CHAPTER 15

LONDON

APRIL 1939

The bell rang downstairs, and Precious ran to the intercom of their new flat, then pressed the “entry” button when she recognized Graham’s voice. Breathlessly, she turned to Eva, who was tying a silk scarf around her neck just in case Graham wanted the windows open in the motorcar.

“Should we offer refreshments? Maybe some of my sweet tea?” Precious asked. “I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t prepare a serving plate. . . .”

“Really, Precious. He’s just coming up to escort us downstairs. He wouldn’t hear of us meeting him outside.”

Precious frowned. “Maybe he’s worried about the neighborhood and wants to make sure we’re safe.”

“Well, Marylebone isn’t Belgravia, surely, but it’s not Stepney, either. And David lived here. It’s quite respectable and safe.”

Eva’s gaze took in the elegant cornice moldings and the leaded glass casement windows. She thought of her mother, even imagined her standing in the foyer and seeing where Eva now lived. She’d call it grand; by Graham’s standards it wasn’t, but Kate Maltby would have seen it that way. Her mother might even have been proud of her daughter. Assuming she knew what that was like. Her emotions had been whittled down over the years to simply wanting food and shelter. There was no room for anything else.

Eva swallowed down the unexpected lump in her throat as she heard the lift door open.

She ran past Precious to the front door and threw it open, wanting to propel herself into Graham’s arms. They’d had little time alone since the fashion show due to his work travel. She felt a physical hunger in his absence, needing to see him. To touch him. To hear her name on his lips.

She stopped at the threshold, registering the other people crowding around the lift. Graham took her hand and kissed her cheek, then stood back so she could greet Sophia and David. Her smile faltered slightly when she caught sight of the man sliding shut the metal gate of the lift, then turning to face her. A sharp stab of shame jabbed at her ribs as she recalled her reaction to his empty seat at the fashion show. She hadn’t wanted him there. Not really. She simply couldn’t make herself forget that he thought her exquisite and unique.

“Miss Harlow,” Alexander Grof said with a slight bow. “So we meet again.”

Staying by Graham’s side, she said, “So we do.”

Sophia kissed Precious on the cheek as if they were old friends. “David and Alex, I’d like you all to meet my friend Miss Jeanne Dubose. But her friends call her Precious.”

Eva noticed how Alex bent over Precious’s hand to kiss it, making her blush, which, Eva was sure, had been his intention. She found it odd that he didn’t mention how Precious and he had met before, outside of Lushtak’s.

Sophia greeted them both warmly. “I hope we’re not intruding, but I so wanted to see what you’ve done to the flat. Not that I was ever allowed see it before, as it was David’s bachelor quarters and Mother would have had a fit of apoplexy if she’d heard I had been here.”

Precious laughed. “You’re not intruding at all. Come on inside.” She beamed at the guests, enjoying her role as hostess. “You can poke around if you like while we go fetch our coats. Please, excuse some of the mess. We haven’t finished putting away all of our things yet. The furniture is very nice, although I think we’ll want to add our own personal touches to the flat. But I think it’s a lovely home, and you are our very first visitors.”

Sophia stepped past Eva and Precious and stood in the middle of the foyer, turning around to admire the space. “This is splendid. Really splendid. We couldn’t have hoped for better tenants.”

“Thank you,” Eva said. “We haven’t been here very long, but we’re already feeling a bit house-proud.”

“You have every right to be,” Sophia said, and she began pulling off her gloves finger by finger. “It’s really perfect, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Precious said, closing the door.

Eva led the group into the large front reception room. “I know David has already seen this, and Graham likely has, too, but do come see our lovely view of St. Marylebone Parish Church. And while you’re admiring the view, I will retrieve my coat.”

She left the room and headed toward the first bedroom, where she and Precious kept their coats and any overflow from their armoires. She had just opened the armoire door when she heard Alex’s voice behind her.

“I trust you received my gift?”

His voice startled her, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that, or knowing how his mere presence unnerved her. Instead, she reached up, pulled her new blue cashmere coat from a hanger, and stepped back to close the door. “Yes, I did. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to thank you. It’s been rather hectic with the show and our move. But I’m grateful. It’s lovely.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me that you can’t accept such a gift from me? That it was very presumptuous of me and you want me to take it back?”

Her gaze met his. It was as if his eyes were laughing at her. She drew in a breath, not enjoying whatever game he thought to play. “No. I have no intention of giving it back. It’s far too beautiful. And besides, I needed another cigarette case. My old one was quite useless.”

He smiled in a way she was beginning to recognize, a movement of his mouth that had nothing to do with mirth. “I agree,” he said, taking her coat. “Allow me.”

He stood behind her and held up her coat as she carefully slid her arms through the sleeves, not wanting to wrinkle the sleeves of her frock.

He didn’t move away as she began to button the front of her coat, nor did he touch her, but she was as aware of his presence as if he’d just kissed the back of her neck.

