He indulged in a long laugh. “Is this your first time visiting Cloverton Hall?”
“Yes, it is. Why?”
He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening and then spoke to her in a low tone. “If I’m not mistaken, your father enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Mr.Milton. I thought perhaps you’d been here before, with him.”
“My father did visit here, a couple of times actually, but that was many years ago.”
“I wonder that you did not join him. If I recall accurately, you were always at your father’s side.”
“At the time I would have been far too young to be of significant help.”
“Don’t be so modest, MissBrannon. I’ve heard that you’re integral to the business.”
Uncomfortable with the praise, she lowered her spoon.
“Oh, come now. Do not seem so shocked! I’d hardly be a man of my business if I didn’t know such things about my competition.”
She stiffened. Did he really think of her as competition?
His posture slackened and his voice lowered even further. “Russell Crane told me you had quite an eye for such things. He said that you have a hand in most of the transactions that go through your warehouse.”
She frowned. “You know Mr.Crane?”
“Of course I do. I’ve seen him at the docks often meeting the ships as they come in.”
There was no reason why Russell should have confided to her that he had spoken with Mr. Avery, but it still made her feel as if she was on the outside of things.
She had to regain control of this conversation. If she was going to say what needed to be said, she needed to do it now. “I have a confession, Mr.Avery.”
***
Something had changed in MissBrannon’s countenance.
Was it something he’d said?
Lucas had done his best to maintain a congenial conversation, given the terse history between their families, and until this moment, her actions had exuded confidence: her eye contact, her posture, the steady, unaffected tone of her voice.
He repeated her intriguing word. “A confession?”
Her somber demeanor remained steadfast. “Mrs.Milton knows of your profession.”
“That’s not much of a confession, MissBrannon,” he teased, attempting to ease her concern. “Anyone may know it.”
“There’s more.” Her voice lowered until it was barely audible over the humming conversations and clinking silver. “She’s convinced you’re here to exploit her husband’s collection.”
Lucas held her gaze, longer than he probably should, before responding. “I see.”
“And I was not supposed to be seated next to you tonight, but Mrs. Milton rearranged the entire dinner so that I might talk with you and learn which items you’re interested in. Even nowshe is staring at me, no doubt wondering what details I am getting from you.”
He cast a glance toward Mrs.Milton. Sure enough, the older woman’s watchful eyes were cut in his dinner companion’s direction.
MissBrannon continued, “I do apologize if this makes things difficult or uncomfortable for you.”
He resisted a smile. When every other woman here was determined to pull at his heartstrings and toy with his emotions, her forthright deportment was refreshing.
He shifted in the seat. He still didn’t know exactly why she was here at Cloverton Hall, but he surmised that regardless of the reason, she had her own difficulties to contend with. The other guests believed her to be Mrs.Milton’s friend, but MissBrannon’s words implied otherwise.
“Well then, I have a confession of my own,” he countered. “Mr.Milton’s library is connected to Mr.Wainbridge’s study. I was in there this afternoon and heard everything Mrs.Milton said.”
