“You do realize that your determination to see me well removed from the library is only succeeding in piquing my curiosity, don’t you?” Adelaide asked.
“There’s nothing to be curious about. I’m merely determined to get you settled in a room where no marauding bustles can go on the offensive because of furniture that’s ill equipped to deal with the unusual fashion accessories that are seemingly all the rage.”
“Or you want me out of this room because you’re soon to have some manner of clandestine meeting with someone.”
Gideon’s lips twitched. “I’m going to assume, since you hurleda book at me earlier, and one you apparently brought with you to a dinner engagement, that you’re an avid reader. I’m also going to assume, what with how you possess an impressive imagination, that you enjoy reading novels complete with clandestine meetings every other chapter.”
“That’s a lot of assumptions on your part, although I will admit spy novels are my genre of choice these days. I’ve recently become acquainted with Mr. Frank Reid, a most marvelous detective who showed up on the pages of a story titledThe Old Sleuthas a series compilation that was first printed inThe Fireside Companionback in 1872.”
“You’ll have to tell me all about this Frank character after I see you settled in the billiard room.”
“I won’t be getting settled anywhere until you answer a few questions—those being whether or not you’re soon to have a clandestine meeting with someone, and why an esteemed member of the Four Hundred would have a questionable meeting with someone to begin with.”
“I’m not preparing for any type of meeting, nor am I a spy, which is probably the next thing you’ll accuse me of since you just admitted you enjoy spy novels.”
Adelaide drew in a sharp breath. “That would explain a lot about you.”
“The fact that I’m not a spy?”
“The fact that youareone.”
Gideon was smiling one of the most charming smiles she’d ever seen him use before, one that, in Adelaide’s humble opinion, seemed practiced. “Why would you think me being a spy explains much about me?”
She refused to allow his smile to divert her from the conversation at hand. “Because you’re always around whenever I find myself in dire predicaments, as if you have a sixth sense about such matters. The spies I’ve read about always possess those types of senses.”
“I was standing five feet away from you when you went up in flames. The only sense I had at that particular moment was that you were on fire and someone needed to put you out.”
“You saved me from tumbling over a cliff in Newport this past summer.”
“Because you and I had only just finished playing a rousing game of Annie Over and I happened to be near you when you stumbled.”
“But there were other gentlemen standing closer to me, yet none of them possessed the reflexes needed to stop me from plunging to an unpleasant death. Spies are notorious for being quick on their feet.”
“So are gentlemen who start their days by taking a run through Central Park.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Given your responsibilities to your family business, I would think that you wouldn’t have time to do anything but get yourself fed and off to work most mornings.”
“Ah, but you see, I’m not involved with the day-to-day operations of the family business. My brother, James, took over responsibility for that after my father died.” He gave a bit of a shrug. “I’ve been relegated to seeing after our social responsibilities as well as our philanthropic ones, which doesn’t require me to attend to any matters at the break of dawn.”
She had the uncanny feeling there was far more to that story than he was divulging. “I would think your mother represents the Abbott family within society.”
“Mother has retreated to Paris, where she finds the climate more accommodating to her rheumatism.”
Her toe began tapping against the wooden floor. “But if you’re the social face of the Abbott family, why don’t you attend more society events, or linger longer at the few functions where I’ve seen you?”
His eyes twinkled. “How delightful to learn you’ve been observing me.”
She waved that aside. “I’m a confirmed wallflower, Gideon. I have a lot of unoccupied time on my hands at any given event, so don’t read too much into that.” She frowned. “But returning to your family responsibilities, don’t you find philanthropy and social obligations rather dull after spending years attending the Naval Academy and then going into service with the navy?”
“You know I attended the Naval Academy?”
“You’re an eligible gentleman from a well-connected society family. Talk has always been rampant about you.” She caught his eye. “I must admit I’m now surprised that talk hasn’t centered around matters of espionage. I once overheard a general speaking with my father, and he mentioned that the navy was the first branch of the military to embrace an official intelligence-gathering department. Now that I think about that, well ... so much about you makes perfect sense.”
“You were eavesdropping on your father?” he asked.
She gave an airy wave of a gloved hand. “Completely by accident. I was wandering around the back terrace of our Hudson estate and the French doors to my father’s office just happened to be open, and ... there you have it. Unintentional eavesdropping.”
“Or intentional lurking. But to address what is obviously a vague theory about me on your part, I’m no longer with the navy, so no, I’m not some type of secret agent. With that now firmly settled, allow me to retrieve the book you hurled at me. After that, I’ll get you settled somewhere no one will stumble upon you, which will allow you to return to reading whatever riveting story I’m sure you’re anxious to dive back into.”
