Eva stiffened at Penny’s voice, then immediately ducked around Bram to face the girl. “Professor Webb and I were just talking, poppet, that is all.” Her words came out in a rush as she squeezed her sister’s shoulders, hoping to steer the conversation and Penny away from the awkwardness.
Penny planted her feet. “People don’t whisper their conversations. I think you were kissing.”
The accusation swung in the air like a noose looking for a neck, and though she’d not actually kissed Bram, guilt burned hot in Eva’s chest. “Hush, Penny. Do not be absurd. Of course we were not—”
“You were! That’s why you snuck off together. Something to attend to, indeed.” She flashed a huge grin. “You two were kissing!”
A unified gasp whooshed behind her sister. Eva lifted her gaze toward the opening of the room divider—and instantly died a thousand deaths.
There stood Mrs. Mortimer, Mrs. Quibble, and Mr. Toffit, all three of their mouths hanging open.
Facing a firing squad would be less deadly, leastwise for Eva’s reputation. Bram flexed his fingers at his side, unsure how to salvage the situation. Blast! What had he been thinking to have put her in such a compromising position?
Stepping beside her, he cleared his throat, drawing the gawkers’ attention. Even Penny cocked her head toward the sound. He’d have to talk fast to defend Eva’s character, but what to say? Hehadbeen about to kiss her, but he couldn’t very well confess such a truth.
Wait a minute.
Truth?
Now there was a thought. It would be a long shot, but he’d never been one to shy away from a hard-to-hit target.
“As much as I would love to admit to a romantic interlude with Miss Inman, we did not steal away for such a clandestine motive as that. The reality is, I gave her a rock, and I thought it only decent to do so in private as I didn’t have enough for everyone.”
Mrs. Mortimer clutched her pearls. “Pardon, but did I hear correctly? You gave Miss Inman a rock, sir?”
“He did.” Eva held up the shiny pebble for the three adults to view, then bent and folded her sister’s fingers around it.
Penny rolled the rock between her palms, then, evidently satisfied, she lifted her face toward his general direction. “But why give my sister such a silly thing?”
“It is a bit of a long story, but the gist of it is I thought it might bring your sister some encouragement on such an important night. She has put a lot of work into this event, and I think I speak for us all to say how much we appreciate it.”
“A thoughtful gesture, Professor Webb.” Mrs. Quibble angled her head at him, lips pursing into a sharp beak. “If not a little eccentric.”
Beside her, Mr. Toffit ran his fingers along his thin moustache. “A trait of the best history professors, I daresay.”
Penny cast the little rock back and forth between her hands, lips twisting. “I suppose I could have been wrong. It is quite loud in here.” She lifted her face in Eva’s general direction, a sheepish dip to her brows. “I am sorry, sister.”
“I forgive you. Now, I still have that speaker to check on. Would you like to come with me?”
“I suppose. I have finished all the sampling, and everything was delicious.”
Eva plucked the pebble from Penny’s hand and faced the three onlookers. “If you will excuse us, please.” She guided her sister around the divider, mouthingThank youto Bram over her shoulder.
Well. Crisis averted, apparently. For a moment, he leaned against the wall where Eva had been only moments before, the sweet scent of the rosewater perfume she must’ve dabbed on before the gala lingering on the air. What would she have said to his request had Penny not interrupted? Would she have allowedhim to kiss her? Heat flashed through him, and he tugged at his collar, suddenly unable to breathe.
Stars and thunder! What was he thinking? He’d be leaving for Cambridge in five days. He had no business starting something with Eva he couldn’t finish.
He strode into the fray of powdered ladies and gents smelling of too much aftershave, working his way to the drink table on the opposite side. Bypassing the flutes of champagne, he grabbed a glass of punch—then nearly spilled it when a tipsy fellow shouldered into him.
“Easy there.” Bram caught the man’s arm and squared him up.
“Say,” the fellow slurred as he tried to focus on his face. “Do I know you?”
“Likely not. I am Professor Bram Webb. And you are?”
“Mr. Finebridge.” He hiccupped, then pounded his chest with his fist. “Robert Finebridge.”
The name traveled on the stench of spirits, and Bram fought a strong gag reflex. “Well, Mr. Finebridge, take a care tonight. There are ladies present.”
