Deception at Sable Hill (33 page)
She blinked. Then, to his pleasure, a faint sheen of happiness floated into her expression. “You are teasing me.”
Unable to refrain from touching her a second longer, he stepped closer, reached for her hand, and pressed his lips to her bare knuckles. “I can’t help but tease you.”
“Sean.”
He continued. “However, I must admit that if you had refused to see me I would have been crushed.”
She was still letting him hold her hand. “Is that right?”
“Oh, yes,” he murmured as he pressed his lips to her knuckles again. “I would have been sorely disappointed to not show off my new skill at kissing ladies’ hands.”
“You are certainly gallant today.”
“Since it has made you smile, that makes me happy.” Unable to help himself, he carefully wrapped the hand he still held around his arm. “Would you care for a turn outside in your gardens?”
She looked doubtful. “I’m afraid they aren’t much to see now. The sudden cold snap put an end to that.”
“I don’t care what the gardens look like, Eloisa. You know I came to see you.”
“I know. Thank you.” She glanced out the window, then with a shake of her head, said, “Would you mind if we chatted in the solarium instead? I’m finding myself not ready to venture out in the cold today.”
“Wherever you’d like to be is fine.”
Just as they turned, her mother descended the staircase. Fastening a glacial stare on him, she murmured, “Eloisa, I didn’t know you were expecting company.”
“I wasn’t. Lieutenant Ryan’s appearance is a surprise.”
Only out of respect for Eloisa did Sean stand quietly while her mother eyed him with distaste.
“Was there a reason you needed to see Eloisa yet again?”
“Yes.”
“Oh? Is there a new development in the case?”
“My interest this afternoon is of a personal nature.”
“Personal?”
“You must have known how worried I have been about Eloisa. Since this is now the third time I’ve come calling.”
Eloisa stared at him. “I thought you only came one other time.”
“The first time, Worthy met me at the door and regretfully refused me entrance at your parents’ orders. Yesterday your mother was kind enough to do the honors herself.”
“Mother?”
“You are being impertinent. I must ask you to leave. Immediately.”
“I think not.”
“Eloisa—”
With not a bit of trepidation, Sean watched the muscles work in
Eloisa’s throat. He hated that he was bringing her so much tension, but until she actually told him she didn’t want to see him, he wasn’t going to go anywhere. She mattered too much to him.
“Mother, please excuse us.”
“If you continue to press your attentions on my daughter, Mr. Ryan, I will be forced to notify your superiors.”
“I’ll let them know to expect your call,” he said before turning to Eloisa. “You are looking a bit pale. Perhaps we should go sit down?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Her mother stepped forward. “Eloisa, think about what you are doing.”
“For the first time in my life, I do believe I am.” With a shudder, she leaned closer to him. “Please, Sean. Let’s go sit down.”
“Of course,” he murmured. As he guided her through the grand rooms, he kept his pace slow and steady. When they arrived at the solarium, he helped her sit down on one of the wicker sofas, then took a place right next to her.
“Eloisa, the truth now. Are you all right?”
“Sean, you know I am not.”
There was so much trepidation in her face, so much fear in her eyes, he made a decision. Pulling off his gloves, he reached up and ran his thumb along the red scars on her cheek and jaw. When she flinched, he paused. “Do they hurt you? Or is it my calluses? Is my touch too rough?”
“Your touch isn’t rough at all.”
He was glad because he had no intention of removing his hand. At least not yet. Giving in to temptation, he brushed two fingertips along her jaw, tracing the line of the red scar. “In time, the marks will fade. And the wounds will become less sensitive.”
“You sound like you have experience with a knife’s blade.”
He dropped his hand. “I’m afraid a boy growing up in the streets like I did has little choice about that. Knife fights aren’t uncommon.”
“So you are scarred too?”
“I am. They’re hardly visible now. But I do remember their sting. Eventually, they won’t feel so foreign. And they’ll fade in time.”
She nodded. “Did you come to give me an update on the investigation?”
He shook his head. “I told your mother the truth. Right now we are following a couple of leads, but there is nothing new to report. I came to see you. I needed to see you, Eloisa.”