“Your accent is getting better, Eva.” His words were soft, almost a caress.

Her fingers froze on the last button, her throat tightening. She opened her mouth to speak, but an invisible hand seemed to have stolen the words.

“Does Graham know the truth? Who you really are?”

“The truth?”

“Ah, so he doesn’t. You’ve worked hard to play your part, the orphaned daughter of a country doctor from Devon. I applaud your skill. Very impressive.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what . . .”

“Yes, you do.” His finger stroked her neck, making her shiver. “I’m very good at finding out things about people they’d rather keep secret. I know a man who got himself into a spot of bother in Prague. I was the one who paid enough people to look the other way, and we got him out of jail and into this country. Nobody knows this but me. This makes him very useful to me. You see, Eva, I have a habit of surrounding myself with useful people. And in today’s uncertain world, it’s a good habit to have.”

“Is it?” She looked down at her fingers, trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing with them. “Why are you telling me this?”

Instead of answering, he said, almost jovially, “Eva Harlow isn’t your real name, is it?”

“Of course it—”

He cut her off. “Don’t bother—several of my useful people are quite good at digging. And you’ve already told me you’re from Muker, in Yorkshire. I would guess that finding a tall, blond, beautiful girl from Muker won’t be difficult, even if we don’t know her real name. Yet.”

“I don’t know what you mean. Of course it’s my real name.” Eva managed to keep her voice steady, even as her fingers fumbled with the same button, her brain frozen with fear and warning, rendering her helpless.

Alexander continued, his voice conversational and without a hint of malice. “Of course, Graham is besotted, and I doubt who you really are matters very much to him—except for the lying part. Most men don’t appreciate being lied to, regardless of how in love they imagine themselves to be. But I’m doubtful Mr. and Mrs. St. John will be as forgiving. Graham may be the second son, but he’s still a blue blood, yes? And you, clearly, are not. They have plans for him and his future, which no doubt include his marrying someone of his class.”

He paused, resting his hands on her shoulders, feeling her traitorous shudder. “A word of advice, Eva—do not underestimate the pressure a family can place on a man when he is choosing a life partner. Eventually, he will be forced to let you go. Assuming you haven’t let him go first. As a second son, he’s not as rich as you’d like him to be.”

Her fingers continued to refuse to work the top button into the buttonhole. Giving up, she clenched her hands into fists, holding them at her chest. “Why are you saying all this to me?” she asked, ashamed of the tremble in her voice.

“Because I like you, Eva. I think we could become quite . . . useful to each other.”

Precious’s footsteps came down the hallway, and Eva stepped away, relieved to feel Alex’s hands slip from her shoulders.

Precious paused in the doorway and looked in. “Are you ready?” Her gaze moved from Eva to Alex, her expression not registering anything out of the ordinary.

“I’m ready,” Eva said hastily, exiting the room to join Precious. She didn’t look back to see if Alex followed, but sensed him behind her.

Sophia emerged from the reception room with David and Graham. “You’re right, Eva. The view is spectacular, and the scale of the rooms is perfect. I know a darling man who would love to help you with draperies and whatnot. No insult intended to David’s taste, but the flat most certainly needs a refresh. I intend to hire the same fellow to replace much of what’s in the town house after we’re married. I don’t think anything has been changed for an age.”

“May we have whatever you’re getting rid of?” Precious asked excitedly. “Eva and I are very good with a needle and thread. We can remake curtains and cushions so that they look like new—just what we need to make the flat more our own.”

There was an uncomfortable silence, and Eva found herself carefully putting on her gloves to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes.

“I do love an industrious woman,” Sophia said, hooking her arm through Precious’s. “And what a brilliant idea. I will be happy to let you choose what you’d like. If I had that sort of talent, I’d probably do the same.”

Sophia and Precious headed out the door while the men gathered their coats and hats. Eva stayed close by Graham’s side, needing not only to be near him, but to be as far away from Alexander Grof as she could manage.

She kept thinking of what he’d said to her, wishing she’d misunderstood. Yet no matter how many explanations she could think of, she knew that she had understood exactly.

She stayed back so that she and Graham were the last to exit. Standing behind the open door so no one could see, she reached for him. “Kiss me, darling. I can’t wait another minute.”

The light in his eyes that she loved gleamed as he leaned down to kiss her, his lips lingering over hers. “I wish we were alone,” he whispered. “Then I could kiss you properly.”

“Come on, old chap,” David called from the outside hall. “Before you’ve ruined Eva’s reputation.” His words were followed by a hearty chuckle, and a laugh from the women, but Eva registered Alex’s silence like a shout.

“Coming,” she managed, handing Graham the key so he could lock the door behind them.

When they emerged into the lobby downstairs, Alex led the way through the two sets of double doors and down the steps to the front drive, where a silver roadster was parked at the curb. He opened the passenger-side door and, with his eyes focused on Eva, said, “Ladies first.”

