He was the most beautiful man, rumpled and wild with pleasure. Eva couldn’t resist him or this need to ease the ache deep inside her. She knew the basics of intimacy between a man and a woman, and she was desperate to experience it with him.
Throwing a leg over his hips to straddle him, she lined her core up with his erect shaft. His eyes, half-lidded and dark with lust, focused on her face. “Are you certain?”
Instead of speaking, she nodded. Her palms found his chest, nails digging in as she rocked her hips experimentally. The slipperiness between her legs helped her glide over his hardness, and they both gasped.
“God, I want you. So badly, Eva.”
He reached between them and positioned himself at her entrance. With his other hand, he found her hip and nudged her slightly. The blunt crown pressed inside, then more, a thick heat that scraped over her sensitive tissues, stretching her slowly. When the fullness became too much, she paused and he waited, agonizingly patient as her body adjusted. He gave her time and she took it, knowing the reward was soon coming. After all, why would anyone engage in intimacies more than once if it were such a terrible experience?
She sank down, bit by bit, her breath labored and choppy. Sweat broke out on her forehead. Everything clenched in anticipation as she enveloped him, the deep invasion hitting sweet spots she hadn’t known existed. He massaged her breasts and rolled her nipples, his strong, capable hands arousing her with every caress. When their hips joined she let her lids fall and threw back her head, taking a moment to feel.
It was so much more than she’d ever imagined. He was inside her, a part of her, connected in a way she’d never been with another before.
“You are gorgeous,” he murmured, leaning up to take one of her nipples in his mouth. He sucked and stroked the tip of her breast, until she was compelled to roll her hips, her body urging her to move.
“Yes, more,” he breathed against her skin. “Just like that.”
“What does it feel like for you?”
He dropped onto the mattress and gripped her thighs. “Tight. Hot. Like absolute heaven. Move, Eva.” He showed her how to rock and slide to bring them both the most pleasure. She ground down, the pressure building as she rubbed over his pubic bone.
“I want to see you.” Her fingers began unfastening the remaining tiny buttons of his undergarment, the ones he hadn’t bothered to undo earlier. He reached to help and soon he’d slipped both arms free and pushed the cloth to his waist. Her breath caught. God above, he was . . . solid. Corded muscles gleamed with perspiration and shifted with every movement. Hollows and ridges outlined bone and tendon. Silky dark hair covered his chest, leading down toward his groin. She’d never seen anything more beautiful in her life.
Not that she planned to tell him. Undoubtedly, he was aware of his effect on the opposite sex, Mr. I’ve-never-had-a-woman-resist-me.
Instead, aroused beyond belief, she quickened her pace. Phillip grunted his approval, then slipped a thumb between her legs to rub the swollen nub waiting there. A rush of pleasure started in her toes, white-hot sensation overcoming her, limbs trembling as the orgasm dragged her under.
Dimly, she felt him driving upward—hard, powerful thrusts that jolted her entire body. He shouted, jerking and shaking as he came, his shaft thickening and pulsing inside her. She loved his desperation, this loss of control in such an otherwise rigid man.
Then they were panting, limp and exhausted. Eventually, she collapsed atop his heaving chest, and his softening penis slipped out of her core. Shadows cloaked the dark room—a place Eva would never forget. She felt sticky and sweaty . . . but utterly transformed. Knocked down and then rebuilt, stronger and wiser, as if she’d been let in on one of life’s biggest secrets.
Bringing her to his side, he held her in the crook of his arm and she stroked the soft mat of hair covering his wide chest. A peaceful moment, the quiet said more than words. Though she was tired, she couldn’t ever remember being happier.
“I should not have finished inside you. I apologize.”
Oh. Yes, that.
Tranquility shattered with very real consequences, she rose up on her elbow to see his face. “It never occurred to me.”
He winced, his expression twisting with true regret. That hurt more than anything else he could have said right then. Not that her virginity was any sort of gift or prize, but she had allowed him inside her. Him, no one else. And already he regretted it.
