That wouldn’t do, clearly.
He had just begun to follow her up the stairs when the front door to the studio opened.
Miss Flagler and her chaperone stood in his doorway.
Nate stopped still. Miss Flagler was the last person he’d expected to see. He glanced at Ruthann, whose eyes widened as they went from Miss Flagler to him.
“Good morning, Miss Flagler.” He tried to banish the hesitancy from his voice and nodded at the woman’s chaperone, to whom he’d not been introduced. Although he didn’t want to, he returned to the bottom of the stairs. He didn’t have to see Ruthann to know she was right behind them, and he was grateful for her presence.
“Mr. Harper,” the younger woman said, a note of irritation lacing her voice. She glanced behind him. “Ruthann.”
Ruthann came around to his side, and when he glanced at her, she held her chin high, strength evident in every part of her stance. “It’s good to see you again, Sissy,” she said warmly.
“Yes, I hope you are well,” Miss Flagler said in a voice that said otherwise.
But to Ruthann’s credit, her serene smile didn’t falter even a bit.
Miss Flagler glanced at her chaperone, who nodded impatiently.
“Congratulations on your wedding,” Miss Flagler said as primly as possible. “I imagine Mr. Harper told you about our . . . photography session?”
She was looking to find out how much Ruthann knew—or was taunting her. Nate clenched his jaw.
But Ruthann smoothed her skirts, that placid smile never leaving her face. “He did. But he needn’t have. Nate and I have spent most all of our time together lately.” She glanced up at him, her eyes conveying a peacefulness he couldn’t begin to fathom in this moment. And then she reached for his hand.
Sliding her fingers through his, she turned her attention back to Miss Flagler—whose mouth had opened ever so slightly in obvious surprise.
Ruthann didn’t have to resort to telling a falsehood. All she’d needed to do was imply her presence, and Miss Flagler had pieced it together herself.
“I see.” Miss Flagler wasnothappy with this news, that much was apparent by the way she held herself, rigid but just barely holding back her anger.
Nate reluctantly let Ruthann’s hand go and moved back toward his darkroom. “I have your photographs.” He collected the two best from the table and brought them to Miss Flagler.
She took them with barely a glance.
“I hope you’ll accept them as a gift, from Ruthann and myself.” He doubted she cared much at all about the photographs, but simply giving them to her was easier than demanding payment. Now perhaps she would leave quietly.
Miss Flagler narrowed her eyes a moment as she looked at him, almost as if she were searching for something. Then she gave him a forced smile. “Thank you. That is very kind.”
“Please, Sissy, I hope you’ll come for tea soon,” Ruthann said.
Nate jerked his head toward her. What could she possibly be thinking, inviting this viper for a social call? But Ruthann’s face conveyed nothing that would explain her invitation.
Miss Flagler paused a moment. “Why, yes. That would be nice. I’ll see you soon.” She glanced again at Nate before following her chaperone out the door.
Upstairs, Ruthann had laid out a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, and thick slices of bread with butter and jam. Nate gazed at it longingly.
“Please, eat before it gets colder.” Ruthann poured two steaming cups of coffee and set them down by each plate.
As hungry as he was, Nate paused a moment to pull out her chair. She gave him a gracious smile.
Those smiles would undo him, if he let them.
He forced his mind back to the food. It was just as good as it looked—fluffy eggs with just the right amount of salt, savory sausage, and the bread with sweet jam to accompany it all.
Ruthann had barely made a dent in hers before Nate cleared his plate.
“There is more,” she said, eying his empty plate.
