“That is neither here nor there. It was simply an analogy. Now that you’ve brought it to my attention, I will see she has adequate transportation home. Or better yet, perhaps I will hire Timmy to escort her home nightly, ensuring she gets home safely and her pride is not wounded.”
“Why would you think her pride is wounded?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. She was a proud woman and hadn’t been shy about telling me that, either. I wanted to hear what Moran truly thought about Mrs. Worth. Because if he did like her, then I would back off. Not that it would really matter, considering she had told me politely but firmly that she wasn’t interested in being courted. It stung my pride a bit, but one couldn’t make somebody love you; I’d learned that lesson with Suzette.
“Mrs. Worth is a modern woman,” he replied. “If you’ve been paying attention to what’s been going on in the world, you’ll see that women like her are pushing for equal rights under the law.”
“Another thing you have in common.” Which made Mrs. Worth even more suited for Moran. “After I saw Mrs. Worth home, we had quite a scare. We heard screaming from her flat, and when I opened the door, I was afraid they were being attacked.”
“Bloody hell.”
“Bloody hell, indeed. However, I discovered that their cat had caught a mouse, and the girls were huddled on the couch and out of the way of their sister Violet, who was trying to kill the mouse with a ladle. It was very comical.”
The bed shook with his laughter. “Are you saying it was a game of cat and mouse?”
“You are such an oddball.” I laughed with him, loving his sense of humor. I turned on my side until my head was next to his on the pillow, our faces side by side. I lifted a finger and traced it along the laugh lines around his mouth. “She has five sisters. I was privileged enough to meet four of them, the fifth of whom is a nurse. They are very charming girls, especially her sister Violet.”
“Mrs. Worth has a heavy burden to bear. I assume she is responsible for all the sisters? Did she mention her parents at all?” His interest in her was telling.
“No, she didn’t mention anything about her family. She talked about Frank, who is her husband. Or was her husband, I should say. After the scare was over, Violet invited me in for supper, and I accepted. Violet quizzed me about my exploits on the force.”
“You are a gifted storyteller.”
“Mrs. Worth thinks I should write a children’s story called Chief Inspector Tabby and the Mouse King. If she only knew what I really wrote...” I tilted my chin and brushed my mouth over his, my hand resting on his cheek.
“She’d run screaming from the room.” Moran pulled back and shook his head, the consternation back in his expression.
“There, I think you are wrong. She is made of sterner stuff.” When I kissed her, she hadn’t pulled away. Indeed, she’d given me hope after stepping into my embrace. As a widow, she had experience in matters of the flesh. Had she been a virgin, I would have never even thought to kiss her.
“She is very bold.” Moran yawned, his eyes glassy with the need to sleep. He blinked several times before giving up and closing his eyes.
I pressed a kiss to his forehead, needing to leave. The ongoing chill in the room reminded me of what awaited outside. “I should go.”
“You can stay until morning if you wish. It is cold outside.” He curled more fully into me, his chest rising and falling with each breath. I pulled the covers over us and settled deeper into the mattress, content for the first time in a long time. Tomorrow might prove a challenge, but tonight was perfect.
Chapter Fourteen
The Right Honorable Miss Bernice Namath
I waved good morning to Mrs. Paul in the bookshop before unlocking the front door of the T.J. Moran Publishing House. Humming under my breath, I took the front staircase, a hop to my step. My conversation with Ash and our subsequent kiss playing in an endless loop inside my head. I tucked the key into my fabric bag and entered the quiet reception space. No matter how enticing his kiss, I couldn’t carry on an affair with him. It was rather shameful to even think about it. However, since I never intended to marry, why should I be obligated to remain chaste?
Cheeks fiery and other parts of me tingling in a very unladylike manner, I removed my hat, sticking the pin into the simple felt toque. My high-fashion apparel had been sold off for a more practical wardrobe. Hanging my cloak and hat on the coat tree in the corner, I couldn’t help the smile that formed at what happened after Ash had broken the peg on the wall.
A sound from the other room drew my attention. I stared at Moran’s door, guilt washing over me. Just yesterday, I had flirted with him, and now I was thinking of Ash in a romantic fashion. My newfound freedom was going to my head, or maybe it had more to do with being courted by a charming man. Except he wasn’t courting me. I had put an end to it before it could begin. But that kiss...
Moran’s door opened, and he stepped into the reception area. His gaze settled on me and my pulse hummed for a different reason—or perhaps the same reason but a different man. The usual circles were gone from beneath his eyes, and he looked rested and relaxed.
