Eyes narrowed and chin jutted, she whispered, “I’m not going to choose you.”
“Choose me for what?” His brow furrowed, even as a hint ofrosewater tickled his nose. What the devil was she talking about?
“As if you didn’t know.”
“I-I don’t.” He sputtered, but she’d lifted her skirts and headed down the hall.
“What did she say to you?” Thea sidled up to him and curled her fingers around the crook of his arm.
Take your hands off me.He coughed down the words before they could erupt. “I have no idea.”
Mrs. LeBeau rescued him, came up on the other side of Thea and touched her elbow. “We must be charitable with your cousin, dear. Your father has decided to give her one more chance to prove she can learn to behave like a lady.”
Thea scoffed. “That’ll be the day.” Her fingers loosened.
He slipped free and hurried ahead.
Carrying herself like a princess, Morning Fawn opened the dining room door and entered, without waiting for the servants or LeBeau.
Thea latched on to Devon as his foot crossed the threshold. “You’ll sit by me, of course.”
“I’ll leave that for your father to decide.”
Lucy and two more servants he couldn’t name hurried to the sideboard where silver-plated serving dishes awaited. A fire crackled in the small hearth.
Morning Fawn shot him a look as if he were beneath contempt and pulled out a chair to the left of Mrs. LeBeau’s seat. “I don’t need any help.”
Mrs. LeBeautsked as she arrived at her own seat. “Ladies wait for gentlemen to pull out their chair.”
Morning Fawn pressed her lips together as Mr. LeBeau strode up and helped his wife.
Thea sashayed over to the seat by her father’s end of the table and rustled her skirts as if she need remind Devon of her presence. He seated her and sat between her and Mrs. LeBeau.His gaze fell to the empty chair beside Morning Fawn. They were one gentleman short, or more likely, one lady too many, the extra one being on his side of the table.
They bowed their heads as Mrs. LeBeau said the Lord’s Prayer. From what he’d seen, it was a nightly custom. He whispered his own in silence, thanksgiving that Morning Fawn was out of the attic and safe for the moment, and a petition that she’d stay that way.
As they raised their heads, hazel eyes lit with determination and something less than friendly met his as the first dish was served. Obviously, his removal of the nails and his part in getting her invited to dinner were insufficient penitence for prior offenses. And who knew if LeBeau had mentioned Devon’s role in her reprieve from the attic?
Steam drifted up from the potato soup, and the scent of freshly baked bread caused his stomach to rumble.
Morning Fawn broke eye contact and inhaled. Her spoon was in her mouth in seconds. Had she been afraid to eat in the attic, concerned her food might still be tainted?
Thea touched his hand. “Lieutenant, you must tell us more about your adventures.”
Her father cleared his throat. Over the touch?
Morning Fawn clinked her silverware against her china bowl.
Devon scooted his hand free and reached for his glass of water. “I’d rather hear something about Morning—Beth’s travel.”
Everyone but Thea stopped chewing. Not a good topic?
Thea splayed her fingers across her fichu-covered cleavage. “I’m sure it’d be very informative to learn how to coat one’s self and hair in bear grease and how to properly skin a buffalo. However, I don’t believe recalling such details would aid in the civilizing of Cousin Beth.”
Morning Fawn flipped her hair off her shoulder. “I’m sureyou’d rather burn to a rosy crisp beneath the sun on the plains. The only question would be whether you’d die from the heat or starvation first.”
“I wouldn’t be fool enough to be stranded in such a predicament. Unlike some?—”
“One could only wish.” Morning Fawn sliced a chunk of bread from the loaf near her and took a bite.
