Annabelle folded her hands on the table and looked delightfully smug. “You’re going to need me to open the door for you atGood Housekeeping.”
“And why is that?” he asked, immediately suspicious. Over the past few minutes he’d forgotten how angry he was with her, but he was on guard again.
“You and the Magruders are business rivals, and the magazine editor may suspect you have an ax to grind. They’re more likely to be favorably disposed to me because I work for the Department of Agriculture.Good Housekeepinghas been working hand in hand with the department in the interest of protecting consumers. I think you should let me take the lead.”
She was right. As much as he wanted to pull into the nearestport and dump her ashore, Annabelle had a better chance of getting through to the editors of the magazine than he did, andGood Housekeeping’s rigorous, impartial testing in their experimental kitchen would be a godsend. Hadn’t he been looking for a means to police the food industry without government interference?
But it would mean working alongside Annabelle. Every moment would stir painful memories, but he’d endure it for Luke.
Gray didn’t need Annabelle’s help for the first two days in Boston. He let her cool her heels in port while he worked alone, meeting with newspaper editors and presenting them with two jars: one with the original label the Magruders had already released into the market, and the other branded with Luke’s label accurately reflecting its contents. The hope was to spark public reviews and commentary in the press. A few people had been appalled, but most were either amused or indifferent. Some even wanted to taste the product, and since it tasted perfectly fine, they weren’t prepared to condemn the Magruders. Indeed, one editor went so far as to say the Magruders should be congratulated for developing a tasty and inexpensive alternative to real applesauce. Gray angrily replied that he knew of a wedding in Philadelphia the man might like to attend.
The real prize, the magazine with the largest national circulation and their most likely ally, wasGood Housekeeping. This was where he’d need Annabelle, but he dreaded the prospect of being alone with her for the three-hour trip to Springfield, and he turned to Captain Haig for help.
“I’m not going to be your chaperone!” Haig groused, making Gray wish his employees didn’t feel quite so free to vent their opinions. They’d been holed up in the ship’s mess hall since dinner more than an hour ago, and Haig had put a healthy dent in a bottle of brandy while Gray nursed willow bark tea.
Gray pasted a pleasant expression on his face and tried again. “I need you to accompany me and Annabelle to Springfield. It is a three-hour train ride, and I refuse to be alone with her.”
“And that doesn’t say ‘chaperone’ to you? Duenna? Matronly protector? Gray! The woman is barely five feet tall and is as terrifying as a chipmunk.”
She terrifiedhim. “I refuse to be alone with her, and Otis will be delivering samples to the newspapers and culinary critics. That leaves you.”
Captain Haig grumbled something inaudible beneath his breath, and Gray sighed as a familiar ache bloomed in his chest.
“I know I’m being irrational,” he admitted. “Yes, I need you to be my chaperone. Annabelle gets to me, and I can’t afford it. You have no idea how badly I want Luke’s plan to succeed. It was the only thing he asked of me, and I intend to deliver.”
“I’ll go,” Haig finally said. “It might be amusing to watch you suffer.”
There was no doubt Graywouldsuffer at the enforced proximity with Annabelle. The only real question was if he’d be able to keep his smoldering resentment of her alive.
Annabelle found the train ride to Springfield a challenge. She’d repeatedly tried to initiate polite conversation with Gray, who answered her in terse, one-word responses. They rode in a private compartment with two benches facing each other, and Annabelle tried to put the time to good use by presenting Gray with a copy ofGood Housekeepingshe’d purchased in port.
“Perhaps you’d like to familiarize yourself with it ahead of our meeting,” she said as she set the magazine on the table between them.
Gray acted like he didn’t hear her as he stared out the window.
“A basic understanding of the publication is not only a signof respect, it will allow us to tailor our presentation to the needs of the magazine editors.”
Nothing. She’d spent all last night reading this magazine to glean insight into the nature of the publication. It had been a surprise. Far from the mundane cooking recipes or beauty advice she had expected, the magazine took a scientific approach to everything from cleaning hats and teething remedies for babies to proper attic ventilation. Gray didn’t know the first thing about the most influential ladies’ magazine in the country, and they were about to meet with the editors.
“Is it all going to be up to me?” she asked. “To be the only one informed? Captain Haig, perhaps you would like to have a peek at the magazine. There is an entire article on cures for a sour disposition. You might find it helpful. I’ve only had to tolerate Mr. Delacroix for three days, but I gather your voyage to Madagascar will take considerably longer.”
At last she’d gotten Gray’s attention, and he swiveled his gaze to her. “I wonder if they have an article on how to pry a knife from the center of your own back. I’ve still got one buried pretty deeply.”
He did, but she had already apologized for it. She was doing her best to carry out Luke’s wild-eyed scheme, and if Gray would cooperate with her, they stood a much better chance.
She pretended to take his request seriously, flipping to the table of contents and skimming the entries. “Nope, nothing on back wounds, but here’s an article on working toward a common goal, and another on making the best of a bad situation. Oh, look! An article on the wisdom of preparing for an important meeting by educating yourself about the people you are about to meet and the magazine they sell.”
Gray’s eyes glittered as he stared at her, but not with anger. It was more like ... triumph? His voice was silky as he responded. “I wonder if that magazine might possibly contain an article on the care of mosquito bites, an organizational system forhousehold bills, a recipe for fried gumbo, and an editorial on the legal documents every household should possess.”
Heat flushed her cheeks as she stared at the table of contents. He’d just listed the articles in the magazine by order of appearance. “You’ve already read it?”
“I bought a copy the first morning we were in port.”
Annabelle closed the magazine to cover her embarrassment. “Well, then! What shall we talk about?” They still had two hours until Springfield.
“Maybe we can talk about how much fun it is to be a chaperone,” Captain Haig said.
Annabelle had no idea what he meant, but Gray looked like he wanted to laugh.