No doubt her inexperience offended him, quite unlike the ladies he normally bedded who knew how to prevent conception. Women who need not be shown how to please a man. In this lazy post-coital glow, she’d expected praise and affection . . . not contrition.
Lady Unlucky. How could she have forgotten?
Ignoring the swift pain in her chest, she pushed off the mattress and sat, her legs swinging over the side as she tried to collect herself. Casual and professional, Eva. There’s no need for an emotional scene. It’s an affair, not a relationship.
“You needn’t worry,” she said in an attempt at bravery. “I’m quite certain no complications shall result.” Where was her chemise? She peered into the darkened room, moonlight her only guide.
“No one can be certain,” his deep voice said behind her. “Not at this point.”
Rising, she bent to grasp her stockings. “Well, I am.”
“Eva, I am attempting to express concern over your well-being, about something that affects us both. The least you could do is look at me.”
No. What she needed to do was leave. To put distance between them and regain her equilibrium.
She yanked on her stockings and garters, then her drawers. As she tied the strings, Phillip stood in front of her, hands on his hips. “Eva, stop.”
Ignoring him, she spun to retrieve her crumpled chemise on the floor. Strong fingers wrapped around her shoulders and forced her to stand. “What is wrong with you?” he asked, not letting go. “You are rushing out of here as if the building is on fire.”
Wasn’t that what he expected? This was no love affair, like in the romantic novels, with tender affection and words of everlasting devotion. No, tonight had been about his promised bevy of delights, which had been quite thoroughly demonstrated. “I assumed you would prefer to leave now that we are finished . . .” She waved her hand in the direction of the bed.
“Finished?” His mouth flattened into an unhappy line. “You are completely shutting me out. I am trying not to feel—”
“Trying not to feel what?” she asked when he cut himself off.
Releasing her, he dragged a hand through his hair. “I’ve never . . . Well, I didn’t expect you to want to escape me so soon.”
She thought of the way he’d winced earlier. His regret. Shore up your walls, Eva. Build them high. Protect yourself. “You are being silly. This was lovely but I must now return home. I’m expected for dinner.”
He made a sound of disbelief and stared out the window. Tall and broad, he’d pulled his trousers up but hadn’t fastened them. They hung off his hip bones in the most sinful manner. Even annoyed, he was delicious.
“And,” she continued, “I’d say we both got what we wanted. No one was hurt.” Except my pride, of course. “Isn’t that how these things work?”
“Yes, I suppose so. I just . . . I normally have some sort of understanding with a woman. There are practical matters to be discussed ahead of time.”
“Such as?”
He bent down and plucked her chemise off the floor. “Here, put this on. I cannot think straight when you’re half-dressed.”
She lifted her arms and he drew the material over her head and down her hips. “Better?” she asked when he finished.
He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. “Are you . . . ? Would you like to do this again?”
“With you?”
Dark eyes narrowed, his jaw hardening. “Yes, with me.”
She liked that spark of anger. A hint of emotion that eased her bruised heart. Perhaps he hadn’t regretted every part of tonight.
She considered his question. Did she want to engage in sexual congress once more? Even with her body sated from the most recent bout, she already craved his touch. What was the point in resisting him, especially now that the deed had been done?
She answered honestly, “I think I would, yes. Would you?”
“Most definitely yes. As often as possible.”
Well, that was flattering. Still, she could not allow this man to overrun her life. She had a job to do—jobs, if one took into account his mother’s cottage—and she did not have time to bow to his whims. At least not outside the construction site.
Most important, she could not develop feelings for him.
“Perhaps we should come up with a schedule. To make things easier.”
His brows lifted, as if the suggestion surprised him. “I was about to propose the same thing.”
“Convenient we think so alike, then.”
“Yes, quite.”
He stroked his jaw, regarding her, and her heart beat faster. She busied herself by slipping into her shoes. “So once a week? Every other week?”
“What am I, fifty years old?” He chuckled. “No, Eva. I’m thinking three times a week. Perhaps more.”
More? More than three times a week? No wonder men were always so busy, rushing about the city as if on important errands. Who’d have guessed a majority of those “errands” were lascivious in nature?
