A few days after returning to New York, Colin was summoned to lunch with Eve. He was to go to the Ritz-Carleton, Central Park on Wednesday, May 4 at one o'clock in the afternoon. Grace had received the same message and had texted him, worried that somehow Eve had discovered their transgressions. He'd done what he could to allay her fears, but he had to admit this meeting was playing on his mind as well. It created an underlying sense of foreboding in everything he did.
The first to arrive, Colin sat now at the small, black marble table, fidgeting with the cutlery. There'd been enough surprises in his life lately and he wasn't sure he could take another one.
Grace arrived a few minutes before the hour, wearing a tailored lavender pantsuit. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders. As he stood to greet her, he smiled.
"Hello, beautiful," he said and kissed her cheek.
She returned a weak grimace that saddened him. It was obvious from the darkness under her eyes that she wasn't sleeping well.
"It'll be ok," he said.
"I hope you're right." She took a sip of water, and he noticed her hand shake ever so slightly.
"I know I am." It was complete bullshit, of course. He hadn't the first clue whether things would be all right, but he hated to see her worry. Perched on the edge of her chair, she looked like she would bolt any second. Whatever happened, he had to make sure she was safe. This was, after all, his doing. He'd left the papers on the car seat, and at the ski chalet he'd left his suitcase in open view. At the store, he'd been the one to ask her to the rare books room.
As to his feelings for her, well, she was extraordinary and he was human. Looking at her now, he could see the tension in her back and shoulders and wished he could help ease it. He cared for her deeply, and while it shouldn't have happened, it didn't feel like a problem. Not now anyway. When the game ended in four months it would be another story.
He reached out to brush the hair from her face, but she pulled away and nodded toward the doorway.
Eve had arrived. Her natural effervescence had fizzled, leaving behind a no-nonsense business woman. This did not bode well.
"Thank you for coming," she said, and Colin wondered whether they'd really had much of a choice. The waiter appeared carrying menus, but before he could distribute them, Eve ordered afternoon tea for the table, and sent him away.
"I'm sure you both know why I've called you here."
He sighed. Might as well meet this head on. "We didn't think it was a social occasion."
"Unfortunately, no." She looked from one of them to the other. "I'm really not sure where to start," she said.
Grace dropped her hands to her lap and began to wring them.
"Something has come to my attention . . . something I'm not very happy about," she said, sliding her napkin out from under the forks.
Beside him, Grace began chewing her bottom lip.
"I should have seen this coming —"
"It's not your fault." He couldn't allow her to take the blame.
Her face softened. "Ah, but it is. You see, as your handler, it's my responsibility to make sure the rules are both understood and followed."
A line of sweat broke out on Colin's upper lip.
"It's absolutely essential that the rules are honoured."
"Eve," he said. "Please . . ."
"Let me finish."
The waiter returned, pushing a trolley filled with chinaware and sweets. It had sounded as though Eve was about to end the game. Now she held her tongue while the waiter, with agonizing slowness, set out side plates, cups and saucers, a five-tier dessert tray and a large pot of tea. Colin sat on his hands in anticipation of what she might say next. At last, the waiter finished his task and left.
"As I was saying," continued Eve, pouring tea as she spoke. "The rules exist for good reason and unless they are followed to the letter, the game begins to unravel."
This was agony. He could handle being reprimanded, but to see Grace so pale and silent was more than he could bear.
"Those rules were not followed."
At this, Colin too hung his head. He was sure his time with Grace was over.
Eve set the teapot back on the table. "I knew Mrs. Blake was expecting her first grandchild. Yet, I neglected to provide her with backup, which meant she had to call on poor Mrs. Pope."
Colin looked up in disbelief. "I beg your pardon?" he said.
"Mrs. Pope isn't one of our partners, as I'm sure you could tell." She took a scone and began spreading it with preserves. "Please," she said, gesturing to the tiered tray, "help yourselves. Anyway, I want you to know how sorry I am that things didn't go as planned in Juno Beach."
Grace leaned forward. "You asked us here so that you could apologize?"
"Yes. And ask for your forgiveness."
Colin sat back in his chair, mystified. "Consider yourself forgiven," he said. "Although, it's really not necessary."
"Yes. It is." With that, Eve topped her scone with a dollop of clotted cream, and the case was closed.
An hour later, they'd finished eating and Eve handed them each a small, sealed envelope. "The details for your next rendezvous," she explained.
Colin sneaked a peek at Grace, who looked back and smiled. He let his gaze linger on her profile, the delicate slope of her nose and curve of her cheekbone. It was only when Eve spoke again that he tore himself away, albeit reluctantly.
"I've triple checked everything this time so we won't have any more mishaps," she said.
Eve was uncharacteristically tense and he wanted, somehow, to put her mind at ease. Whatever pressure she may be feeling, it certainly wasn't from him. "I'm sure it will all come off without a hitch," he said. All he wanted was to be with Grace. It didn't matter where, or when.
Grace pushed her chair back from the table. "I need to get going," she said. "It was nice to see you again, Eve. And please, don't worry. It all worked out last time — in fact, I think it was my favourite one." She gave Eve's hand a reassuring squeeze and Colin noticed that her cheeks had flushed just a little.
"I should be going too," he said.
"Actually, Marlowe," said Eve, "could you stay a moment?"
Grace gave them a final wave and made her way to the door. Only after she'd disappeared from sight did Colin turn his attention back to Eve. She pushed her teacup away and brushed a crumb from the table.
"I know I've said this before, but I feel it bears repeating." She folded her napkin with deliberate care before continuing. "There are rules, and they must be followed."
"Don't agonize over the B&B, Eve. Everything worked out just fine."
She shook her head. "I don't mean me this time. It's you and Grace I'm worried about."
"Oh?" He sat a little taller in his chair.
"Do you remember the conversation we had when I first offered you a spot in the game?"
He nodded.
"The last rule is the hardest to follow, and if broken, has the most dire consequences."
"You make it sound so serious." He attempted a casual laugh, but his nervousness shone through.
She sat perfectly still, looking at him across the table. He swallowed hard under her stare. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck.
"Be careful," she said.