He could do that well enough.After all, he’d had plenty of practice.
The secretary’s posture softened with a subtle relief.“If you’ll just sign here, then?”
He turned his book to Neil and handed him a pen.Neil signed the page, casting a questioning look back at Adam as he did so.
The secretary snapped the book shut.“Welcome to the club, sir.”
“Yes.Well.”Neil straightened awkwardly.
Adam walked out the door.
He spotted Sykes at the end of the hall, talking to one of the waiters.The majordomo glanced their way as though trying to discern how their conversation with the secretary had gone.
Adam wanted to punch him.The impulse was both irrational and overwhelming.
“Why did you tell him we didn’t want rooms?”Neil pressed in a whisper as he joined Adam in the hall.“I thought we were going to stay in case it took a while to locate Borthwick.”
“Change of plans,” Adam returned shortly.
“But—” Neil clamped his mouth shut as Sykes approached them.
“I believe the club secretary will have related that your party would best be accommodated in the North Dining room,” he offered with practiced courtesy.“Shall I direct you there now?”
At the majordomo’s careful tone, Constance’s expression blanked with mortified understanding.
Adam stepped between Constance and Skyes, a move that put him closer to the majordomo than was strictly polite.He pinned the man with what he knew to be a damned intimidating glare.“I think we can find our own way around.”
The majordomo schooled his expression to blankness.He gave a short bow.“Very good, sir.”
Adam watched the man go.Part of him ached for Sykes to turn around and make an issue out of it—one that he might’ve settled with his fists.
“I see,” Constance said quietly from behind him.
The words hit like two short, breathless blows.
Adam burned with shame.He forced himself to face her anyway.“It’s my fault.I know how places like this work.I should’ve steered you off back at the hotel.
“I doubt I would have listened to you if you’d tried.”Constance’s voice held a pale shadow of her usual wryness.
“Connie—” Ellie began, taut with anger and concern.
“I don’t understand.”Neil looked between them helplessly.“What’s going on?”
Constance lifted her chin, her eyes flashing with challenge.“We’re not taking rooms because I wouldn’t be allowed, Stuffy.Because I’m part Indian.”
Neil’s face drained.“But that’s… That’s…”
His look hardened, shifting to an expression of heated fury that Adam wasn’t sure he’d ever seen before.
Neil spun on his heel, stalking toward the secretary’s office.
Adam caught him by the shoulder, forcing him to halt.“We do that now, we’re getting kicked out of here.”
Neil shoved Adam’s hand away with a quick, violent gesture.“What, then?We’re just going to stand around pretending it’s fine that they’re excluding people based on the color of their skin?”
“That’s what places like this are for, Fairfax,” Adam returned.“Keeping certain kinds of people out.That’s why they call them clubs.”
“Perhaps we should continue this conversation outside.”Ellie’s voice was a tense murmur.
