“I must admit, I have never met a bachelor as yourself who lives in such a large residence.”
The others around the table chuckled, pulling her attention away from Ashton. She wanted to throw them a scowl for interrupting but refrained.
“Oh, Miss Bastian,” Mrs. Browning said, “I can’t believe this is your first bachelor’s residence that you have been invited to.”
Nicole hesitated before replying. If she wasn’t mistaken, the other woman’s comment almost sounded like an insult. Was Mrs. Browning implying that Nicole wasn’t innocent or a proper woman?
“Oh, I assure you,” Nicole quickly said, “this is the first.”
The two other women exchanged glances, and even the men rolled their eyes. She wanted to slap all of them. How dare they treat her this way.
“Thank you,” Ashton said, tapping Nicole’s hand softly. “I actually lived in a townhouse for the longest time and only purchased this home a few months ago when I came into some money.”
Red flags rose in Nicole’s mind. Came into money... That could be taken a few ways, and one of them wasn’t good at all. Did he come into money by robbing the railway? She couldn’t shake the feeling. It seemed the more information she obtained from him, the guiltier he appeared. Yet why couldn’t she harden her heart toward him?
“Oh, how nice.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say, not with the doubts in her head.
“But I’m happy that you approve of my home.” He nodded to her and gave her a wink.
“Very much so.”
When Ashton set down his utensils and lifted his linen napkin to pat his lips, Nicole panicked and glanced at the clock on the mantel. They hadn’t been at the table an hour yet. She still needed to keep them entertained for at least fifteen minutes. But how?
“Why don’t we—” Ashton began.
Nicole quickly cut him off by saying, “So tell me, how is the investigation going on the railway robberies?” She moved her gaze to the other two partners.
Grumbling, Mr. Larson dropped his utensils on his plate and sat back in his chair, appearing very upset over the topic. “It’s not going very well if you must know.”
Glynn shook his head. “Unfortunately, my business partner is correct. The police have no leads at all. There is nothing that points to a suspect.”
“Nothing?” she asked, wondering why he would say that. Her father had mentioned the police had a few suspects, but nothing conclusive. Wouldn’t the partners know that piece of information, too?
“Nothing,” Ashton answered with a frown. “Sometimes, I think there is a ghost who is robbing our railway.”
“That is terrible,” she said with much sympathy. “Just make sure the police don’t stop looking.”
“Miss Bastian?” Steve asked in a leering tone. “What makes you think the police are going to give up looking?”
She shrugged. Stirring her fork around the mostly empty plate, her mind scrambled for some kind of answer. “Well, you see...” Think Nicole, think! “My...Uncle Michael...um, well, he had his house robbed once, and the police had no suspects. After a month, the police had just given up trying to find the culprit. I just hope that doesn’t happen with your business.”
Glynn chuckled and shook his head. “Is this the uncle that lives in Meols?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that explains it,” he continued. “The police there don’t take their jobs as seriously as the police here in Liverpool.”
“Oh, how very sad.” She turned her gaze back to Ashton. “I think all men of the law, regardless of what town they are in, should take their jobs seriously. Don’t you agree?”
“Indeed I do, Miss Bastian.” Ashton touched her hand again.
“It sure doesn’t make me feel very protected knowing that some lawmen are that way.”
“Me, either,” Mrs. Browning chimed in. This time, she didn’t appear to be insulting Nicole.
“I know that not all lawmen are this way,” Mrs. Larson said sweetly. “My father has been a judge for many years, and I know trustworthy men are out there.”
“That is certainly good to know.” Nicole smiled at her.
