She glanced up just then and caught him staring. Roen didn’t look away. That unnerved her, and for that he was sorry, but he did not regret having eyes on her in the first place.
“If it is your desire to make me uncomfortable, Mr. Shepard, then please know that you’ve succeeded and have done with it.”
“Not my desire, Mrs. Salt. I apologize for that. Did you know my mother is an artist?”
“I’m not certain what that has to do with anything, but I learned of it today when I was speaking with Ben. He told me. I gather she is quite famous.”
“Well known, I would say. And also well regarded. You have an interesting face, Mrs. Salt, of the kind my mother would want to paint. I was thinking about that.” It was not a complete fabrication, for somewhere at the back of his mind the thought had been there. He watched Lily touch the bridge of her nose in a self-conscious gesture. Before she dwelled on that, he pointed to his nose and then turned sideways so she could better see the outline of his face. “My mother tells me that I have a profile for coins. Ancient coins. Roman coins. The ones someone discovers in old shipwrecks or archeological digs. Are you familiar?”
She nodded as he faced forward. “I’ve seen drawings in books.”
“And?”
“And your mother is correct. I imagine she meant it kindly. It’s a noble profile.”
That brought Roen back to his early morning conversation with Clay. He’d been repeating something Hannah shared with him.Nobility in your profile, she’d said.Especially your nose.
“You shouldn’t infer too much from that, Mr. Shepard. I was commenting on your nose, not your character.”
Far from taking offense, Roen chuckled appreciatively. “Perhaps you would make a good sparring partner after all.”
“You had doubts?”
“A few, but you’ve put a period to them.” He thought she might bristle, but she appeared oddly satisfied that he knew she could give as good as she got. “I’m not at all sure why I desire your company, Mrs. Salt, but I’ve not changed my mind about that.”
“There’s a pity. You recall that I have four children. They are the company I keep.”
“I haven’t forgotten. The oldest is going to work for me, and the youngest is slurping a cherry fizzy at the counter. Ham doesn’t like to wear shoes, and Hannah also thinks I have a noble profile.”
“What?”
“Hmm?”
“What did you say about Hannah?”
“Oh, that. She told Clay that I have a noble profile. He told me. I suspect it’s because she saw me in church.” He smiled crookedly. “She is not yet as clear as you in distinguishing a noble proboscis from nobility of character. You should probably explain that to her.”
“Oh, I certainly will.”
Roen shrugged as he reconsidered. “She’s bright, though. She could come to it on her own.”
Lily sat up just that much straighter and looked him squarely in the eye. Her fingertips tightened on her glass. “I won’t chance it.”
“The wiser course. Do you always take it?”
“Does anyone?”
“I was asking about you.”
“No, then. I submit being here with you as evidence of my own folly.”
“That cut me deeply.”
“I doubt that. You didn’t flinch.” Lily allowed herself to relax and turned her head toward the counter. “Lizzie. You’re slurping air now. Stop, please, and come over here.”
Lizzie turned on her stool. “May I have another?”
“No. And don’t beg. It’s unbecoming.”
