“Duly noted,” Seth said before his eyes went a little distant, then he blinked and focused on Annaliese again. “Rhenick told me how Sanford made off with your fortune, but if we’resuccessful capturing him, do you think your money will be returned to you?”
“Not a question I was expecting, but I suppose, since Sanford told Mother that he’d return the money if she married him, if we do capture him, there is a chance our bank accounts will be sufficiently plumped up in the near future.”
“That’s what I’m thinking as well, which leads me to another question.”
Instead of asking that question, though, Seth leaned toward Annaliese and began perusing her face, his brow furrowing in the process.
Annaliese shot a glance to Drusilla when Seth didn’t bother saying a word, simply continued staring at her for what was beginning to turn into a very long moment.
Having no idea why Seth was considering Annaliese so closely, although he might simply be doing so because Annaliese was unusually beautiful, even when in a bedraggled state, Drusilla settled for sending her sister a shrug.
“Hardly helpful,” Annaliese muttered before she returned her attention to Seth, then gave a snap of her fingers, something that left Seth blinking a time or two back at her.
“You said you had another question?” Annaliese prompted.
“Has anyone ever told you that your face is oddly symmetrical?” was Seth’s unexpected response to that.
“They have not, but is that a good thing?” Annaliese asked.
“It’s unusual.”
“I’m not certain that’s a good thing, but ... your question?”
He gave himself a shake. “Right. My question.” Instead of directing that question to Annaliese, though, Seth turned to Drusilla instead. “I find myself curious, if your fortune is returned to you, if you’ll return to New York, which I know will disappoint Norma Jean, as she and her friends have been talking about nothing else but attending your academy.”
It was a question that, curiously enough, didn’t take muchconsideration because, given what had happened to her in New York, she had no desire to return to the city of her birth. Especially not when the good people of Chicago had been more welcoming toward her and her family than the New York Four Hundred had ever been.
“Drusilla has far too much she already enjoys in Chicago to want to return to New York,” Seraphina answered for her as she sent the barest of winks in Rhenick’s direction before she rose to her feet and nodded toward the water. “However, I don’t think now is the time to linger about and discuss that further because, if none of you have noticed, Seth’s motorboat is once again smoking, something that’s certain to draw attention at some point. Heaven forbid if Sanford is the one to notice that smoke because he’ll surely pick up anchor and sail away.”
“Seraphina’s right,” Drusilla said. “We should get moving.”
After sending her a nod, Seraphina grabbed hold of one of the rucksacks as Seth did the same with the other, and with Annaliese trailing behind them, they set off for the cove.
Rhenick held out his hand and pulled Drusilla to her feet, frowning when she took a second to wring more water from her skirt. “I’m sure the weight of your gown is going to make for an uncomfortable stroll,” he began, “but know that I’m more than capable of carrying you if you find yourself growing weary.”
The very thought of being held in Rhenick’s arms sent a blaze of heat settling on her cheeks, which she staunchly tried to ignore while hoping Rhenick wouldn’t notice. “I’m sure I’ll be fine, but thank you for the offer.”
“It’ll still stand if you find yourself tiring,” he returned, presenting her with his arm, which she didn’t hesitate to take before they began walking toward the cove.
“You never answered Seth’s question about whether you would be returning to New York if your fortune is restored to you,” he said.
“That’s because Seraphina went ahead and answered for me.”
Rhenick drew them to a stop. “You want to stay in Chicago?”
She smiled. “There’s nothing for me anymore in New York. And even though I haven’t been in Chicago long, it already feels like home, much more than I think New York ever did.”
Rhenick returned her smile before his gaze drifted to her lips, his smile fading ever so slightly as he stepped closer.
Anticipation was swift, but before Rhenick had an opportunity to kiss her again, something she knew without a doubt he was about to do, a loud clearing of a throat pulled her directly out of a moment she knew full well would have been most extraordinary—if they hadn’t been interrupted yet again.
Thirty-Seven
After giving herself a bit of a shake, Drusilla stepped away from Rhenick and turned, discovering Annaliese standing a few feet away from her, a brow already arched in Drusilla’s direction.
“Not that I want to point out the obvious,” Annaliese began, “but this might not be the right moment for romantic shenanigans, since we do need to keep our wits about us as we’re about to undertake a rescue. I may be wrong, but I’m relatively sure none of us have ever undertaken such an attempt before, although...” She tilted her head. “I can’t say for certain Seraphina hasn’t.”
“I completely forgot your sister was in our near vicinity,” Rhenick muttered.
