“Again, according toher.” He leveled me with a pointed look. “Her mother lived here for half the year. Wouldn’t she know the area?”
I exhaled, frustrated. “Women don’t have the freedom to explore cities like men do.”
Whit pulled his arm free gently and continued his brisk walk to the hotel. We were only a block away at this point, if my memory served. “So you think what, exactly? That she’s with us to report back to Mamá?”
“She could be reporting to your mother, yes,” Whit said. “She could be trying to sabotage our search for her.”
“But she’s been helpful,” I protested. “Recall, also, how she shot the man who was about to attack me.”
Whit had no reply for this.
I poked his back. “Listen to me, Mr. Hayes—”
“Stop calling me that,” he said tiredly. “I can’t stand to hear it from you.” I blinked at the broad expanse of his shoulders. His bleak tone caught me off guard. We crossed a street, our hotel coming into view. Guests mingled out front, skirting around horses and donkey-pulled carts.
“I only want to say that I need you to stop bickering with my sister, to trust her as much as you can, because the alternative is stressful for me.”
“Do you agree with me about what we just witnessed? Your mother was warned off from entering that bank.”
“I do,” I said softly. “But don’t you think—”
“Don’tyouthink it’s strange that your mother was warned at a location only your sister knew we were visiting?”
“The hotel clerk also knew,” I pointed out.
Whit threw me a disgruntled look over his shoulder. “So your mother is having our hotel watched? We only just decided on that particular one. How would she have known?”
“I admit it’s unlikely,” I said. “But what if there’s a more plausible option? Someone we keep forgetting about?”
Whit was silent, still moving quickly. My skirt dragged behind me as I fought to keep up.
“You’re talking about Fincastle,” Whit said finally.
“Exactly.”
He muttered something under his breath.
“Admit it,” I said. “My idea is more probable than your far-fetched one.”
“Olivera,” Whit said. “We are about to reach the hotel. If she’s in the room, with the trunks unpacked, then I mightpossiblyagree with you. Maybe itwasFincastle warning Lourdes outside the bank. But I’m telling you, Isadora won’t be there. I would bet my health that she’s racing to intercept us even now.”
I had never wanted anyone to be more wrong. “Well, if that’s true, I suppose we better hurry.”
Together we bolted inside the hotel, startling the few people milling within the lobby. Whit was faster up the stairs, confound my corset, but I managed to catch up to him by the time he was outside our bedroom door. He looked at me grimly. “Ready?” he whispered.
I nodded, breathing hard. I was sure I looked like a street urchin.
He swung the door open.
Inside, Isadora was bending over a nearly empty trunk. She pulled out one of my dresses and began shaking out the wrinkles. Her hair was perfectly styled, her clothing neat and dust-free. My sister looked over at us and raised her brows.
“The damn teacup overflowed again,” Isadora remarked. “I had to mop up some of the water, but not before it soaked your bag again, Mr. Hayes.”
“Ohno,” I said. “I hate that I missed his call.Again. What if something happened?”
“Well, I couldn’t answer, since he wouldn’t want to speak with me,” Isadora said. “But he sounded more annoyed than in actual duress. He kept calling and calling… The only real danger was the carpet became soaked in the process.”
Whit glared at her. “And my knapsack. Which I lefton the bed.”
