She retrieved the patterns she’d brought with her and reshaped and reimagined them. She didn’t stop when Grace cleared the food tray with a remark about her needing to eat, or when Ed’s footfalls came up the stairs and stopped outside her door, or when the clock struck two in the morning.
At some point before the morning sun rose, she collapsed into the chair and pulled out the letters from her sisters. She missed them, each and every one. Her whole family and her life before, but she couldn’t go back. It did no good to grieve, so she needed to look forward. But it was hard to see beyond the murky waters of Ed and his schemes, lies, and rejections. Perhaps she needed to shine so bright she could see beyond the darkness she’d lived in for so long.
ChapterTen
Ed crossedhis office and put his ear to the door, listening for Cora’s footfalls in the hallway. He wouldn’t stand where the staff could see him waiting for her to appear, only for her to reject his invitation again. What gave her the right to treat him that way in his own home?
Voices carried from the kitchen, along with the aroma of hotcakes. He wouldn’t wait for her to join him any longer. She could eat when and if she wanted to, so he fixed his jacket and tie then waltzed into the dining area, where he saw Ghost sitting by Cora, whispering conspiratorially. His ribs tightened at the sight of how close they sat. What gave him the right to be alone with Cora? She was Ed’s betrothed. Not really, but to the public she was.
He forced a calm to his voice. “What’s this?”
Ghost shot up, causing orange juice to slosh from a glass, staining the white lace tablecloth. “Sorry. Miss McKinnie was discussing supplies needed for the big party with me.”
“I see. And what kind of supplies are those beyond what I’ve already handled through my company?”
“No need to concern yourself with the mundane details,” Cora announced before picking up her half-empty crystal glass of juice and sipping from it with an air of superiority.
“Ghost. Office. Now.” Ed rushed to his sanctuary, away from Cora and her seductive eyes and skin he knew had to be soft as imported silk.
Once both men were in the office he ordered, “Close the door.”
The door clicked shut behind Ed, so he whirled around on Ghost, ready to put him in his place. “You work for me, not that woman.”
“Yes, sir, I know that.”
“Do you? She has my staff doing her bidding, distracting them. She has Grace carrying trays to her room and you rescuing her from danger. She’s disrupted this entire house since she’s arrived, and I won’t have it.”
“I heard she refused to eat with you last night.”
“That has nothing to do with this.” Ed wanted to rage and yell and tell Ghost to mind his own business, but instead, conviction took hold and he flopped into his chair. “Does the entire world know my own betrothed rejected me? Correction—my second faux betrothed? Have the servants printed the information inThe Daily Dramatic Chronicle?”
“No, sir. I heard you were angry so she hid in her room. That’s it.” Ghost spun that blasted hat, warning he had more to say on the subject.
“Hid? As if I’d hurt her? Don’t be absurd. I’d never strike a woman. I’m nothing like Mr. Grous.”
Ghost rubbed his nose and studied his shoes.
“What is it?”
“Sir? You know you’ll care for her, but how does she know that?”
“I told her.” Ed threw his hands up. Why did everyone question his word?
“You also told her other things that aren’t true. From what I heard, you told her last night ’bout you deceiving her.”
Ed tugged at his too-tight tie. “Servant gossip.”
“Cora…I mean, Miss McKinnie told me.” Ghost remained a safe distance from him, near the door.
A pinch to his pride made Ed squirm. “I hope you enjoyed my seat at the table.”
“Not like that, sir. If you keep yellin’ at her and ordering her ’round, she’s never gonna want to be with you. And you needs her to be ’round you. You need to be seen with her outside this house, courtin’ and such.”
“How am I going to get her to go out with me if she won’t even be in the same room with me?”
“Did you ask?”
“Her to dinner last night? Yes.”
