Evie was seated next to Megan and across from Jamie. Unlike Belle, who spoke with serious authority on many topics, including the theory of special relativity, which Evie had only a vague notion about, Megan asked Evie about New York and the crossing on the Baltic, sighing over her descriptions of the society ladies and their beautiful gowns.
Both sisters did everything to draw Evie into the conversation, to which Beth contributed plenty of opinions. Ian did not say much, only ate in silence, but when he did speak, it was to interject a nugget of wisdom or a calm addition to Belle’s scientific explanations, then to go quiet again.
Very different from Sir Hector’s diatribes, which Evie was expected to agree with without question.
The butler carried in a sweet pudding, which Curry liberally poured brandy over and lit, while Evie and the Mackenzie ladies oohed in delight. Evie had never seen such a display apart from plum puddings at Christmas. A special treat, Beth said, for their special guest.
This pudding was custardy and full of cinnamon and cloves, filling Evie’s mouth with splendid tastes.
Jamie spoke very little, though whenever Evie glanced up from her plate, she’d find Jamie’s eyes on her. Once when he caught her gaze, he curled his tongue around a strawberry that had graced the top of his slice of pudding. Evie went very hot and quickly looked away.
After they’d consumed the dessert, and Evie was more stuffed than she’d been in an age, Beth announced that Evie must be tired, and she’d see her to her chamber.
Evie was surprised the ladies weren’t ushered to the parlor to sip tea, gossip, and fall into boredom while the gentlemen smoked cigars and drank brandy until they’d had their fill. But the entire family filed out of the dining room, Jamie with them. He bade Evie a civil goodnight, though she caught a flicker of dark promise in the back of his eyes, and disappeared into the recesses of the house.
Beth led Evie upstairs alone. “I thought you might have had enough of Mackenzies for one day,” Beth told her as they entered a well-lit chamber with a crackling fire and a high bedstead with light yellow hangings.
“Supper was wonderful,” Evie said sincerely. “You have all been so kind.”
“Kind, but overwhelming.” Beth sent Evie a knowing look. “They can leave you breathless, the Mackenzie men. Be thankful you had only Ian and Jamie to put up with tonight.”
“My life changed today,” Evie said, pressing her hands together as she sank to the bed. “That has overwhelmed me enough.”
Beth sat down beside her. “I too once thought my life’s path well-paved, with very few twists and bends. Then I met Ian.” She smiled. “I ran all the way to France to deal with my feelings for him.” She patted Evie’s knee. “I hope you will not flee so far. I do like having Jamie home.”
Evie let out a nervous laugh. “Do you mean Jamie would chase me to France?”
“I have seen the way he looks at you. I believe he’d be on the very train you caught, and the boat as well.”
“I like Jamie, I truly do.” Evie couldn’t lie about that. She liked kissing him too, even if it made her confusion dance and spin. “I hope he will give me a little time. I need to think.”
Beth shook her head. “If I know my son, he won’t. But that might not be a bad thing. We can wallow in indecision a long while, counseling ourselves to bide our time, when in reality, we are only hiding from the choice. I have learned to act on things instead of brooding over them.” Beth’s expression became stern. “However, if you decide to break Jamie’s heart, please do it cleanly, and leave him be. No asking him for time, or claiming uncertainty. Either you love him or you do not. Do not leave him dancing on a string. I grow weary of ladies who do such things.”
At the moment, Evie was barely certain about her own name. “I have no intention of breaking Jamie’s heart, I assure you.”
“Just be careful, is all I ask. Tonight, you can rest safely here. Curry has arranged for your clothes and things to be brought from the Athertons, so you will never have to return there. And I will write to your mother tonight to explain what happened. Better the news comes from a disinterested party—though I rather do have an interest.” Beth’s smile deepened.
“I feel very decadent for you to do all this for me,” Evie said. “And rather helpless.”
Beth patted her again, more firmly. “We all need to be fussed over from time to time. Let me indulge myself pampering you tonight. Tomorrow, you can hold up your head and be an independent woman once again.”
“My mother might have a few things to say about that,” Evie said shakily.
“I believe your mother will understand better than you realize.” Beth rose. She smoothed Evie’s hair and then pressed a kiss to her forehead, as though Evie were one of her own daughters. “Sleep well. My maid will come to help you to bed. She’s warmed a nightgown for you.”
Evie bade Beth a calm goodnight, and the lady glided from the room. Evie unclenched her clasped hands when the door closed. It had been all she could do not to throw her arms around Beth and weep without restraint.
Jamie paced Ian’s study, a glass of Mackenzie malt in one hand. He felt his father watching him, though whenever he turned, Ian seemed to have his attention on a thick book.
“This is one my craving for adventure won’t solve,” Jamie announced after he’d ruminated a good half hour.
Ian placed a bookmark in the book, closed it, and set it on the desk. “Why would you want to solve it with adventure?” he asked.
“Easier,” Jamie said. “A man in need of rescue. An enemy to thwart, a village to save. A corrupt mine overseer to replace. Easily dealt with.”
“Speaking to Evie is safer than any of those,” Ian pointed out.
Jamie scrunched up his face. “Is it? I think I’d rather dangle upside-down from a moving train again.”
Ian’s gaze roved to the Ming bowl that rested in its glass case. He switched around the bowls from time to time, moving each to this lone case for a spell, so he had the chance to examine each one. Some collectors hoarded things and forgot what they had, but Ian appreciated each and every item.
“You did not ruin her life,” Ian declared. “You saved it. Sir Hector Atherton has been embezzling from his company. Small amounts that he has returned. But one day, he will take too much and not be able to put it back. His son will be ruined. Evie would have been ruined too, had she married him.”
Jamie’s mouth hung open. “Embezzling? The snake.” Andrew had noted that Sir Hector abhorred gambling—perhaps the man had lost a bit of money and thought he’d dip into his company’s funds to compensate. Jamie shot his father a sharp gaze. “Wait a moment, how the devil do you know this?”
“I made inquiries about him.”
Jamie ran an unsteady hand through his thick hair. “So, when you told me to find out all I could about Atherton, you did too?” Of course, Ian had. When Jamie’s father was interested in a thing, he was very thorough. “I asked Andrew McBride to dig a little. Why didn’t he find out about the embezzlement?”
“He did. But you had already acted. I received Andrew’s note just before you arrived tonight.”