“Hello, you two. Congratulations are in order, and I read how your engagement was accomplished with such style,” Reed said to Claire, whose cheeks reddened again.
“Thank you.” Automatically, she held out her hand to show Reed her ring, causing an amused grin to brighten his expression.
Dutifully, he took Claire’s hand and pretended to examine the ring with great interest.
“A fine-looking one,” he declared. “Has our mother seen it yet?” he asked, turning to Rose.
She shook her head, her heart sinking. If he knew of the engagement, then he, no doubt, knew everything. “We were just going to—”
Reed interrupted her. “I need to speak to my little sister,” he said to Claire. “Why don’t you go find Mrs. Malloy and show her your ring.”
Claire looked from Reed to Rose, who nodded before watching her best friend head for the door.
“Please tell Mr. Brewster that I said he is a lucky man,” Reed added.
Claire gave a smug smile over her shoulder before disappearing down the hallway.
He turned back to Rose, looking nearly as angry as concerned.
“What happened last night?”
Rose sighed. “Not you, too.”
“Yes, me, too. I suppose Mother was worried, seeing your name in the newspapers, and I also suppose that the mysterious unnamed man was Bennet.”
“Correct on both counts, Attorney Malloy.”
Reed grimaced. “Not a time for witticism.”
“It’s not what you think. Finn didn’t harm me. He saved me from a couple of men who tried to kidnap me from the theatre.”
“Kidnap you? Dammit all!” Reed fumed. “I was actually planning on seeing him today to have him sign the papers, then Charlotte pointed out the incident in the morning’sPost. We can only hope that anyone threatening Bennet, and you, will understand that you care nothing for him once your marriage ends. And as quickly as possible.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Nearly kidnapped?” He swore again.
“Bennet has brought nothing but trouble.”
“That’s not fair,” Rose protested. “If not for Finn last night, I don’t know that I’d be speaking to you now.”
“If not for him,” her brother said, his teeth practically grinding together, “you’d be a happily engaged lady with no worries of being kidnapped.”
True though beside the point.
“If I hadn’t married him—” she began, breaking off when she heard a gasp.
Too late, Rose realized her mother had entered the room.
