Until she realized he was waiting for a response.
“Yes,” she blurted out finally, feeling completely ridiculous, just as Ruthann’s expression began to change to one of concern. “It’s nice to see you, too, Stuart. How is your work?”
“It’s busy, but never too busy for my little sister, apparently,” he said with a glance at Ruthann. “Thank you for asking, Norah.”
Behind his back, Ruthann stuck out her tongue at him. Norah covered her mouth to hide her smile.
Stuart reached for his hat. “I ought to be—”
“Oh, no!” Ruthann sprang into action, taking the hat from his grasp and hanging it back up. “You can’t go yet. Norah only just arrived! And the baby hasn’t woken. Surely you’d like to see your nephew.”
Stuart looked back and forth between them, a tiny wrinkle appearing between his eyebrows. “I thought you two might want to visit. And besides, Papa—”
“Oh, Papa will be just fine without you for a bit longer. Sit! I’ll fetch us some tea.” Ruthann bustled off to the kitchen, which was only steps away from the parlor in the small apartment.
Stuart narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Ruthann set the kettle on the stove. His sky-colored gaze slid back to Norah. “Do you know what’s going on here? I suspect Ruthann has something up her sleeve.”
“I . . .” Norah looked to Ruthann for help. It had been Ruthann’s idea, although Norah was more than happy to go along with it.
Ruthann gave her brother a petulant look. “Now, why would you think such a thing?”
Stuart crossed his arms. “Because I know you too well. I visit with my nephew frequently, and you’ve never once offered to make me tea when I’ve come by here.”
Ruthann sighed. “I’d like to ask a favor of you. For Norah.”
Stuart glanced at Norah, looking for all the world as if he couldn’t imagine what she might need from him. She gave him a smile, hoping it belied the utter lack of courage she felt at the moment.
“You could have been direct,” he said to Ruthann. “I’m always happy to help a friend. What is it you need assistance with?” Stuart held her gaze again, and all the words flew out of Norah’s head.
She’d known Stuart all her life, had seen him daily in school when they were young, and when visiting Ruthann at their family home. She remembered that awkward time when his hair wouldn’t lie flat and the occasion when he’d stolen her schoolbooks and hidden them in the privy. Yet after all of that, she couldn’t ask him the most important question she’d ever had.
Thankfully, Ruthann stepped in. Leaving the kettle to heat on the stove, she came back into the parlor and took Norah’s hand in hers.
Stuart looked particularly curious now, that wrinkle between his eyebrows growing even deeper. “Do you have an overly persistent suitor? I’m more than happy to run him off.”
Ruthann smirked as she held fast to Norah’s hand. “We all know how good you are at such things.” He’d disapproved of every gentleman interested in Ruthann before her marriage.
Just as Norah thought she might ask him to help her dissuade Mr. Beck instead of speaking about the real reason she needed his assistance, Ruthann plunged ahead with their request.
“It isn’t a suitor. It’s Jeremy. Norah has made up her mind to pay him a visit, but she can’t go alone. Will you accompany her?”
He was going to say no. It was evident in the way his expression changed from one of surprise to one that could have been made from stone.
“Absolutely not,” he said.
And that was it. Her only chance at learning how to prove her brother’s innocence had been discarded in the space of two words. Norah’s heart sank.
She would never know the truth now.
