“Looks have to be taken into consideration when selecting a spouse because a lady is going to have to see those looks sitting across a table from her for years to come,” Phoebe argued. “With that said, though, my mother did tell me once that besides a handsome face, a lady needs to make sure she shares something in common with a prospective beau since that will lead to a successful union.”
“Words of wisdom, to be sure. But during the few times I’ve been in Seth’s company, I’ve never gotten the impression we share anything in common,” Annaliese countered. “And before you tell me that Seth and I share a common attractiveness, that probably wasn’t what your mother was talking about when the two of you had that particular discussion.”
“Ah, so youhavenoticed that Seth is attractive.”
Knowing there was little point in denying that as Annaliese had certainly noticed that Seth McCormick possessed more than his fair share of gentlemanly good looks, but also knowing it would only leave Phoebe more determined than ever with her matchmaking plans if she admitted she’d noticed his attractiveness, Annaliese decided a change of topic was her only option.
“What do you think Norma Jean needed money for?” she asked as she tugged the girls around a man selling roasted peanuts, having to increase her tugging when Mabel slowed her pace and cast a longing look at the bag of peanuts the man was holding out to her.
“She might have wanted some peanuts as those do smell delicious,” Mabel said, her expression turning grumpy again when Annaliese pulled her back into a near run, putting distance between them and the peanut man in record time.
“Peanuts will have to wait.” Annaliese craned her neck and frowned. “It looks as if Coraline has stopped moving.”
Phoebe craned her neck as well. “I don’t see Norma Jean and Velma. Or Seth, for that matter.”
Annaliese released her hold on Phoebe and reached Coraline’s side a moment later.
“They’re not here” were the first words out of Coraline’s mouth, an edge of panic lacing her tone.
“Clearly,” Annaliese said before she took a moment to glance over the crowd gathered by the steam engine displays, her attention settling on a pair of large wing-tipped shoes sticking out from underneath an engine that was belching black smoke into the air. Given that the trousers the gentleman was wearing were a houndstooth pattern—and not the dungarees worn by any of the other men milling around the engines—she was relatively certain the legs she was now considering belonged to one Mr. Seth McCormick.
She headed for the legs, then bent down once she reachedthem and stuck her head under the engine, a smidgen of relief stealing through her when she realized the man was, indeed, Seth.
“I need a word, if you please,” she shouted, which caused Seth to lower the wrench he’d been using and send a frown her way.
“What?” he shouted back.
“A. Word.”
“What?”
Knowing there was little point in continuing to exchange shouts when he wasn’t going to be able to understand her, she sent him a jerk of her head and straightened.
Thankfully, the engine immediately sputtered to a stop, and then Seth was edging out from underneath it, his face smeared with black soot that matched his black hair, which was currently standing on end and looked as if the gentleman hadn’t made use of a comb that morning before he left his house.
He pushed up from the ground, all six feet of him, then began wiping his hands on a handkerchief he fished from his pocket before turning quizzical blue eyes her way.
“You’re looking somewhat flustered today, Miss Merriweather. Is everything alright?” he asked.
“I’m afraid not, since your sister isn’t with you.”
He stopped with the wiping. “Norma Jean’ssupposedto be with me?”
“She was, at least according to Coraline, who told me that your sister headed off to speak to you.”
“Norma Jean rarely makes a point to speak with me,” Seth said. “In fact, the only time she intentionally runs me down is when she’s out of pin money or when she brings her gaggle of friends around to my workshop where they huddle together and watch me work.” He smiled. “I must say that I find it very encouraging that so many young girls are taking such an interest in inventing these days.”
Her mouth went ever so slightly agape. “I’m relatively certain an interest in inventing is not why they like to watch you work because...” The rest of what she wanted to say came to a rapid end when Coraline began coughing behind her hand, and coughing in what could only be described as an enthusiastic fashion.
Annaliese arched a brow Coraline’s way. “Should I assume that there’s another lady code that revolves around not disclosing the reason why all of you watch Seth when he’s inventing things?”
“Yep.”
“Right,” Annaliese muttered before she returned her attention to Seth. “It appears I’m unable to explain the girls’ interest in your work because of a lady code, which means you’ll have to puzzle that out on your own. But to return to your sister . . .”
She drew in a breath and opened her mouth, then closed it before saying anything else about Norma Jean because one glance at Seth’s face suggested he wasn’t paying attention to her anymore, what with how those blue eyes of his had gone distant.
It was something she’d notice Seth do a few times before, and something that usually preceded a good few minutes of silence from him as his impressive mind took to trying to ponder out something he found puzzling.