Still, she didn’t presume to think she was the only woman currently in his orbit. The idea of him with another twisted her stomach, but she had to ask. “Are there not . . . others?”
His mouth opened, then closed. Reopened to ask, “Do you want there to be? I had assumed we would be exclusive.”
Exclusive was good. Exclusive worked for her. She shook her head. “No, I don’t. Nevertheless, I believe twice is sufficient for now.”
“Twice? Come now. I know you enjoyed yourself with me. Think of how much better it will become once we sort our likes and dislikes.”
Goodness, if this got any better it may very well kill her. “Twice, Phillip. I am quite busy these days, but we may revisit the schedule if we both feel it’s insufficient.”
He cursed and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Stop acting like . . .”
“Acting like what?”
“Like such a man. I feel as if our roles are reversed.”
Her first instinct was to apologize . . . and she suppressed it. She did not owe him an apology for being logical and careful, especially when she had the most to lose. “Then you must understand how I feel.”
“Yes, I rather think I do,” he muttered. “And it is certainly putting these matters into a very different light for me.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant, so she brought them back to the issue at hand. As today was Thursday, that made sense to include it as one of their days. “So we’ve agreed on twice a week. How is Monday and Thursday?”
“Fine. Where?”
“I . . .” She trailed off. Where, indeed? A hotel was too risky. Their houses were out of the question.
“Forget it,” he said with a slash of his hand. “I’ll take care of it. Now, I assume you do not use any kind of sponge or syringe?”
She shook her head wildly. What were those things? Did all women know of them?
“No worries. I will procure some condoms.” Her face must have shown her confusion because he said, “Rubber sheaths that encase a man’s erection during intercourse. It will protect you from conceiving.”
Heavens, this was complicated. “Thank you. I assume that means you have no unwanted children running about New York?”
“You would be correct. I am always careful, which is why tonight was such an aberration.”
An aberration. If only he meant that in the positive sense. Build those walls higher. She folded her hands. “Is that all you cared to discuss?”
“One more thing and then we’ll depart.” He stood and closed the distance between them. Cupping her face between his hands, he kissed her softly, swiftly. “Thank you for tonight. Whatever went wrong between us, I’ll fix it. This matters to me. You matter to me.”
Oh, dear. Her heart melted, the organ turning a soggy mess inside her chest. No, she must not allow this. He was her employer. She could not risk losing her greatest work to date and her father’s legacy.
Swallowing the emotion clogging her throat, she patted his cheek. “You are sweet. Now let’s hurry. I shouldn’t like to be late for dinner.”
Phillip slammed the front door behind him, the wood rattling on the hinges from the force. He tossed his hat and cane on the table and started for the stairs. A tangle of emotions rioted through him, confusion at the forefront. Eva’s abrupt change in demeanor baffled him. One minute, they were basking in an intimate glow, her limbs warm and pliant against his. The next minute she’d turned into an ice queen.
You are being silly. This was lovely but I must now return home.
What on earth had he done wrong?
Roberts arrived, a word of greeting dying on his lips when he saw his master’s face.
“I’ll be in the ballroom,” Phillip told his butler. At least he could let off some steam there. More than a year ago the giant empty space had been converted to hold boxing equipment. He had gloves, several heavy bags, and a speed bag there to help him work up a sweat when the occasion called for it. If he wanted to spar against a real partner, however, he traveled down to McGirk’s.
Tonight he just needed to use his fists and expel some of the frustration burning in his chest.
“Please wait, sir. Mr. Milliken is here, awaiting you in your office.”
Phillip heaved a sigh and stopped halfway up the steps. Shit. “What does he want?”
“He has been waiting for the better part of an hour.”
Turning, he stomped down the stairs, returned to the main floor, and found his way to the office. Milliken rose from a chair, his derby in his hands. Phillip continued to the sideboard and poured two glasses of whiskey. “Milliken, this better be good.”
“I need to speak with you, sir. About this unconventional set of circumstances you’ve created at the site.”
Phillip carried the glasses over and handed one to Milliken. He dropped into the chair behind his desk and took a long swallow. The whiskey burned all the way down, taking a slight edge off his anger. “Well, what is it? What happened today?”
