keeps playing over and over in one’s head.
Refreshments were served that included tea and scones. I wasn’t one for tea, but the scones were wonderful.
Lily had not yet adjusted to the fact that there was more than enough food at my townhouse in Mayfair, or here at Sussex Square. I caught her slipping two scones into the pocket of her gown.
She looked up at me with unabashed bravado. “Fer later tonight. I might get hungry.” She glanced past me. “There’s no harm is there, Mr. Brodie?”
That earlier bemused expression was gone, replaced by a slight frown surrounded by that dark beard.
“No harm,” he assured her, as he leaned in close, and I caught the faint scent of cinnamon about him that I so enjoyed.
“I must be going,” he informed me.
I didn’t bother to hide my disappointment. I was expected at a reception within the hour and had hoped he might accompany me. And afterward…
“Sir Avery?” I replied.
“Aye, some important work that I need to attend to.”
It was not my habit to be petulant or unreasonable about things. I usually went my own way as was my habit. Still there was disappointment. It was one of those things we were stilltrying to figure out about this new aspect of our relationship, along with a myriad of others.
“Work?” Lily exclaimed. “What sort of work?”
That was another one of the things. Lily knew about our inquiry cases, but she wasn’t aware of his work for the Agency and had only recently learned of my other vocation as it were— as an author.
Brodie didn’t offer Lily an explanation now, as he obviously thought it best to keep that aspect of his work between the two of us.
He slipped a finger beneath my chin, drawing my attention. It was a rare public gesture as he was surprisingly quite reserved about that sort of thing in public. Imagine that, Brodie shy about something. The gestures in private however, more than made up for it.
“I know that ye have that reception this afternoon,” he said then. “I will try to be there.”
“Of course.”
This was not the first time we would need to go our separate ways, and undoubtedly would not be the last. Our inquiry cases had a way of taking precedence.
That brought up the question, what sort of work was he involved in that he had so far chosen not to share with me?
“Reception?” Lily asked.
I explained as my aunt’s driver brought the coach round.
“And they throw a party when ye have a new book?” she exclaimed.
I replied that it was all a part of getting my name out there… or rather that of Emma Fortescue and promoting each new book as it was released by the publisher.
“Now,” I said as we settled in the coach. “You must tell me about the performance you gave. It was most interesting.”
That dark blue gaze met mine. “Ye’re not angry with me, are ye?”
I loved her lively spirit and stubbornness about things. Those qualities had most certainly saved both of our lives in that previous case in Scotland. She was brave and self-confident. Most of the time.
Her question now revealed another side that was hesitant, perhaps vulnerable, and I reminded myself that in making the decision to take me up on my offer and come to London, she was taking an enormous chance with people she hardly knew.
And I loved her impromptu performance.
I smiled, remembering some of my own transgressions very near her age.
