“Wow. A dinner in your honor. You really did work miracles.” A swell of pride for her washed through Darius.
“I’m glad I brought my little black dress then,” Eve said, a little bemused.
“Did you really?” Darius thought back to how beautiful she’d looked in that flowery dress and wanted very much to see her in a black one.
“I came prepared. Did you bring a suit? Because I think that’s what she meant, that we should dress up for dinner.”
“I brought a sports jacket, so that’ll have to do.” Darius glanced at Joe.
“Same here. Just a sports jacket.”
“I wonder if Graham will be there.” Eve looked thoughtful.
* * *
The meal endedup being anticlimactic since her grandfather sent word that his headache had returned, and Graham drove away in his car.
“I wonder what triggered this one,” Eve said once the servant who’d brought the soup had left.
“Hey, it’s Cullen Skink.” Darius looked proud of himself for remembering.
“It’swhat?” Joe peered at his soup suspiciously.
“Smoked haddock chowder,” Eve said with a grin. “Don’t worry. It’s yummy and one of my favorite Scottish dishes.”
Joe tentatively took a bite, and his eyes widened appreciatively. “It tastes amazing, but that name is really unappetizing.”
“It’s from a town called Cullen, and skink now means soup.” Eve shrugged. “Its name is as unforgettable as its amazing flavor.”
They ate in silence until they’d finished that course.
“So you don’t think your grandfather’s avoiding you by not coming to dinner after saying he would?” Joe asked.
“He said he’d try. I don’t think he was dissembling. I believe he must really have another migraine.” Eve told them what Alan had said about the increase in frequency.
“So stress can cause a migraine?” Darius asked.
“Or make one worse. He is an old man, and he also had a mild stroke a few weeks ago. Those can also cause headaches.” Eve wished she knew how to help him, but they wouldn’t be there long enough to do much good. She’d have to talk with Mrs. Campbell about possible triggers and how she could try to eliminate those from his food.
When they finished the tasty meal, they made their way to the billiard room. Eve was terrible at it and quit after the first game, leaving it up to Joe and Darius, who were both quite good. She was just wondering about heading to her bedroom, when Alan looked in the room.
“Is everything all right with my grandfather?” she asked.
“He merely wished to speak to you if you had not retired.”
“I’ll come right now.” Eve went to Darius and said, “I’m getting tired anyway, so I’ll go to bed after I see my grandfather.” She gave him a kiss and followed Alan from the room.
When she entered her grandfather’s bedroom, the valet hovered near the doorway.
“I’m safe with her,” her grandfather said, and Alan left.
The old man reached out a hand toward her, though his eyes were closed even against the room’s dim light. She took it and sat on the chair she’d used earlier.
“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well again,” Eve said. “I might be able to help you if you’ll let me.”
“Yer bum’s oot the windae,” he growled.
“I amnottalking nonsense.” She took his hand and pressed firmly on the space between his thumb and forefinger. Her grandfather started to cry out but then he relaxed. She said, “This especially helps with the nausea that accompanies a migraine. Do you think you can do it for yourself on your other hand, so I can do something else?”