“I’m sorry you were refused entry before.”
“I am too. I thought I was going to have to start climbing trees and sneaking in through your window.”
As he hoped, his statement made her smile. “Now wouldn’t that be something? You’d scare me half to death, sneaking into my room like a thief.”
“Then your mother would really have to call my superiors.”
She chuckled. “How is Katie?”
“She is doing better. She’s been worried about you.”
“She is a dear.”
“I’m afraid she is a bit too full of herself right now. My mother has her hands full with her.”
“Such is a mother’s lot, I suppose.”
“Eloisa, Owen told me there is a closing gala at the fair.”
“Yes. Is Mr. Howard going?”
“He’s planning on it.”
“Ah.”
“I’m asking because I’d like to be your escort.”
“I hadn’t planned to attend.”
“I think it might be the right thing to do. That way you can show everyone that you are all right.”
“People won’t be looking out for my welfare, Sean. They’ll be looking to see how bad I look.”
“Which is why it might be best if you show them you are still as beautiful as ever.”
“But I’m not.”
“I promise, you are still the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen.”
Panic filled her eyes. “Thank you, but I will not be attending.”
“Is it me? If so, Owen promised he could escort you if you’d rather not be seen by my side.”
“It is not you.” Leaning forward, she gripped his hands. “Sean, you must know that I think you are a wonderful man. I would never be ashamed to be seen on your arm.”
“Then let me do this for you. Let me help you put this episode behind you.”
“No other woman who has been attacked has ventured out into public—none that I’ve heard of anyway.”
“I don’t see why that matters.”
“I’ll be a source for gossip.”
“I’m afraid you already are.” Even when she looked at him sharply, he didn’t dare retreat. “You can either stay here on Sable Hill and wonder what others are saying or make the choice to hear the words yourself.”
“You have no idea what you are asking of me.”
“You’re right,” he agreed. “I’ll never know what it is like to be Eloisa Carstairs. I don’t know what it’s like to be born to so much. To live in a home like this, with dozens of people hoping to keep their jobs by making you happy.”
“That isn’t fair. You know there’s more to me than that.”
“I do know. But do you, Eloisa?”
His question was jarring. Especially since it forced her to realize that she’d been hiding behind so much of what she’d claimed didn’t matter to her. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I am more than those things.”
“Are you sure?” After a pause, she jerked her head up to look at him but said nothing. “Then prove it. Say you’ll go with me. Say you’ll let me come to your door, be your escort, and help you get through the evening.”
“But the Slasher—”
“This time I won’t let you out of my sight.”
“You’re not going to give up, are you?”
“I have no choice,” he said quietly. “I care about you too much.” Lowering his voice, he added, “I care about you enough to risk your hurt and scorn, Eloisa. I care that much about you.”
“What are you saying?”
He knew what she meant. And he knew what he wanted too. He wanted her bound to him. Forever. He wanted to cherish her and love her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life making sure she knew all he cared about was her. What happened to her at Douglass Sloane’s hand didn’t matter to him. Whether the scars completely faded from her skin didn’t matter to him either.
She was far more than the worst things that had happened to her. Far more.
“I want to go anywhere and everywhere with you, Eloisa,” he at last admitted. “To me the possibilities are limitless.”
Eloisa studied him. Then at last sighed. “If you believe in me so much, I don’t know how I am going to be able to disappoint you.”
“So you will go to the gala at the fair?”
“Yes, Lieutenant Ryan, I will go with you to the gala at the fair.”
Her lips were trembling. Her eyes were glistening. And before he knew what he was about, he leaned closer and brushed his lips against her cheek.
“You’ve made me very happy, Miss Carstairs. Thank you,” he said before standing up and walking out.
D
oes your mother know you are back at the fair, Miss Ryan?” Detective Howard asked as he and Katie took another turn around the Women’s Pavilion.
“Of course not. She thinks I am helping my brother Billy and his wife with their new baby.”
“They won’t let on that you weren’t there?”
“Not until it will be too late to do anything about it.”
