“I’m confused,” I said, finally meeting his gaze, accusation in my own. “If you’re so busy, how could you find time for Mrs. Greenhow’s dinner party?”
Gray looked toward the parlor as if searching for an answer and sighed. “I’m sorry, Maggie.” His British accent had deepened. “I wish I could explain. I wish I had a plausible excuse, but I do not. I’m asking you to trust me.”
Trust him? Why? I had spent every day thinking about him, wondering why he hadn’t come—only to find him here, whispering in Rose Greenhow’s ear. I was not only disappointed but embarrassed. Why had I allowed myself to care so much in such a short amount of time?
I began to turn again, but he put his hand on my arm. Surprised, I glanced down at his hand.
The look on my face made him pull back, but he said, “May I walk you home later? I promise there is a reason I have not had the opportunity to call. Believe me when I say I have thought of little else but you these past two weeks.”
I wanted to say yes, but I also needed to protect my heart. More than anything, I wanted answers. Besides, we lived so close that he would have just a few minutes of my time before we reached my home.
Looking up at him, I was struck again by the depth of awareness in his eyes. He seemed to see me—truly see me—something Seth had never been capable of.
“You may walk me home,” I finally said.
Relief and joy filled his gaze.
“But I do not want to be trifled with, Mr. Cooper.”
“Which is one of the reasons I have such admiration for you, Miss Wakefield.”
Despite my disappointment in him, I smiled.
Gray sat across the table from me during supper, and all throughout the meal, our gazes caught on each other’s.
He truly seemed concerned about me. There was an anxiousness in his behavior I had never witnessed before, and it all seemed directed at me. Not Rose. Not the other members of the dinner party.
Me.
When the conversation lulled, Gray would ask for my thoughts or observations, and he would listen as if what I had to say mattered. Even if he had been unable to call on me, it was clear he was still interested, perhaps even more so than before.
But was it authentic? What would he have to gain from a relationship with me? Seth had gained publicity being linked with me in 2001, but I couldn’t think of anything I had to offer Gray except myself. If he was a spy, I was useless to him since Papa never confided in me or anyone else outside the president’s office.
When it was time to leave, Gray was at my side.
“Senator Wakefield,” he said to my father, who was putting on his top hat, “may I walk Miss Margaret home?”
Papa looked at me, a question in his eyes. “Would you like that, Margaret?”
I nodded.
“Then I shall leave her in your care, Mr. Cooper.” Papa said his good-byes and left Rose’s house.
Gray and I also said good-bye to our hostess and to SenatorWilson, who was lingering behind, and then stepped out into the sultry night.
Darkness had fallen, and a blanket of clouds covered the sky, making it a moonless and starless night. The heat was still oppressive and promised a miserable night of sleep.
“May I walk you through the square?” Gray offered me his arm.
My mind was still swirling with questions and uncertainty, but I nodded.
His arm was strong and steady as I wrapped my hand around his bicep. He drew me close as we walked south toward the White House on the opposite side of the square.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I wish I could explain my absence, but much of it has to do with my work, and I cannot reveal what I am doing for the War Department.”
His words sounded sincere, and he was right. He couldn’t tell me what he was doing for the War Department. I tried to think what Mama or Daddy would say in this instance, and it came to me. They would tell me to trust Gray unless he proved untrustworthy, as Seth had. Other than a bit of suspicion on my part, he had done nothing wrong that I knew of. And the truth was, I was suspicious of almost everyone in Washington.
He stopped when we came to a bench and motioned for me to sit. Bushes rose up around it, offering a bit of privacy.
