Apparently, she would know if he lied so he had better just get it out there. “I do not align myself with the Nazis.”
She drummed her fingers upon her knee for several seconds. “Finally. The truth. Which now makes me wonder, why did you lie?”
He needed to be careful. Her ability to guess when he was lying was... disconcerting. “Most of the people who have hired me as a driver prefer to have a non-threatening person behind the wheel. Someone without opinions. Someone uneducated, who they can command or walk all over, if they are so inclined.”
“Another honest answer. Thank you.”
She didn’t move to leave the car, but also didn’t say anything else.
“Might I ask what you heard in my voice that told you I lied?” It was far too forward to ask such a question, butsheopened that door.
Her fingers drummed a fast rhythm again, and her face tilted toward the roof of the car. “I am an expert at hearing things.”
Not really an explanation. He took a breath to say so, but held his tongue.
“For instance. Just now, you wanted to say something else, but you decided against it. Are you worried about losing your job?”
Good grief. He wasn’t going to get anything past this woman, so he better just spill the truth. “Yes, I was worried about losing this job. I was also not convinced with your explanation.”
She laughed, and it was almost musical. Which made sense for this woman surrounded by melodies.
“I appreciate your bluntness.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Leaning forward again, she dipped her chin, tilted it back and forth as if she was weighing a decision, and then reached a hand forward to the back of his seat. Her fingers tapped out another fast rhythm.
Rick held his breath. Would she learn all his secrets with her strange ability to suss out the truth? Her dossier said she was a prodigy, but was she also an agent? A spy? But for whom?
Her tapping stopped. “I don’t think you have noticed quite yet, but I’m sure eventually you would since we will be spending so much time together, and you seem to be an observant man.” The nearness of her voice startled him from his thoughts.
He waited.
The rhythm of her fingers began in earnest. Then stopped. “Mr. Zimmerman, I am blind.”
Everything slowed for a moment, as if his head was stuffed with cotton wool. Then the day’s events zipped through his mind’s eye.
The whispers between her and her assistant.
The assistant’s discreet hand beneath the pianist’s elbow.
How Miss Brigman hovered close when Miss Frappier entered or exited a room.
His gaze went back to the rearview mirror.
She wasn’t staring at the back of his head on purpose. She didn’t know he was looking at her in the mirror.
“Well, this is embarrassing.” Miss Frappier leaned back against the leather seat. “I’ve had a few reactions to my disability, but instant inability to speak is not generally one.”
Nice job, Rick.He gripped the steering wheel. “I apologize, Miss Frappier. I didn’t even ... That is to say, it wasn’t...”
That musical laughter filled the car again. Was she laughing at him? He couldn’t blame her.
“You don’t have to feel sorry for me, Mr. Zimmerman. Or findthe right words to say. I wanted you to know because you’ll be with me on the tour.”
Scarlet burned his cheeks, but he couldn’t stop the grin tugging at his lips. “Thank you, miss. Forgive me for my delayed response.”
Miss Frappier’s hand reached toward the armrest of the door, her slim fingers wrapped around the handle. “No forgiveness necessary. However I would ask that you not say anything to anyone outside my circle. It’s not something I necessarily hide. Yet I have also chosen not to advertise it. There is no sense in calling attention to myself. I manage just fine. I’m sure you can appreciate my desire for discretion.”
