My, my. Was it hot out here? Despite the chilly evening, heat radiated off her in waves—or was it from him? Either way, she was completely helpless to look at anything but his enigmatic grey eyes. “You are quite the dichotomy, sir.”
“How so?”
“On one hand, you are a fearless defender of justice, ready to take on any challenge that comes your way, even if that justice requires you to allow a man to walk off and let God deal with him. And on the other hand”—she leaned closer, fully drawn in by the spark of pleasure in his gaze—“you have an uncanny ability to make me forget all my worries with just a few words and a curve of your lips.”
Lips she had no business fixating on, yet here she was.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Miss Inman.”
“It is not flattery if it is the truth.”
“In that case, then, you are doing an excellent job of it.” He pulled her to him, his breath mingling with hers.
“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you, Eva.”
Eva gritted her teeth. Again with an interruption at the mostinconvenient time? She turned to face Lottie marching across the lawn.
“What are you two doing out here? The gala is inside.” Lottie’s gaze bounced between her and Bram, questions galore in the tilt of her head.
And Eva couldn’t blame her. It surely must look as if she and Bram were engaged in a tryst. “I was informed by a guest that Mr. Trestwell had challenged the professor to a bout of fisticuffs. I came out to break it up.”
“He didn’t! Though I cannot say I am surprised. Obnoxious man.” She stamped her foot against the turf. “But we will have to speak of it later. You must return to the gala, Eva. Dinner is ready to be served.”
“Then you should run along, Miss Inman.” Bram smoothed back his hair with a swipe of his palm. “I will slip in after a few moments. I think you and I have provided enough tongue-wagging fodder for one evening.” He winked.
Lottie giggled. “I’ll say.”
Oh bother. Eva joined her friend’s side, more anxious than ever about making the gala a success. Thus far, she’d been sorely neglecting the guests.
As they crossed the drive, Lottie singsonged beside her, “I wonder if I shall hear wedding bells come spring.”
“Pish. How absurd.”
“The way you two have been looking at each other?” Lottie looped her arm through Eva’s. “I’ll be surprised if you make it till spring.”
Rolling her eyes, Eva opened the front door. Better to leave that prediction outside, where she may or may not pick it up to consider on her way home later that night. She crossed the foyer, and inside the receiving hall, she retrieved a handbell from a side table.
“Attention, ladies and gentlemen.” She gave the bell a hearty ring. “Attention!”
The buzz of conversation lulled to a low drone as faces turned her way. “I am pleased to announce that dinner is ready to begin. You may all make your way into the dining room now, and after we eat, please remain seated for a few short words from Mrs. Quibble and Mr. Heathridge, our guest speaker for the evening.”
A herd of skirts and suits moved toward the dining room door. Eva turned to Lottie before her friend joined the throng. “Where is Penny?”
“She’s in the ladies’ retiring room with Mrs. Mortimer.”
Oh dear. The woman was no doubt filling the girl’s head with the prospect of enrolling in school immediately.
“Thank you, Lottie.” Eva doubled back to the foyer, then padded down the passageway. Perhaps she ought not have brought Penny along tonight. The girl had been out of sorts ever since Eva hadn’t allowed her to wear their mother’s old mink stole, for it was dreadfully out of date. What an evening this was turning out to be.
With a sigh, she entered the first door on the left, and a waft of violet toilette water nearly knocked her backward. The room was a lavish space with its flocked rosebud wallpaper and scrolled trim along the ceiling and baseboards. Gas lamps burned merrily, bouncing light off gilt-framed mirrors. Mrs. Mortimer sat on a padded bench next to Penny.
“Ah, the lost is found, or so my brother would say.” Mrs. Mortimer laughed as she pushed up from the velvet seat. “Your sister is here now, Miss Penny, and so I shall leave you, though it has been a delight to visit with you so intimately.” Stooping, she pinched Penny’s cheek, and—miracle of miracles—Penny didn’t flinch away.
Instead, her sister patted Mrs. Mortimer’s hand. “You don’t have to leave on my sister’s account, Mrs. Mortimer. I am sure she would be more than happy to leave me in your care for the rest of the evening.”
“Penny!” Eva gasped.
“Oh, the capricious words of youth. Does the body good to partake of such stimulating dialogue. Keeps you on your toes, eh, Miss Inman?” She fluttered her fingers at Eva, then patted Penny on the head. “Do not be too hard on your sister, dear. She has a gala to run.”
