Larson lowered the newspaper and looked at him. “Good news would be appreciated right about now.”
Ashton sighed in defeat. “Actually, no. I don’t have anything to report about the railway robberies.”
Larson grumbled and lifted the newspaper to block his face again.
Ashton wanted to roll his eyes. Out of the two men, Steve Larson had always been the one who acted as if he didn’t want Ashton as a partner. He wished the man would just accept it and move on. Glynn had assured Ashton that Larson was always grumpy.
Straightening his shoulders and moved to the only empty chair, vowing not to look weak ever again, especially in front of these men. “I’m holding a dinner party at my home in two days. I would like both of you to come.” He switched his attention to Glynn. “And please invite one of your lady friends.” He moved it back to Steve, who hadn’t lowered the newspaper. “And Steve, if I could ask a favor of you and your wife, I would like it very much if you would pick up a woman friend of mine who will be staying at St. Denis.”
Casually, Steve folded the newspaper and set it on his lap before leaning back on his chair. “Why would we do that?”
“Because I haven’t met the young woman’s family yet, and so picking her up for my dinner party might be a little awkward.”
Glynn snickered and scratched his ear. “You are courting a woman and haven’t met her family yet?”
“I’m not courting her,” Ashton quickly answered.
“Fine, but it sounds like courting to me.” Glynn chuckled.
Ashton gritted his teeth as he tightened his hold on his hat. He hadn’t felt this uncomfortable since he tried to explain a relationship that he had with a lady-love to his own father several years ago. “Of course, I will eventually court her, but I haven’t made it official.”
“And why not?” Larson snipped. “By your dove-eyed look, it is obvious you are infatuated with the lady.”
“Indeed, I am, but...” Holding his breath, he counted to ten. He hated feeling like he was trying to justify his actions in front of his father. True, these men weren’t old enough to be his father, but he was a grown man, and he wished they would treat him like one. “I have reservations about her right now, if you must know.”
Ashton placed his hat on the side table beside him, removing it from his grasp before his frustration made him tear it to pieces. Breathing deeply, he quickly calmed his ire.
“Pray tell, Lee, what is going on?” Glynn asked, leaving his chair and walking toward Ashton. “Why has this woman rattled you so?”
Ashton couldn’t understand why Glynn had never married. He obviously had a caring side that most women loved. But the middle-aged man was satisfied with being a single bachelor. “It is nothing, I assure you.”
“Of course, it’s something, especially when you stated yourself you have reservations about her.” Glynn stopped next to Ashton and raked his fingers through his brown hair. “Come now. Tell me about her. Where did you two meet?”
Chuckling, Ashton shook his head, as his memory played back that moment when he caught her from falling, and then boldly slipped on her shoe. “Do you recall the night of Lord Reynolds’ masked ball?”
“Of course.”
“That is where we met. She was the woman I referred to as Cinderella.”
The other man’s eyes widened, and his mouth circled in an O. “What is she doing in Liverpool?”
“Long story.” Ashton tapped his fingers on his lap. “But some of the things she has said to me aren’t adding up. Her lifestyle is one of the things I question, and I get the impression that she doesn’t want me to meet her family, which is quite odd, especially for a woman.”
“Indeed, that is very odd.” Steve’s voice boomed in the office as he stood. “Did she know who you were at the masked ball?”
Ashton’s memory stayed in that magical night as he tried to recall everything they had talked about. “She did, in fact. It was before the unveiling, and she called me by my name. I was startled that she knew it, but she mentioned that her uncle was the one who guessed it first.”
Groaning, Glynn rubbed his forehead. “That is certainly not encouraging at all.”
“Why do you say that?” Ashton asked.
“Because that means she has had her eye on you for a while now.”
Ashton arched an eyebrow. “And what is wrong about that?”
“You cannot be that foolish,” Larson snapped as he stood and came closer to Ashton, folding his arms. “She is after your money. She knows about you, therefore she only wants you for your money.”
“Or,” Glynn said, “she is part of the gang of robbers and is fishing for information that might help her for her next railway robbery.”
