“I certainly didn’t—” Mrs. Moon sputtered, but Prudence had heard enough.
“—No need, Mrs. Moon.” Prudence held up her hand. “I’m not after Mr. Moon for his money or his company. I’m here on Alpine Society business.”
Mrs. Moon drew herself up, now offended on her son’s behalf that she wasn’t seeking his attentions. So Prudence thought she might have some fun. She was a widow after all.
“My Leo doesn’t have time for silly women, Mrs. Cabot.” Mrs. Moon scowled at her. “Nor will he fall for your act of disinterest.”
“Then my excuses won’t be of interest to you, so I’ll be perfectly blunt. I married extremely young, to a much older man.” Prudence might be mistaken, but she thought she detected sympathy in the woman’s eyes. “After nursing Mr. Cabot for the last five years, I’ve come to Europe to find a lover. I have no need of fortune, or a man’s name. But I would like to know what it would be like to find a completely inappropriate man to woo me. Mr. Moon doesn’t seem the wooing type.”Prudence leaned forward and patted the woman’s hand. “He’s quite safe with me.”
Mrs. Moon looked positively shocked, or at least tongue-tied, which was enough. Prudence stood, feeling much better about her visit.
“If you’ll excuse me, I should attend to my business and get on with my errands. Thank you ever so much for your company, Mrs. Moon. I quite enjoyed our conversation. Good day.” Prudence passed the maid with a tea tray entering the room just as she was leaving it. She informed the maid of her plans and asked the way to Mr. Moon’s study, but before she could leave to explore the house, the footman appeared to escort her.
She followed him back down the stairs, noting the fine polish on all the furniture. Even the muddy footprints she’d left in the foyer had already been mopped up. Behind the stairs was a hallway, which is where the footman opened up a door, eyes averted as she presented herself into the company of Leopold Moon.
In contrast to Mrs. Moon’s gilded drawing room, Mr. Moon’s study was utilitarian but comfortable. The wood floors were polished, but the rugs smaller, as if creating islands where furniture floated. The bookcases were enormous, stretching up to the ceiling, with a ladder to help fetch the loftier titles. He stood on the ground, fiddling with some kind of filing system that occupied the back wall, behind his desk. He switched out the labels, crushing one into a ball and crossing the room to throw it in the smoldering fire before acknowledging her presence.
“Mrs. Cabot,” Mr. Moon greeted her.
She was of half a mind to greet him as Leo, given his mother’s discussion, but she reined herself in. His steel-gray eyes did not invite frivolity. Indeed, the only thing they seemed to invite was aget the hell out, as the men in Minnesota might say. Well no,they wouldn’t say that because they were far too nice for such a sentiment. But the river captains weren’t.
“Mr. Moon, I do apologize for calling on you unannounced, but I was far too impatient to wait.”
He didn’t smile in acknowledgment or offer her a seat. He just stood there, waiting. The muscle in his square jaw pulsed.
“How do you do?” Prudence offered. She couldn’t very well ask after his mother’s health, as she had just seen the lady, but there had to be some kind of nicety to offer in conversation.
“Very well, thank you.” He stared at her expectantly.
Prudence noticed he did not return the question. She cleared her throat. On to business, then. “As you know, we are preparing ourselves for our Matterhorn ascent. We will not be attempting our climb this summer, but rather, next summer, as you are likely aware.”
“I am.”
Prudence felt rather on the back foot. He wasn’t giving her an inch. “As it is so close, Miss Bridewell has asked me to be the liaison with you in regard to fees to purchase equipment and travel expenses.”
“I have not heard this.” Mr. Moon turned on his heel and strode back to his desk where he sat down.
Prudence followed him, now standing in front of his desk. He’d sat down without offering her a seat. It made her feel... well, poorly thought of. She didn’t think she had a bad reputation, but clearly Mr. Moon didn’t see her favorably. She pulled out the letter from her purse. “I have here a note from Lord Rascomb. Both he and Miss Bridewell have signed it.”
Mr. Moon reached for it as Prudence thrust it across the desk, their hands colliding as the paper fell onto the blotter. She pulled back at the tingle that shivered up her arm. It was merely the surprising warmth of his hand, she was sure. Hereyes met his—was that from awkwardness? She suddenly felt far too aware of herself. And aware of him.
She looked at him anew. He was thin, yes, but his shoulders were broad under his coat. His hands ink-stained and calloused. His expression closed, secretive, suspicious.
Was this a cultural difference, or had something happened to this family that made them so very unwelcoming?
He broke their connection first, scanning the letter.
“It’s signed right there—” She leaned over to point to the signatures, but he waved her off.
She could almost feel the heat of his body coming off of him in waves. Like the summer sun shimmering across the hot stones of a quarry. How very peculiar a sensation. She’d never felt that before. There must have been some kind of static electricity in the room.
“It looks in order.” Mr. Moon glanced up at her. “But how do I know this is not a forgery?”
Was he accusing her of lying? Her cheeks went hot. There was one thing Prudence did not do, and that was lie. She might have her vices and her flaws, but she did not lie. “Because it is in his own hand. I assume you know what your client’s handwriting looks like?”
That ruffled his feathers. He drew back, puffing his chest, just as a bird might. “Madam. This is not the frontier. There are procedures.”
If this were the frontier, there would be a place for her to wipe her boots. She was nearly ready to cry an outragedHow dare youor anI beg your pardonbut resolved to be more level-headed than that. One thing she despised was when she was accused of being hysterical. She’d never been hysterical in her life. “Then proceed as you wish, so long as the job gets done.” Just to add emphasis, she smiled one of her jaw-cracking American grins.