“We cannot have a woman strolling about on the site any longer.”
This was not the first—or tenth—time Milliken had raised the issue. “We’ve had this discussion. You know where I stand. I must wait this out until her father arrives.”
Milliken lifted his glass and threw back some liquor. “Yes, but I fear the situation has turned dangerous. Today, she was walking through the piles of debris near the east wall and one collapsed.”
Phillip shot straight in his chair, the wooden legs rocking with his weight. “Collapsed? Jesus, she could’ve been killed.” The idea of it made him sick to his stomach. Why hadn’t she mentioned the accident tonight? Because you had your face between her legs. And then your cock.
“Precisely right, sir. She was quick on her feet, apparently, and escaped with nothing more than some dust on her skirts. But this kind of thing could happen at any moment. We’re not used to having a woman on the site. It’s bad—”
“I know, it’s bad luck.” He drank more whiskey, wondering what Milliken and the laborers would say if they knew Eva’s moniker. “There’s no such thing as luck, however.”
Milliken shook his head, and Phillip didn’t bother trying to change the Irishman’s mind. The notion of luck was bone-deep with some people. “Bad luck or not, she’s a distraction to the men.”
“Has anyone . . . ?”
“No, not that I’ve seen or heard. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen, sir.”
Phillip finished the liquid in his glass and set the crystal on his desk. “I don’t like it, either. I never expected to face these problems, as I’d always assumed Hyde would helm the ship. However, in Hyde’s absence, she’s the architect’s liaison. I cannot bar her from the site.”
“Even if someone gets killed because of her? You know how easily accidents happen when men aren’t paying attention to what they are doing.”
“No one will be hurt. But let’s better brace those piles to prevent anything like this happening again.”
“Already done,” Milliken said with a nod. “I have the night shift working on that. Be finished by morning.”
“Good. And circulate word with the men once more about staying far, far away from Miss Ashford. I don’t want them talking or looking at her. Any man who touches her—or, God forbid, hurts her—will be answering directly to me.”
His general contractor frowned but jerked his head. “I wish you would reconsider. I know you and Miss Ashford are fond of one another—”
“Stop right there,” Phillip snapped. “She is Hyde’s employee and therefore my employee as well. There is nothing untoward happening between Miss Ashford and me.” He knew the statement to be false, but he couldn’t allow anyone to suspect an affair between the two of them. “There’s no preferential treatment happening.”
“I meant no offense, sir. But the safety of the men is my first concern, not the hurt feelings of a pampered Englishwoman.”
Phillip nearly laughed. Hurt feelings? Pampered? Eva was the toughest woman he’d ever met—and that included a Bowery boxer named Mad Maeve, who he’d once seen knock four teeth out of a man’s mouth. “This is not about feelings, Milliken. The woman is here to do a job, a job we need, I remind you, until her employer arrives. And you’ve said yourself, she is competent.”
“I just hope her employer arrives soon. I’m hearing rumblings from the men about a strike.”
Prickles swept over the back of Phillip’s neck. This had been his greatest fear in letting Eva stay on as Hyde’s representative. He leaned in closer. “Who in hell is talking about a strike?”
Milliken shifted, not meeting Phillip’s eye. “Some of the men. They are talking about walking off the job until she’s replaced.”
Christ, that would delay them for months. He had no intention of replacing Hyde or any other member of his team, so a strike would mean negotiating with the union or firing all the laborers—including Milliken. Phillip needed to shut this down, stall as long as he could until Hyde arrived. “There had better not be a goddamn strike—and if that’s a threat, I do not take kindly to them.”
“Very well.” Milliken’s expression remained sullen. He’d clearly hoped for a different outcome from today’s meeting, but Phillip couldn’t help that. This was his project and he wasn’t about to bend to ridiculous demands, no matter what happened.
“I know this is an unusual situation,” he told his general contractor. “But Hyde’s name on the hotel is integral to its success. Bear that in mind when you’re dealing with your men. Some moving pieces can be replaced, but Hyde isn’t one of them.”