Eva shook her head, looking at Graham for an explanation. “We can’t all fit in that—there’s only room for four of us.”

“Not to worry, Eva,” David said. “I brought my own motorcar for my lovely fiancée and me. We don’t see nearly enough of each other, what with all those blasted engagement parties and so forth. I’m afraid I won’t know the woman approaching me down the aisle.”

“I daresay she’ll be the only one wearing white,” Graham said with a grin. “So, what sort of machine is this, Grof? It’s nice to look at, but can it move?”

“Oh, yes,” Alex said. “It’s a brand-new four-and-a-half-litre Vanden Plas Tourer. My own vehicles were left behind in Prague, unfortunately, so I thought I’d make the best of it here.”

“And you have,” Graham said. “It’s certainly attractive. I’ll admit to being quite envious.”

He took Precious by the elbow and began leading her to the front passenger seat. But she put her gloved hands on top of her small, brimmed straw hat with its extravagant bow; she’d modeled it just the previous day. “Oh, no. I can’t sit up front with the top down. My hat will blow off, and I will just die if I lose it. Let me run upstairs and get another one.”

“Or,” Alexander suggested, “you can sit in the rear with Graham, and Eva can sit in the front. I see she’s brought a scarf.”

“I’m really fine sitting in the rear seat with Precious,” Eva protested.

He looked genuinely disappointed. “And here I was hoping to show off my new car by driving with a beautiful woman in the front.”

“I agree,” David said. “No better way to display a new toy, right, old chap?”

He slapped Graham on the back. Graham’s smile never slipped. “Of course,” he said, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. “As long as the lady agrees.”

“Oh, go on,” encouraged Precious. “Alexander’s being kind enough to drive us all the way to Kew Gardens—it’s the least you can do.” She gave Eva a playful shove on her back, propelling her forward.

Seeing no way to escape without appearing rude, Eva allowed Alex to help her into the front seat while Graham and Precious settled into the rear. It was a gorgeous day with a bright sun and a cloudless sky, but Eva found herself praying for rain.

The wind made it difficult to carry on a conversation, but every time Eva turned around, she saw Graham’s and Precious’s heads bent together, and twice she heard Graham laugh out loud. Alex leaned toward her.

“I don’t believe I’ve told you yet,” he said, “but you look beautiful today.”

Eva quickly glanced at the rear seat to see if Graham had overheard, but he appeared to be listening intently to what Precious was telling him. She turned to Alex, facing him only long enough to thank him.

“Do you like how it rides?” Alex shouted over the wind in an attempt to get Graham’s attention, but Graham didn’t turn his head or respond in any way, as if he hadn’t heard. “And you, my dear Eva. Do you like it?”

“It’s nice,” she said, adjusting her scarf as it fluttered against her face. She focused on the road in front instead of those silver wolf eyes that she felt upon her.

“If you have need of transportation, it is at your service. As am I. I’m aware of how difficult it is to rely on public transportation every time you want to go somewhere. Especially when wearing beautiful clothes that might get soiled or creased. I’m living at the Savoy. All you need to do is send word.”

“It’s no bother.” Eva smoothed the skirt of her dress, then clenched her gloved hands in her lap so he wouldn’t see them tremble. Your accent is getting better. It was as if he’d just whispered the words again into her ear. “And Graham is more than happy to escort me wherever I need to go.”

“I’m sure. Except his work takes him away quite a bit, doesn’t it?”

She turned her head to look out her side window, pretending she hadn’t heard.

“He works at Whitehall, yes?” Alex pressed. “What exactly does he do at the Home Office, Eva?”

She turned on him, angry. “If it’s so important to you, why don’t you ask him? While you’re at it, ask him what his income is, too. Believe me, you’re the only person who cares.”

He surprised her by throwing back his head and laughing. “You amuse me, Eva. You really do. Because I am quite sure that you don’t want me talking too much with your St. John, do you?”

She was startled by a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Precious leaning forward from the backseat. “Hey, you two. What’s so funny? We can’t hear a word back here.”

“Nothing,” Eva said. “Nothing at all.” She looked past her friend’s shoulders to Graham. He smiled at her, his eyes showing an odd light.

She managed to ignore Alexander for the rest of the drive, and when they arrived at Kew Gardens, Graham was quick to claim her. They paired off, leaving Precious with Alex. And when Eva and Graham walked into the glass-and-iron Victorian Palm House, its tropical air sticky and wet, he pulled her into an isolated corner behind a towering palm, the odd light in his eyes gone now, leaving behind something dark and earthy. He kissed her with a new hunger, a need she reciprocated, and told her he loved her.

“And I, you,” she said, meaning it. She pressed her mouth against his, feeling his sweat mingling with hers, and tried to pretend that everything Alex had said wasn’t true.