“We’ll join you in the kitchen while you work, so you and Mr.Göbel can become better acquainted.”Father must be determined to prove himself a capable matchmaker.
Mr.Göbel might have many good qualities to offset his unusual appearance, but Nora already had a suitor who was as handsome as he was caring.The fact Ezekiel hadn’t immediately ended their courtship, but had set into action a plan to guard her while he searched for answers was completely opposite to how she’d expected him to respond ...and yet, she’d still gone to him.At least Mr.Göbel’s presence spared her from confronting Father.
Tristan trotted behind her to the kitchen and yowled for his own meal to be prepared.Nora plated him some leftover ragout, then set to work preparing a simple meal of beefsteak and onions.While Nora cooked, Father pulled her into conversation with Mr.Göbel whether or not she had any interest or knowledge of the topic.She wasn’t unskilled with numbers, but she certainly didn’t find accounting as interesting as the two men did.When Father finally realized a change of conversation might be prudent, he focused all attention on Nora’s qualities and accomplishments—though she had not quiteso many as he claimed.The way he praised her singing, one would think he heard and enjoyed it on a regular basis.
“Go ahead, Nora.Show Mr.Göbel what a marvelous songbird you are.Sing ‘I’ll Sing Thee Songs of Araby.’”
Nora almost dropped the fork into the skillet as she flipped the meat.Was he trying to embarrass her or support her?She knewofthe popular song, but not how to sing it.Why would she, after so many years of being forbidden to sing?“Supper is ready.A full mouth and song do not work well together.”
“Well then, perhaps after supper.I didn’t see a piano, but if you have one somewhere, I’m fairly proficient.”Mr.Göbel helped her move the heavy skillet to the trivet on the table.“Ah, there is nothing I love more than a delicious meal cooked by a woman with a servant’s heart.”
She bristled.If the compliment had come from Ezekiel, she would have smiled and blushed.She might have even called him Don Giovanni just to annoy him, but with Mr.Göbel, the words felt full of guile.“You don’t know me well enough to bestow that compliment.For one, the food may taste like the leftovers of Tristan’s latest hunt.For another, I am very selfish.”And I selfishly want you gone.
“Everyone is selfish on some level.For instance, I selfishly chose the seat across from you so I could better admire you.”
Nora dropped the slice of meat on Mr.Göbel’s plate with a splatter.Did Father even hear what his colleague was saying?Shouldn’t he step in and stop this nonsense?But he made no move to say anything, instead forking his own slice of meat and onions onto his plate.
Well, if he wouldn’t speak up, she would.“While I appreciate your compliments, Mr.Göbel, I wish you would stop.Our new acquaintance does not allow you the knowledge needed to bestow them with sincerity, and as such, they feel like the unwanted and slobbery licks a dog gives to any stranger.”
“Nora!”Horror mixed with Father’s reprimand.
However, Mr.Göbel didn’t shy from her sharp tongue.“Yourpoint is taken.Please accept my apology.Your father has spoken of you so frequently that I feel I already know you.Perhaps it would be prudent to create opportunities for a better acquaintance so I can, in the future, offer compliments you feel are genuine.I know!Mr.Davis says you love opera.There are half a dozen opera houses in the city.Where do you prefer to attend performances?”
Obviously Father hadn’t disclosedwhereher love of opera stemmed from, or that she hadn’t actually ever attended a performance, to his knowledge, in Cincinnati.Lucky for him, she’d attendedOlivette.If she revealed it now with a guest in the house, Father wouldn’t be free to lose his temper, and it was the perfect opportunity to let Mr.Göbel know she was already being courted by another.“I recently attended a performance ofOlivetteat Pike’s Opera House, where my beau works.”
Father choked on his water, sputtering it down his shirtfront and onto the plate and surrounding tablecloth.Perhaps she should have waited until after he’d taken a drink.He fumbled for his napkin, knocking the glass over.The remaining water shot across the table and onto Nora’s lap.This was going worse than she’d anticipated.She rushed to the sink for a towel.Tristan seized the opportunity to utilize her chair as a stepping stone to the table and helped himself to the platter of meat.
“No!Bad cat!”Father grabbed for Tristan, but Tristan made an easy leap from the table with a gravy laden piece of beefsteak hanging from his mouth.He settled in the corner of the room to eat his victory meal.“Why did you not return that beast while you were out?”
Because she’d been too upset to think about it?“Because Ezekiel was working, and Pike’s Opera House is no place for a cat.”
“I was unaware you are attached.”Mr.Göbel’s darted glance at Father made it evident that he felt duped.
And well he should.Fatherknewwhen he went into the office today that Nora claimed a courtship with Ezekiel.What was he thinking to lead on this poor man?“I gathered, and I am sorry if you wereled to believe I was seeking a potential match.I thought I made it clear to Father yesterday that I have a suitor.”
Oh, the storm that was brewing between her and Father as they stared at each other.She’d embarrassed him, but it was only fair for the embarrassment he’d caused Mr.Göbel.Nora welcomed whatever maelstrom broke loose when Mr.Göbel left.She deserved to have her choices respected, and Ezekiel—not some man who was one walk through the woods away from becoming a meal—was her choice.
“I think it best I take my leave.The meal was delicious, and I thank you for your hospitality.”Mr.Göbel rose from his seat with said delicious meal untouched.
He paid her a great kindness in calling her poor behavior hospitable.He deserved better than Father’s machinations and her sharp tongue.
“I am sure you will make a fine husband to the right woman.Unfortunately that woman is not me.Feel free to illuminate your colleagues if my father does not.”
He nodded and left the kitchen.
Father glared at her and scrambled after his colleague making his apologies and claiming a misunderstanding about her being attached.
Heat roiled through her at the shared humiliation of tonight’s supper.The kitchen was too hot, but going to her room required her to pass by both Mr.Göbel and Father.The Guardians had warned her to stay inside unless with one of them, but she needed a moment of escape and coolness before she faced what was sure to be an explosive argument.The courtyard gates would be locked and all her neighbors inside.It was too dark and cold for anything but a short respite.Nora would have the privacy she needed to collect herself, and the coolness would do wonders for helping her to think straight.To be safe, she grabbed her steak knife from the table.
After unlocking the back door, Nora stepped onto the crumbly stoop.Ezekiel had insisted he would fix it soon, but she’d made him promise to wait until after he’d finished composing the operetta.Still, the reminder of him was another reason not to regret thwarting Father’s scheme.Ezekiel was a good man.Father would like him if he’d only give him a chance.Light from the various kitchens cast rectangles along the brown grass, and the rooster stood in one rectangle, glaring at her for daring to disturb his precious hens.
Nora pulled the door closed behind her and leaned against it.
“That was quite the row, wasn’t it?”Adler’s voice came from the shadows next to her.“I feel for the poor turkey.Mr.Gobble, wasn’t it?”
No.Not him.She fumbled for the knob behind her so she could retreat back inside, where Father would witness the attack of Adler the man or Winston the hallucination.
“Ah, ah, ah.We’re not finished talking.”He moved from the shadows into the light cast by the kitchen and captured her wrist above her knife-wielding hand.“What’s this?You think you can get rid of a hallucination with a knife?”