“I understand.”
Milliken didn’t appear happy but Phillip wasn’t here to coddle the man. “Now, if that’s all . . . ?”
With a nod, Milliken rose and swiftly departed. Phillip stood and rolled his shoulders, the stress of the evening wearing heavily on him. Between Eva’s bizarre reaction earlier and Milliken’s thinly veiled threats, he needed to relieve some tension. Oh, and he couldn’t forget that he’d come inside Eva. He sighed, appalled at his own stupidity. He was always so careful, took every precaution with his partners. After what happened with Caroline, he never wanted to be uncertain as to a child’s parentage ever again.
Strange, though, that the thought of Eva heavy and round with his child did not cause him to break out in a cold sweat as with previous affairs. If she conceived he would be honorable and do the right thing. He could almost see the two of them together. Marriage to a woman such as her would never be dull, that was for certain.
Not that she would agree. No, the woman had run away from him faster than a fox with a pack of hounds on its heels. His fists clenched just remembering it.
He set out for the ballroom, determined to punch something.
The Saturday evening dinner crowd at Sherry’s contained table after table of the most well-dressed people in New York, with diamonds and ostrich feathers each way one turned. Everyone ate tiny delicacies and drank champagne, the atmosphere loud and raucous, like a posh circus. This was her first outing to the legendary restaurant and Eva couldn’t stop staring as she followed Nora to their dining table, Julius Hatcher directly behind them.
Once they were seated, she leaned over to her elegantly turned-out friend. “Are they all celebrating something?”
Julius snorted. “Yes, being wealthy and lazy.” Julius, Eva had learned, worked hard for his fortune, not having been born to a well-off family. The man rarely left his office, except to spend time with Nora, the two still posing as betrothed until their wedding this autumn.
Nora smirked at him. “You had your share of celebrations, my love. Let’s not forget how we met.”
He shook his head and tilted his gaze toward the ceiling. “A birthday party, once a year. She’ll never let me live it down.”
Nora glanced at Eva. “Don’t listen to him. One does not acquire a reputation such as my husband’s from one bacchanal a year. Regardless, this is a typical evening in New York. It’s quite gay all the time.”
No wonder Nora was so fond of her newfound city. Her friend craved excitement and fun. Eva was much the opposite, more serious, focused on architecture and overseeing her father’s projects. She’d never cared for the balls and soirées. The best part of her three betrothals had been the ability to skip all those tedious social events.
Was this chaos what Phillip enjoyed about New York as well? She hadn’t seen him since she climbed into a hack after their . . . encounter at Madison Square Garden the other night. His absence at the construction site turned out to be a blessing. She couldn’t think of him without her skin going up in flames.
Twice a week. Was the entire thing a mistake? She had agreed to intimacies but doubt had crept in since then. Stop acting like such a man, he’d told her. Well, why not? Men approached these things with distance and reason, not emotion and expectation. Should she not do the same to protect herself while enjoying their physical attraction?
Marriage was not in her future, but she did not need to give up companionship. Desire. Gratification. Phillip offered all those things and was committed to not siring any bastards on her. Why not take advantage of the opportunity? No man had ever affected her as he did . . .
If only he’d been a bit . . . gentler after the deed had concluded. That wasn’t asking too much, was it?
You want to work in a man’s world, Eva, then you must learn to act like a man. She could almost hear her father’s voice giving this advice, he’d said it so often.
So, no. She required no coddling, in either the affair or at the construction site.
But she would force him to promise the affair would not impact her role on the project. If one of them grew dissatisfied with the arrangement, she had to know those issues would remain separate from the work.
After all, the work came first.
The menus were delivered and Eva grasped hers eagerly, ready to take her mind off her employer. Julius asked for a bottle of champagne and Nora ordered nearly everything on the menu, saying Eva “positively must” try a bite of each dish.
After the champagne had been uncorked and served, Nora held up her glass in a toast. “To good friends and extended visits.”
“Here, here,” Julius said and clinked his glass to both of theirs.
Eva touched her glass with Nora’s. “An extended visit that is merely temporary.”
