And he was a schlemiel. He should’ve never agreed to Isabelle’s offer, never started down this road, no matter how much he wanted to see the festivals. He should’ve kept his head down, stayed on his own path, stayed in the shadows and—
“It’s been quite the evening, hasn’t it, Mr. Ellenberg?” Pena’s voice boomed behind him. “I have to hand it to you, acting as part of the entertainment is quite a novel way to get around the attire requirements.”
Oy, why was he so popular all of a sudden?
“I’m making sure I don’t embarrass the family or the community, just as the invitation required.” Aaron tugged at his now too tight collar. Blast it all, he’d buttoned it wrong. Ducking farther into the shadows, he adjusted it, his hands shaking only a little as the older man’s eyes narrowed. He settled into a lean next to him and gave Aaron a slight sharp jab in the side. “And the music has been lovely. I’m happy to help.”
“Good food too?” the former valet asked with a slight curl of his lip.
Aaron swore under his breath.
Pena released a low chuckle. “Oh, don’t worry. No one has forbidden you from eating.” Another sharp hit in the gut. The man had pointy bones. “You’re still our guest, and the Lira family believes in honoring guests—even the ones of which I’m suspicious.”
“How righteous of you.” Aaron rubbed his probably already bruising side.
“We have to set a good example.” The man shrugged before craning his neck around the crowd in front of them, indicating where Isabelle stood. “I see she’s with Weiss.”
Yes, she was indeed, chatting calmly, her manners perfect, her cheeks unflushed. As if she hadn’t just screamed his name and clawed his back. He rubbed a spot on his shoulder, cursing the small thrill that tingled through his toes.
“She seems fond of him.” Aaron gritted his teeth and toed the floor with the tip of his boot. “Likes him much better than any of the bores on the matchmaker’s list.”
“She told you about the list?” Pena gave him a sharp look. “Interesting.” He drew out the word as he gazed at Aaron once more, his expression inscrutable.
“Why would it be interesting?” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “One would presume the family had people in mind even if the invitations indicated she might be casting a wide communal net.”
“Fair enough,” the older man murmured, returning his attention to the couple.
“Would you have preferred one of those men?” Aaron jabbed at the bottom of his pocket with his thumb as Isabelle laughed at something Weiss was telling her. A real laugh, not just a polite one. “The ones the matchmaker suggested?”
“I’ve not seen her with any of them. At least not the way I’ve seen her with Mr. Weiss. And certain others.” Pena glared at him accusatorily, sighing. And all of a sudden, the man looked ten years older. “Though I have little say one way or the other.”
“Really? I heard you practically raised her.” Aaron leaned against the wall and ground his teeth as Weiss flicked the tassel on her fan. She bit her lip but smiled.
“From whom?” Pena turned fully toward him, both brows raised, his dark eyes intent, blocking Aaron’s view of Isabelle.
Aaron shrugged. “Around.” He wove a little, working to see her again.
Pena glanced over his shoulder and stepped to the side just as Weiss bent down to whisper something into Isabelle’s ear. Aaron’s jaw skittered as he folded his arms across his torso.
“Yes, well, while that’s flattering, I’m uncertain that I have any sort of real influence.” Pena gave him a firm clap on the shoulder. “You, on the other hand . . .”
“Me?” Aaron wrinkled his nose. This man was as meshuggenah as the Berabs.
“I have eyes, Mr. Ellenberg.” The older man scoffed a little and resettled himself at his side. “You’ve developed some sort of . . . relationship with her. How and for what purpose, I’m not sure. Especially considering she’s looking at men only as potential husbands, and while I’m sure you aren’t the worst fellow, you aren’t exactly suited for that. Nor are you her typical friend. And yet I’ve seen you two together.”
“You have?” Aaron swallowed. Hopefully he’d not seen more, because an elbow to the stomach was painful, but an elbow lower . . .
“Several times. Whispering. While I don’t like it, I have no evidence of anything inappropriate. Moreover, it appears that she somehow trusts you.” Pena’s voice was soft but sincere.
“Isa—Miss Lira trusts no one outside her own family.” He crossed his arms tighter.
“True. And even if she trusts us, she rarely listens.” For the first time in the evening the man smiled, pride etched in the lines on his face. “But you appear to have some sway.” He adjusted his cravat, giving Aaron a head-to-toe long gaze. “Though I’m still not sure why.”
“Perhaps because I do more listening than instructing and advising.” A strange tightness grew in his chest just as Weiss took her hand, lingering on her fingers. Aaron glanced around, but no one appeared to be watching the couple. Certainly no one who’d come and admonish the brazen touching. He clenched his fist. Someone should remind him that there were rabbis about. “Or perhaps it’s because I merely want nothing from her.”
“I’m not going to dignify that with a response, because I believe you want quite a few things from her—whether you’ve acted on those impulses or not.” The man gave him a hard look that made Aaron’s innards quake despite his annoyance at everyone and everything in the ballroom. “Though you’re on the blunt side, so that helps.” Pena lowered himself so he could speak directly into Aaron’s ear. “She’s not a person who requires delicacy, and prefers the opposite.” The older man sighed. “She would’ve been better . . .”
“Born a man?” Aaron released a breath as Isabelle drew backward and clasped her hands behind her back, still nodding and talking but out of reach of the other man.
