“Oh? Julian, huh?” Eloise shot him an appraising look.
Tension rippled across Francine’s shoulders as she realized her mistake. Yes, Julian thought ruefully; they should have come up with a fake name for him.
Too late now.
Eloise’s look went up and down, in a way he was unfortunately familiar with. He stared stonily at the wall and felt rather than saw her grin at Francine. “I mean, I had them set up both rooms, but if you only need the one…”
“Elly,”Francine groaned.
Eloise laughed. “I’msoglad you’re here, babe. Honestly. This was already going to be fun, but now? It’s going to be thebest.I can’t wait for you to meet—”
She broke off with a delicate snort of disgust. Julian glanced at her long enough to see the slight look of distraction that meant she was speaking telepathically.
“Well, I better let you get settled in,” Eloise announced, swinging her legs around and standing up. “You’ll join us for dinner, right, Frankie?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Eloise flounced off. Francine dismissed Gustav and the others a few minutes later, though not before she got their names: Miriam and Anna.
“Shifters of some sort,” she said once the door had closed behind them.
“I expect everyone on this ship will be.”
She wrinkled her nose.*I don’t like that.*
*Why not?*
She blinked as though she wasn’t expecting to be questioned, then changed position on the sofa. He could practically see the cogs moving in her mind as she decided to answer the question seriously and not ignore it.
*Harper did that, didn’t he?*she said at last. *And I can see why he did it. We’re all so used to keeping the truth about ourselves a secret. Being invited somewhere where you don’t have to hide who you are, where there are other people like you … it’s effective.* Her mouth pulled sideways. *You could overlook all sorts of red flags.*
“Quite.”
Her eyes flicked up, but he was prepared this time and was already looking elsewhere.
Her gaze still burned against his skin.
“What now?” he asked, coolly, as though even the touch of her attention didn’t make his skin hot with longing.
“Now?” Fabric rustled as she shrugged. “The hotel will deliver our luggage. I’ll find something in what the atelier sends that will be suitable for dinner, and if I don’t, it’ll give Eloise something to feel superior about.”
“You seem close with her.”
“Elly? We’re old friends. I didn’t know—” She stopped herself and clicked her tongue. *She knows how to put on a good party, but she’s good at her job, too, so people can’t totally write her off as a society airhead. That makes her a good figurehead for whoever’s behind this.*
Only a figurehead? Julian kept his thoughts to himself as Francine went on.
*But she mentioned other passengers. Other boats. I think…*
She pressed her lips together, displeased, but he caught the flicker of uncertainty behind her eyes.
*Worried?*
She didn’t answer. Instead, she looked around the room, preoccupied.
He narrowed his eyes. *That isn’t the only thing making you uneasy.*
“This is my ship,” she said quietly. “I designed it. One of my earlier clients, back when people were beating my door down to—well. I thought I was an interior design genius, and they thought I was a good way to get a foot in the door with my family.”
