Chapter Eleven
“You know, I think I would like that shaved ice after all,” Rose said, turning to William. “Would you be a love and get me some?”
He hesitated a moment at her capriciousness but almost instantly acquiesced.
“Certainly. Wait here.” With that, William turned and walked back toward the edge of the park.
Rose took a step in Finn’s direction and sure enough, he hurried forward.
“Have you said anything to him yet?”
“No. I was about to. Why did you hit me with a ball?”
“Did I hurt you?”
“No but—”
“Then never mind that. Don’t say anything more to Woodsom until I can speak with you again. Nothing. Tell him nothing. Do you promise?”
“What’s this about?”
“Can you come to my room later?”
Her head was spinning. William would be back any moment, and Finn was behaving so strangely.
“No, I don’t promise anything. This makes no sense. Tell me at once why—”
“Come at six o’clock when the restaurant is busiest. No one will notice you arriving. Go again through the kitchen to the back stairs. In the passage to the second floor dining room, there’s an unmarked door. That’s my room.”
Finn looked her right in the eye, and she caught her breath at the earnestness shining back at her. “Trust me, Rose.”
Trust him. She did, or rather, she had, except he was behaving so strangely.
“I will. I’ll—” She saw William turn from the vendor. Quickly, she moved away from Finn, and he strolled in the opposite direction from her as if they’d passed each other without speaking. She waited for William to catch up.
“Thank you.” She bit a huge mouthful of lemon ice from the small paper cone and promptly froze the roof of her mouth, causing her head to ache instantly.
“Ohh,” she moaned while William watched her with a slight smile.
“Silly girl, put your tongue on the roof of your mouth.”
Rose did as he instructed, and, in a few moments, the pain went away.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes.” She turned to look in the direction Finn had taken, and he was nowhere to be seen. Breathing a sigh of relief, she fell into step with William.
“Shall we walk up Commonwealth Avenue, and then I’ll have to get home. My mother wants to discuss the wedding cake.” She felt ridiculous telling such an obvious bald-faced lie. William stopped walking completely and frowned at her.
“You were going to tell me something. I think it was unpleasant, and also, if I’m not mistaken, important.”
He was not a fool, and she was angry with Finn for putting her in this difficult situation.Again. She vowed to stop trying to distract William with falsities.
“Yes, you’re correct, but do you mind if I put it off for another time?”
He touched her chin and held it, his lively eyes flashing with a shade of doubt. “Sometime soon, Rose, yes? I have a feeling I need to hear whatever you were going to tell me. Is it regarding theincidentyou mentioned to me once, the one that left you saddened?”
William’s words startled her. He’d remembered the conversation from their first date, even then she’d never mentioned it again. If only she could tell him now as planned. Better yet, if only there was nothing to tell. She wanted her life back the way it was before the engagement party.