“Oh, of course,” her friend said, though the sparkle in her eyes suggested she didn’t quite believe it. “By the way, how was your visit with Mrs. Mansfield?”
Eva’s throat closed on a mouthful of champagne and she began choking. Nora patted her back delicately, no doubt enjoying catching Eva off guard. When she could breathe, Eva studied her friend’s sly expression. “How on earth did you know about that?”
“Our driver, of course.”
“She has all of Cortlands’ servants eating out of the palm of her hand,” Julius said. “They tell her everything.”
“True, so there’s no use in lying. Now what did Mrs. Mansfield wish to discuss with you?” Nora reached over and put a hand over her husband’s eyes so he couldn’t see. Phillip? she mouthed.
“No. She has need of an architect.”
Nora dropped her hand. “For?”
“She’s interested in adding on to her Newport home. The plans have been drawn up by a local firm but she’s unhappy with what’s been proposed.”
Julius shook his head. “The house is already huge, and rumor has it Mansfield’s forbidden the alterations altogether.”
It was Nora’s turn to be amazed. “Where did you hear that?”
“You are not the only well-informed one,” he said through a satisfied grin.
“The most knowledgeable hermit in New York City.” Nora patted his arm affectionately. “Now, Eva, how did you respond? Did you agree to get your father to help her?”
“Not exactly. She wants to hire me.”
“You?” Nora clutched Eva’s forearm. “You mean as yourself?”
“Yes.” She grinned, unable to hide her glee. “I was as surprised as you are.”
“It’s quite the coup, but what if your current employer has a problem with this? I would hate for you to jeopardize anything to do with the hotel project.”
The thought had occurred to Eva, but she honestly did not see how Phillip could complain. The two projects had nothing to do with one another—not that she had any intention of telling him. Let his mother share that news. “I’m not doing anything to jeopardize the hotel. Merely drawing up an idea for her to consider.”
“So what did you think of her?”
Eva considered this a moment, sifting through her impressions of Phillip’s mother. Mrs. Mansfield had acted entirely properly, with rigid politeness, but there was a steely determination underneath that Eva could relate to. “I liked her. She’s forthright and has a no-nonsense approach that I appreciate. And she’s intelligent. She had no difficulty in explaining the issues to me or following the discussion of possible problems.”
“Interesting,” Nora murmured before sipping her champagne.
“Do not get ideas, Nora.”
When Nora merely smiled cryptically, Julius stepped in. “I believe Nora is smirking because not many people in New York say positive things about Mrs. Mansfield. She’s rather terrifying, in a Lady Macbeth sort of way.”
“Lady Macbeth? That’s ridiculous. She’s hardly sinister. I sense she’s a lonely older woman who needs to keep busy.”
Food began arriving at that point, black-coated waiters arranging small plates for them to share. Champagne was refilled, napkins settled on laps. Eva surveyed the array of sausage, cheese, olives, caviar, and mackerel in white wine . . . Goodness, it all appeared delicious.
As they ate, no fewer than three gentlemen approached their table at various times to speak with Julius about the exchange, clearly fishing for tips on stocks. Eva leaned over to her friend during the third visit. “How does he stand it?”
“He hates it, truth be told. He tolerates them for my sake, but I think it’s one of the reasons he hardly leaves the house anymore.”
How . . . sad. She remembered going out with her father and people stopping him to ask for unsolicited advice. Free consulting, her father used to call it. As she started to relate that to Nora, she noticed movement on the stairs near the front door. A tall man with light brown hair was leading a woman up the stairs toward the private dining salons. Phillip.
She froze and watched his long legs easily handle the steps as he smiled down at the woman in an open and warm manner. He seemed . . . enraptured. Completely engrossed in her. Eva knew the look well, as he’d given her the same smile two nights ago.
“That is Miss Rebecca Hall.”
Eva did not take her eyes from the pair. “I suppose he’s taking her to dinner.”
“Yes, it appears so. Those are her parents directly behind them. I hear their families are keen on a match between the two.”
