Gavina pressed her hand to her heart. “I swear.” She leapt to her feet. “Let me fetch my coat.”
Evie was pleased Gavina so readily agreed to go with her, though she was not happy that she had to trust yet another person with this secret.
It occurred to her as Gavina bounded to the door that the logical person Evie should ask to take her to the lock-up was Hayden. But for some reason, Evie wasn’t ready to face Hayden, not yet.
The sound of a horse and carriage halting in the lane outside made Gavina swerve to peer out the window.
“I may not have to take you, after all.” Gavina sounded both disappointed and excited. “Here’s Jamie himself.”
Evie rushed to join her at the window. Jamie had indeed arrived, his presence filling the space below as he descended from a coach. Now he was advancing to the door, which opened before he could knock.
Gavina turned to Evie with a knowing look. “He certainly is adamant to squire you about. Though I’m hoping I can still go with you. I’m agog to learn what you’ve been up to.”
“His coming here might have nothing to do with me,” Evie argued. “He’s likely here to visit his sister.”
Gavina waved that away. “Jamie does not rush to this house so early to visit his sister. Or me, his annoying cousin.” Her smile returned. “Let me see—he gives you a key to the hidden lock-up, he brings you here so your fiancé won’t discover he gave you a love bite, and he gave you the love bite in the first place. This is delightful.”
“Why?” Evie backed from the window, her heart pounding as she heard Jamie cheerily greeting Mrs. Barrow downstairs. “You know I am engaged. Why are you so pleased Jamie is doing all this?”
Gavina folded her hands, but she looked anything but prim. “Because I love Jamie, and I like you. I want him to be happy.”
“But I am—”
“I know. Betrothed to another man. That is an obstacle, yes, but not an unsurmountable one. Jamie would never demand you break things off with Atherton if you don’t want to—it isn’t his way. However, if you find you are in love with Jamie, please do not let convention sway you into marrying Atherton because you feel it’s your duty. The Mackenzies are an unconventional family, and everyone knows it.”
“I don’t want to fall in love.” Evie’s declaration was heartfelt. It revealed more than she intended, but first Jamie, then Gavina, were crashing through her carefully constructed world, ripping down the barriers she’d formed around her heart.
Gavina grew puzzled, but before she could question Evie, a maid yanked open the door. “Mrs. Barrow is asking for yer,” she said breathlessly. “Mr. Mackenzie’s come to see Miss McKnight.”
Gavina sent Evie a significant look, then led the way downstairs.
Chapter 16
Everything in Jamie gladdened at the site of Evie skimming down the stairs to him. But he shouldn’t be surprised. Evie had appeared like a bolt from the blue, inflaming memories of a kiss he’d never forgotten.
He’d extended an invitation to meet with Atherton at a club today, and he looked forward to it. Andrew had already given Jamie some information—not on Atherton himself yet, but his father, which Jamie had digested with satisfaction.
The note, written in Andrew’s unexpectedly neat hand, was folded in the pocket inside Jamie’s coat. Jamie had sifted through plenty of gossip in the clubs last night, and he’d woken this morning much more optimistic.
“Jamie,” Gavina sang out. She had a gleam in her eye, one that always worried him. “How lovely to see you again. And so soon.”
“Gavina. Always a delight.”
“Liar.” Gavina dove into the parlor, leaving room in the tiny hall for Evie, while a maid tried to take Jamie’s coat and hat.
“Mr. Mackenzie,” Evie said formally. “Good morning.”
“And to you, lass.”
She looked well. Jamie recognized his sister’s clothes, and decided Evie brought out the style well. Understated but not subdued. Evie’s dark hair gleamed, the high-collared blouse set off her slightly flushed face, and her eyes were pools of delicate blue. The clothes skimmed her figure, the skirt touching her legs and drawing Jamie’s eyes there.
“Did you come to visit Belle?” Evie was asking.
“Eh?”
Jamie dragged his gaze to her face again, trying to cease imagining her legs bare and enticing. He’d had a nice glimpse of them last night when she’d gone out the window, but he’d not been in a position to do anything about it. That is, there’d been nothing wrong with the position, but they’d needed to get out of the museum as quickly as possible.
“I said, have you come to visit your sister?” Evie regarded him as though wondering whether he’d lost his wits.
The maid had faded away once Jamie gestured that he’d keep his coat and hat, and Mrs. Barrow and the others who lived here were strangely absent. Gavina had quietly shut the door to the parlor.
“No.” Jamie groped for the words that came readily to his tongue when he complimented ladies, and found nothing. He stood like a gawping stick. “That is—do you want to retrieve our prize and deliver it to Miss Georgiou?” he asked awkwardly. “She’s likely pacing a hole in the carpet.”
“I did send her a note this morning, telling her all was well.” Evie looked indignant he thought she hadn’t. “But yes, I was about to go there myself. Gavina agreed to accompany me.”
Of course, Gavina would have. Any hint of excitement, and she leapt to be first into the fray.
“I’m thinking you and I should go ourselves,” Jamie said.
Evie nodded. “I agree. The fewer, the better. Shall I fetch my coat?”
She’d turned away, tendrils of hair wafting, before Jamie could answer. The servants of this house already liked her, Jamie saw, as two maids burst from the door under the stairs carrying her coat and hat, thoroughly brushed and cleaned.
Gavina peeked out of the parlor, sending Jamie an inquiring glance, but Jamie gestured for her to stay behind. Gavina looked disappointed but nodded in understanding.
Jamie had hired a coach for the journey today, which waited on the doorstep. Evie liked the motorcars, but Jamie had decided they’d draw too much attention. Also the coach’s cushioned seats and fireboxes would keep them snug in the ongoing rain and spring chill.
Jamie handed Evie in, climbing up beside her. To be civil, he took the seat facing her, though he’d much rather snuggle in beside her.
As Evie gazed across at him, a smile spread across her face, and Jamie’s tension loosened. He’d feared he’d find her angry, embarrassed, upset, and refusing to look at him after their powerful kiss last night.
The smile told him she hadn’t pushed the kiss from her mind. Evie had thought about it and had enjoyed reliving it.
Maybe they could discuss the kissing as they went. What they’d liked the most, what thoughts had streamed through their heads as their hearts pounded. Well, what had streamed through Jamie’s head. Evie might be a lily-pure maiden and have no tawdry thoughts at all.
Perhaps Jamie could teach her how to form them. From Evie’s smile, she might let him.