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“I didn’t go to many social events,” she said, unwilling to go into detail. “And I left town soon after.”
“You do realize your veiled answers only add to your mystery, don’t you?”
“My apologies. That is not my intention. I left for my father’s home in Texas. I was married there, and have only recently come back for a short stay.” She held up her left hand with Garret’s ring on her third finger.
She’d thought the mention of her marriage would deter him. It didn’t. Robert seemed disappointed, to be sure, but in no time was talking amicably once again.
“Why has your husband not escorted you here?” he asked.
The direct way in which he spoke to her made her uncomfortable, but it was the way with society men, she conceded. “He didn’t come with me to Boston. He’s terribly busy and couldn’t be spared from his duties for any length of time.”
To her relief, outside the window, the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Good enough. Time to take her leave. She excused herself and said goodbye, but Robert Faraday didn’t seem inclined to take a hint, and followed her out the door.
Robert escorted her down the street, talking in a constant stream until the window of a shop stopped Eliza in her tracks. The most appealing gold pocket watch she had ever encountered shone through the polished glass. Granted, she hadn’t looked at too many fine pieces closely, but this particular one seemed to be made for her. Well, not specifically for her, but for her to give to Garret. Surely she had known as soon as she’d stepped foot outside the cold bosom of the Hall estate, she would never spend money on herself.
She was in search of some small something to bring back to Garret, as an apology, perhaps. Or a belated wedding gift for her handsome groom. Maybe this could simply be a token of her love and devotion to him. Whichever the reason, it didn’t matter. She only knew this pocket watch was made for a great man. A man such as Garret Shaw.
Of high quality, the watch on display was polished gold and lay open, not to the clock face, but to an intricate engraving on the innards of the piece. A golden wolf raced desperately against the setting sun in the background. So balanced and detailed was the artwork, the small possession enraptured her. She stood mute on the walkway, missing every word that boring old Robert Faraday said.
“Does your silence mean you accept my invitation?” Robert asked.
“Mmm?” She straightened up to try and catch onto the conversation.
“My father’s party? Tomorrow night?” he asked, one eyebrow arched.
“Your father is throwing a party and you are inviting me?”
“Say you’ll come. It promises to be dreadfully boring, but having you there would lighten things up a bit, I think.”
“That sounds...” she started, searching for an excuse not to go. “Dreadfully boring,” she finished, using his words, which elicited a laugh from her undeterred admirer. She grew irritated with the undesired attention.
“I won’t take no for an answer, I’m afraid. I shall simply have to follow you around until you concede.”
Eliza sighed, trying not to show her misery at the thought. “Let me think on it, as I will need to speak to my Aunt Elizabeth. She will have the final say in any acceptance of invitations while I’m staying in Boston.”
Nicely done. She hadn’t lied. She would bring it up to Aunt Elizabeth as promised. All she had to do was act like she wanted to go, and Aunt Elizabeth would have her locked in her room for the duration of the gathering—the upswing of handing social decisions over to her personal saboteur.
Faraday finally took his leave, assuring her he would send written word with the details of the party to the Hall estate promptly. Eliza smiled her relief when he walked away, and purchased the pocket watch immediately afterward. She headed home without delay. She’d had quite enough excitement for one day, and had no intention or desire to run into any of the other people in town she knew. The walk home took an eternity, and she found herself desperately missing Buck. Again.
By the time she reached the Hall estate, she was drained, bedraggled, and thanks to the moisture in the air, her hair had adopted the look of a deranged animal.
“Mrs. Eliza! It’s important I talk at you right away,” Berta screech-whispered as Eliza removed her fitted jacket.
That Berta had finally called her by her preferred name was good, but her friend’s tone had been worrisome. Berta ushered her into the hallway, and then into a secret panel leading to a hidden hallway, usually only used by the servants so they could appear as if by magic when summoned. The lighting was dim, and the pathway between the walls narrow, but it was private enough.
“Mrs. Eliza,” Berta said breathlessly. “You must be more careful, girl. Mrs. Hall has spies everywhere. Everywhere, do you hear?”
“Whatever are you talking about? I have done nothing wrong,” she whispered, baffled.
“Someone saw you talking to a man in a hat shop, Mrs. Eliza. Rode straight for Hall estate to tell Lady Hall, and she had me pen a letter straight away. She wanted me to write a letter and send it to Rockdale.”
“Oh dear,” she breathed. “It wasn’t as if I wanted to talk to the man! He recognized me from a party and wouldn’t leave me alone.”
“Oh, I know.” Berta smiled wickedly in the dim light. “Mrs. Hall’s eyesight is fading, so she didn’t notice what I was actually writing while she fabricated some story about you having found a new man of attractive means.”
Eliza gaped at Berta in shock. “What did you write in the letter?”
“Well, mostly I wrote down next week’s kitchen list, and after I ran out of food I started reciting old nursery rhymes me mum used to sing to me. Your man will be right confused when he receives that letter.”
