“I don’t buy any of it,” he said bluntly. “Rumors and gossip fly around Washington like plagues of locusts, and most of it is a pack of lies.”
“Horace also said that Dickie took a bribe from the Magruders to tell the story. A pair of expensive bay horses.”
Gray stifled a bitter laugh. “Possible.”
“Maybe you could use that to stop the next story. If the editor atThe Washington Postknew Dickie took a bribe, it would cast doubt on his story.”
Gray rubbed the skin between his eyes. “Annabelle, you’re in over your head. Most of this is just standard Washington rumors and innuendo. Don’t be so naïve.”
She bristled. “I may be naïve, but I’m not stupid.” Gray looked immediately contrite, and the air went out of her in a rush. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I think we’re both tense and under a lot of pressure.”
“What pressure have you been under?” The concern in his gaze was genuine, and it got to her. It had been easier to be strong when he was snippy.
“My sister is getting married.”And my mother hates him. My heart has been broken, and it still hurts every time I see you. Ifeel adrift.
“I suppose weddings are always stressful,” Gray said. “Who is she marrying?”
“Walter Talbot. He owns a grocery store in a fancy part of town.”
Before she could say more, the door to the distillery banged open, and Mrs. Riley strode forward. “There’s no tea inside,” she said bluntly.
Annabelle withdrew a step, although maybe that made her seem guilty. She and Gray hadn’t been doing anything wrong. Nevertheless, Mrs. Riley seemed to have noticed their close proximity and gave her a cat’s smile.
“Now I remember where I’ve heard your name,” Mrs. Riley said. “The ‘thoroughly modern couple’ ofGood Housekeepingfame. Somehow I expected you to look very different.” Her gaze flicked to Annabelle’s plain dress. She didn’t need to add another word; her mocking expression said it all.
“I’d better get back to work,” Annabelle said, sliding toward the door, which Mrs. Riley still effectively blocked.
“What are you, a secretary?” Mrs. Riley asked.
“Lab assistant.”
The stylish woman’s smile could not be any more fake if she’d purchased it in a store. “Of course, of course,” she said. “Washington does abound in these clerical positions to keep feeding grist into the grist mill.”
Gray stepped to Annabelle’s side. “Miss Larkin is many things, but she’s never been grist,” he said shortly. “Please excuse us for a moment.”
His hand was warm around Annabelle’s arm as he led her outside the distillery. At least he had stood up for her against that horrible woman, but it couldn’t change the facts. Gray had moved on with a beautiful and sophisticated woman who would probably fit into his world with ease. Annabelle drew her cloak closer against a chilly gust of October wind.
Gray turned to her, his face serious. “Thank you for comingtoday, but I’d prefer it if you forgot whatever you heard about Luke. I don’t believe it’s true, and whatever Dickie has up his sleeve, I’ll handle it.” He paused for a moment, then gave her a hint of a smile. “The information about his new bay horses will be helpful. Thank you.”
Annabelle stood only a few inches from him. She didn’t want to walk away, because he was looking at her with kindness and gratitude.
He touched her arm for the briefest moment. “Thanks again,” he said before turning to head back inside the vanilla distillery.
Gray asked Caroline to meet him on thePelican. If anyone knew about the possibility of Luke having somehow acquired a Naval Academy diploma, it would be Caroline. Meeting her at the White House was out of the question, and besides, he wanted Otis and Captain Haig in on this discussion. All of them knew Luke well, and they would get to the bottom of the nagging suspicion Annabelle had raised.
He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. He’d been stunned when she walked into the distillery earlier today, even though she’d looked like she was facing a public execution. Was he that intimidating to her?
Activity on thePelicanwas in full swing as crewmembers sanded the decks and laid down a fresh coat of marine spar. Next week Captain Haig and Otis would set sail, first for Bermuda, then Lisbon, then on to Madagascar. The scent of harbor air and varnish surrounded him as he walked down the passageway to the bridge.
Caroline was already there, pacing the tight confines of the bridge while Otis and Captain Haig both nursed cups of coffee at the compact table.
“Why are we all here?” she asked as soon as Gray entered and secured the door behind him.
“Because your friends at the White House weren’t so welcoming the last time I was there to talk about Luke.”
She sucked in a quick breath. “What about Luke?”
“Rumor has it he was awarded a diploma from the Naval Academy last year. Do you know anything about that?”