Eva’s stomach dropped somewhere on the dining room floor, then she chastised herself for the reaction. He meant nothing to her, merely a pleasant distraction from the loneliness of staying in a new city. Phillip would get two nights of her time each week and beyond that, they would lead their own lives. She had no hold over the man.
Besides, she couldn’t afford to care about someone who lived an ocean away. Her father and her life were back in England. She had every intention of returning as soon as possible. The other night didn’t mean anything. You both have responsibilities and expectations that do not include the other.
“What happened? What did I miss?” Julius had concluded his conversation and turned back to the table.
Nora tipped her chin toward the stairs. “Mansfield’s just arrived with Miss Hall and her parents.”
“Oh, yes?” He craned his neck to see the front entrance but the couple had already disappeared. “I know her father. Family made their money in shipping some years back. She seems like a nice enough girl. Oof!” The table rattled at Julius’s grunt. “Why’d you kick me?” he asked his wife.
“Because not everyone wants to hear you sing the praises of other women.” Nora flicked her gaze toward Eva.
“Oh, I don’t mind,” Eva quickly said. “I’m certain she is a lovely person. It doesn’t bother me at all. Honestly.”
“Thou doth protest too much, methinks,” Nora noted.
“No, I haven’t. I’ve protested the exact proper amount considering the situation.”
“Wait,” Julius said. “Are you saying you’ve developed some level of affection for Mansfield?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Eva said.
“Yes, that’s right,” Nora said at the same time.
Eva narrowed her eyes on Nora, the woman who was supposed to be her friend. “Stop it. You’re the one who hopes I develop affection for him. You want me to stay in New York.”
“Of course, because I’m the most selfish woman on the planet.” Nora rolled her eyes. “That is not the reason. I have eyes and I also know you better than anyone else. You have developed affection for him, Lady Eva. Past tense.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Is that so?” Nora quirked a brow then leaned in and lowered her voice. “Then why did you arrive home so disheveled on Thursday evening?”
Eva gasped, her skin blazing. She reached for her champagne, desperate to cool off her suddenly dry throat.
“Nora, darling,” Julius said gently. “You’re embarrassing her, and this is not really the place for such a private conversation.”
“You’re right. I’m being crass and I apologize, Eva. I’ll drop it.” She plucked an olive off one of the gold-rimmed plates. “For now.”
Eva nearly groaned. “You’re worse than a matronly chaperone.”
“Only because you think I’m not paying attention to what’s going on . . . but I am.”
“For what it’s worth,” Julius said as he speared a pickle. “Mansfield’s a good choice. I’ve always liked him. He isn’t afraid of hard work, unlike most of these gents. He could just live off his trust and bet on the ponies, but he’s more interested in trying to build up cities. Dashed respectable, if you ask me.”
“See?” Nora gestured toward her husband. “And Julius doesn’t like anyone.”
“That’s not true.” Julius snatched his wife’s outstretched hand and brought it to his lips. “I like you.”
Nora’s face flushed and Eva was pleased to see her friend so loved and adored. Would she ever have that with a man? The lump in her throat expanded into a boulder inside her chest. All she wanted to do was leave, to forget about perfect Phillip and his perfect dinner companion. Undoubtedly they would marry, live in his perfect Italian home, and have perfect babies.
Perfect, perfect, perfect. The exact opposite of a woman like her, who never quite fit in anywhere.
She dropped her napkin on the table and started to rise. “I think I’ll go home.”
Nora’s head swiveled, expression full of concern. “Wait, Eva. Don’t leave. Is this because of . . . ?” Her eyes flicked to the ceiling.
“No, no. Just feeling unwell all of a sudden. You two enjoy your—”
Nora clasped Eva’s hand to stop her. “Have I ever told you how well acquainted I am with Sherry’s second floor?”
“What, to spy on them?” The very idea caused her to feel pathetic. She wouldn’t do it. “There’s no reason to go up there. I have no claim on him and, more importantly, I’m soon departing for London. I cannot leave my father for good. He still needs me.”
“Eva—”
She pulled her hand free of her friend’s grasp. “Thank you for dinner, Julius. I shall see you at home, Nora. Good night.”