He gave Eva’s fingers a squeeze. “Thank you.”
The door reopened—wide, this time. “Please come in.” The butler stepped aside until they all gathered in the ornate front hall. “Follow me, if you will, but try not to touch anything.” He strode off at a good clip.
Bram smirked. Either the man was in a hurry to attend some other task, or he thought such speed would deter the children from shoving candlesticks into their pockets.
They entered a spacious sitting room, all gold and green and smelling of beeswax. Bram set Andy down on one of the many sofas, glad to remove the burden. Though the boy was slight, he’d left a distinct cramp in Bram’s bicep.
Eva ushered the rest of the children to various other seats. “Sit still, children, and make sure not to touch anything just as the gentleman asked.”
Out of habit, Bram approached the mantel and lifted the lid of the humidor. The rich scent of Dominican tobacco wafted out, instantly easing some of the tightness in his neck. He reached to pocket a few of the cigars, but inches away from contact, shut the lid instead. Eva wouldn’t appreciate him smelling of smoke.
“Kipes!” one of the children exclaimed. “This place is a palace.”
“Miss Inman?” Another girl chimed in, wonder in her voice. “Are we going to live here?”
“No, Maggie. We are merely guests for a brief time.”
Bram turned from the hearth as Eva drew close, a certain amount of awe in her own gaze. “I had no idea you rubbed elbows with the elite.”
“You should never judge a book by its cover.” He grinned.
Her lips slightly parted as she peered up at him. “I have been wrong about you in so many ways.”
The admiration in her eyes went down deep, unpacked, and made a home in his heart. How had this woman come to be so much a part of him? Lightly, he ran his finger along the curve of her cheek. “I could get used to a look like that.”
“Well, this is a surprise,” a bass voice rumbled from the doorway.
Bram turned to see his old friend Edmund Price entering, a dark-haired beauty at his side. Both wore a golden glow to their skin, likely having returned from a recent dig in Egypt.
“You know me, Price. Just keeping you on your toes.” He clapped the man on the back.
“That is my job now.” Ami, Price’s wife, gave her husband a sideways embrace, then held out her hand to Bram. “But it is good to see you again, and I note you have brought along a friend—or rather, I should sayfriends.”
He pressed his lips to the top of Ami’s hand, then urged Eva forward with a slight touch to her arm. “Indeed, I have. Ami Price, meet Miss Eva Inman. Eva, Mrs. Price.”
Eva dipped a full curtsey. “I am pleased to meet you, Mrs. Price.”
Ami laughed, the sound so merry that several of the children giggled along with her. “No need for such formality. Please call me Ami. And since this artful gentleman you have taken up with has neglected to introduce you to my husband, it is up to me to do the honour. Eva, this is Edmund Price.”
Eva’s jaw dropped. “TheEdmund Price?”
Edmund chuckled. “The one and only—to which my wife would say was God’s mercy.” He winked at Ami.
His wife promptly batted his arm. “Scoundrel ... but very true. I would say such a thing.”
“Miss Inman?” a small voice called from one of the sofas. “My tummy is grumbly.”
Before Eva could answer, Ami swooped over to the children and crouched to their level, her fine silk skirts billowing like a soft cloud around her. “But what is this? Has our friend Mr. Webb brought us a crew of adventurers with empty bellies? We cannot have such a tragedy. Come, let us go dig about the kitchen and see what relics we can unearth, hmm?” She swiped little Andy into her arms.
Eva’s brows lifted, clearly astonished that a lady from an elegant home would stoop to such an act. Bram smirked. She had no idea Ami Price was a feisty Egyptologist at heart.
She didn’t marvel for long, though. She advanced with her hands held out. “Children, you heard the lady. Form a chain and follow Mrs. Price just as you did Mr. Webb. Penny and I shall bring up the rear.” She glanced back at Bram as if for permission.
Which was entirely endearing.
He nodded, and soon the room emptied to naught but him and his old friend.
Edmund strolled to the drink cart and poured from a carafe of water. “Looks like you have been caught in some sort of net this time—and with a school of fish to accompany you. I amcertain there is intrigue involved.” He waggled his eyebrows as he handed over a glass.
