His words were kind and generous, and she savored his opinion of her. Never had a man ever given her such a high praise, yet it wasn’t enough. She wanted more from him. So much more. “Thank you. It’s kind of you to say.”
“Miss McKinnie, if I got carried away when you were in my arms at the gardens, I apologize. Please don’t hold my behavior against me. You were wise to request a chaperone. I confess you are a beautiful woman. No matter how much I respect your intelligence and strength, I fear I am still a man. A man who finds you distractingly desirable.”
A blush spread up her chest, neck, cheeks. His words came rehearsed, as if he’d been up practicing all night, yet they were perfect.
“I fear I’ve done it again. I’m being too forward. If you wish to eat in private…” He pushed his chair back.
“Cora,” she said.
He stopped his movement and stared down the center of the table at her. “What?”
“Please, if we’re to be partners and, I hope, friends, call me Cora.” A fluttering stirred in her belly as she waited for his response.
“Cora.” Ed settled into his chair and took a sip of his coffee but still didn’t relax. “There’s one more thing I need to say. Please, if I mess this up, allow me a chance to fix it before you leave this room.”
Intrigued and a little nervous, she placed her cup down and rested her hands in her lap. “I promise.”
Ed pressed his palms to the table, but his gaze turned dark and troubled. “Mr. Grous cornered me at the gardens and made a threat.”
“He’s made threats before, right?” Cora asked, longing to soothe the line of tension forming on his forehead.
“Yes, but this came less empty. As if he has something solid to harm us.”
“Us?” Cora asked.
“Yes. I fear he’s become infatuated with you, and when a man such as Mr. Grous fixates on something, he doesn’t like to lose. Not that I see you as a prize. It is how he is, not I.”
“Understood.” Cora held her stomach and the coffee sloshing around inside at her being anything to Mr. Grous. “What can he do, though? Everyone believes I’m betrothed to you. Certainly he wouldn’t harm me.”
“I don’t know what he has planned, but I’m asking you, beseeching you, for your own safety, keep Ghost or me with you at all times when you are outside this home. It isn’t an order, but—”
“I won’t go anywhere without one of you. Thank you for looking out for my safety.” She glanced at Ghost, who looked relieved at their conversation and her response.
“I’ll remain inside today to finish my dresses for tomorrow and for the party. Also, I have some matters to attend to with Cook, so business will keep me here.”
“Perfect, because I do need to go check on things at my shipping company.”
Cora felt a flood of relief since she hadn’t figured out how to get Ed out of the house in order to clean up the people coming from the street and to educate them on proper etiquette without him figuring anything out.
Ed picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of ham. “I fear Mr. Grous has something, and I need to get ahead of it.”
“Focus on that today and not on me.”
“I fear that will be difficult, but I’ll try.” Ed smirked before covering his mouth with his cup.
What did he mean by that? Had he changed his mind about their situation and begun to consider more with her? Perhaps he thought he was unworthy since he couldn’t have children. Tonight, at dinner, she’d ask Ghost not to be present so she could speak to him more freely. For now, she’d have to get to work with only a few days left to plan everything.
“I heard from my sister Peggy.” He pushed the food around his plate.
“That’s excellent news. You two have been estranged for many years, right?”
“Yes, but her husband has died. She wants to come here.” He looked up at her with the most sincere expression. “I worry for her. Since she’s a woman, she has limited options. I can’t believe I never realized how dangerous it was being a woman. I also thought because men fought wars, we took on all the horrors.”
The way Ed looked, like he raged a battle inside himself, made her want to forget decorum and race to his side. He loved his sister, missed her and wanted to help. Cora saw it, the man beyond the business persona. The brother who wanted to help his sister. The sight warmed her heart. “You should send for her.”
“Not until I know if I can support her.” Ed pushed back from the table and dabbed his mouth. “I won’t bring her here only to have her suffer the same fate she faces currently.”
“Then we have even more of a reason to secure those funds.” Cora offered him a reassuring wink.
