He thought for a moment but shook his head.
“It’s a Tuesday,” Philip offered. “And it’s my parents’ anniversary. Aside from that, I can’t think of anything special.”
She would simply have to wait until next month to discover the surprise, even though every nerve ending in her body tingled with curiosity. But more importantly, she wanted an update on Luke.
She turned to Gray. “Did Luke really fire the attorney you hired for him? Again?”
“He really did,” he said, the frustration palpable in his voice.
“Hire him back.”
Gray shook his head. “Luke swears he’s turned over a new leaf and wants to accept his punishment with no excuses and no defense.”
That didn’t sound like Luke, and she swiveled her gaze to Philip. “You must know people in high places. Who is the best person to start negotiating a plea deal with?”
Philip shrugged. “If Luke doesn’t want to cooperate, we aren’t going to get anywhere.”
How could her daredevil brother become such fierce friends with the timid, rule-following Philip Ransom? She fought to keep her voice serene. “Philip, please understand that I am prepared to unknot that tie around your throat and use it to strangle you unlessyoucooperate.”
Philip flinched. “I don’t know anything!” he squeaked. “I report to the officer in charge of navigation, and he’s got even fewer connections than I do.”
“What connections do you have?” Gray asked, leaning forward.
“I knowher,” he said, pointing at Caroline. “I think knowing the first lady’s secretary is pretty highfalutin.” He accidentally knocked a slide rule to the floor, and he grimaced when the tinyscrew securing the cursor rolled off. “Drat, this is my favorite slide rule,” he muttered, trying to fit it back into place. It was hopeless. He was all thumbs.
“Give it to me,” she sighed. If Philip’s head wasn’t attached by flesh and bone, he’d probably lose it too.
“You’re both invited to my house for dinner tonight,” Gray said. “I’ve got a new variety of paprika I’d like your opinion on.”
Caroline wasn’t free to escape the White House, and Philip didn’t seem any more eager.
“I’ve got a dance class tonight,” he said, which surprised them both. Philip seemed too timid to venture into something so engaging. “Mrs. Barclay’s finishing school always needs men to partner with her students. I earn a little extra income.”
“Are you in need of funds?” Gray asked.
“The money is welcome,” Philip replied, not meeting anyone’s eyes.
Gray leaned forward, his face even more serious than usual. “Philip, if you need money, come to me. I can help with investments that will be easier than taking second jobs at night.”
“Stop it, Gray. You’re embarrassing him.” She returned Philip’s slide rule with the cursor back in place, and he sent her a grateful smile but sobered quickly as he rotated the slide rule in his hands. It suddenly seemed as if a world of sadness overcame him.
“Actually, the dance classes help get my mind off Luke,” Philip finally said. “I feel so helpless. Sometimes I just need to forget.”
Her heart turned over and she felt rotten about teasing him, because Luke’s arrest had hit Philip hard too. The three of them had become extraordinarily close over the past few months, and they were learning together how to cope with this new and terrible feeling of despair.
And if the president didn’t win the election in November, they would be more helpless than ever.
As election day drew near, it consumed all of Nathaniel’s waking hours. In two weeks, the president would be casting his vote in his hometown of Canton, Ohio. That meant guarding the entire presidential party on the train to Ohio and then during the four-day visit.
Nathaniel had never been to Canton and would be forced to lean on the local police for help. Security on election day would be a nightmare, with thousands of people swarming around the president, and potential assassins surely salivated at the chance to strike during a high-profile event. Planning for the upcoming train ride and the festivities in Canton required all his attention, and yet here he sat, silently fuming over the latest outrage from Caroline Delacroix.
This morning’s kitchen break-in should have been reported immediately. He could forgive her for waiting until the household was awake. He could even overlook the delay while she conducted her regular morning check-in with the first lady.
But first she’d paid calls around town, then had lunch with the household staff, then consulted with the cook about some menus. In the afternoon she hosted a tea alongside the first lady and a group of local suffragettes.
Unbelievably, she then took a leisurely stroll in the conservatory for almost an hour. An hour! He fumed, giving her all the rope she needed to hang herself. But instead of taking two minutes to write him a note about the unauthorized access someone in her circle had orchestrated to deliver a basket of artichokes, she headed upstairs to change for dinner. Like many rich people, she indulged in the affectation of dressing for dinner. Dinner was a small affair tonight, with only the president’s chaplain and a few of his old army friends in attendance. In light of Caroline’s birthday, she had been invited as well.
Nathaniel waited in the staff stairwell to catch her beforeshe could sashay into dinner as though she hadn’t a care in the world. She looked typically spectacular as she glided down the staircase. He blocked her path.