When she noticed how shocked he looked, Katie regretted her impetuousness. “I am not usually so disrespectful. But they are closing most of the buildings this week.” Pointing to some of the wooden crates already nailed shut, she said, “If I waited until I finally got permission, it would be too late.”
“I suppose I don’t need to tell you your excuse doesn’t hold much weight. Or that your brother wanted you to be chaperoned.”
Katie was beginning to realize that a man like him was always
going to be surprised by the willfulness in a girl like her. “I figured Sean would trust us together now. But if you’d rather not be alone with me, we can leave, of course. I don’t want to make you do something you’d rather not, especially not on your day off.”
He looked nonplussed for a moment. “You continue to surprise me, Miss Ryan. Every time I think I have the upper hand, you throw me off-kilter.”
“I don’t know whether you are glad about that or not.”
“To be honest, I’m not sure about that either,” he commented. “Now let’s move on.”
She inclined her head, then settled in to following his lead. They circled the rooms again. Over the next hour, Owen stayed by her side, listened carefully when she pointed out things that interested her. Smiled softly when she finally revealed that she would like to write for a newspaper or ladies’ publication one day.
As she revealed more about herself and he patiently listened to every word she said—even some of the not-so-smart things—Katie began to relax. It really did seem that he was with her by choice, and that for some reason known only to him he was pleased to be by her side. Once she even saw him coolly eye a young man about her age who was watching them closely.
Another time Owen carefully placed a hand on the small of her back when a group of several men and women passed them. The gesture was full of not only his manners but also possession. And in that moment, she realized he was staking a claim on her.
She found herself smiling when they exited the building.
“What has you looking like the Cheshire cat?” he asked.
“Nothing.” There was no way she was actually going to admit she was feeling like one of the luckiest girls in the world.
“Sure it’s nothing?”
“It’s nothing I’d like to share.”
“Now you have me very curious.”
She tucked her chin in embarrassment, then decided she had nothing to lose by being honest. “I was only thinking that I am happy to be by your side. When I think of how different we are, I get nervous.”
“Because?”
“Because we have very little in common. But then, when I spend time with you, whether it is here or at my sister’s house, I forget about my doubts and I start thinking that perhaps we have more in common than I’d originally thought.”
He was walking with his hands clasped behind his back. His pace was slow, his focus solely on her, which was how she knew her words pleased him.
“There’s no hurry, Katie,” he said. “We are on no timetable. We can take all the time you want to get to know each other better.”
She exhaled. “I’m glad about that.”
He’d just smiled at her when his posture stiffened. Then, almost imperceptibly, he changed positions. His hands dropped to his sides and he stepped closer to her. “Quentin. Hello.”
“Howard.” His friend eyed Owen in a sardonic way before directing his attention to Katie. Then he tipped his hat. “Miss.” And stopped directly in front of them.
They had no choice but to stop as well, though Katie could tell Owen wasn’t happy about it. He raised his chin, and she noticed his expression was set like granite. “Did you need something?”
“Only to be introduced.” Smiling at Katie, he said, “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
After the briefest of pauses, Owen said, “Katie, may I present Quentin Gardner. Quentin, may I present Miss Ryan.”
“Ryan?” His eyes narrowed. “Irish, yes?”
Katie nodded. There was something peculiar about the man’s interest.
Suddenly he grinned. “Wait a minute. Ryan . . . Ryan. Are you the illustrious Lieutenant Ryan’s sister?”
“Yes.” Though she could practically feel Owen’s hostility next to her, she wasn’t about to deny the relationship. She was proud of her brother, and she couldn’t ignore her birth. She was Irish and there was nothing she could do about that. “Sean is one of my brothers.”
Something dark entered Mr. Gardner’s face, and his eyes turned back to Owen. “I thought you were seeing Eloisa?”
“I believe that is none of your business.”
“Ah, yes. I suppose it is not. After all, we all know you are far more concerned with catching the Slasher.” Flicking a piece of lint off his sleeve, he murmured, “Pity you haven’t made much headway.”
“We are closing in.”
“I seem to have heard that before.” After another long look at Katie, he said, “Will you be accompanying Owen to the closing gala tonight?”
