Page 49 of The Vanished

“I said I was sorry,” Geneva muttered.

“Did you? I don’t recall receiving an apology.”

“I’m sorry. I will never steal away again.”

“We’ll see about that,” Honor said, not sounding convinced. “Can we have a pub lunch?”

“What do you say, Geneva?” Jesse asked.

“Someone should stay here and look after Father.”

“Nurse Jeffries can look after him,” Honor replied. “She arrived while you were out. He seems to like her.”

“How can you tell?” Geneva asked.

“He didn’t ask her to leave.”

“That’s something, I suppose. I should go upstairs and say hello. And ask Father if we can go out for the day.”

“Do you need his permission?” Jesse asked. “You are of age.”

“It’s a matter of courtesy,” Geneva replied.

“Father won’t mind,” Honor said again.

Honor had a point. Douglas would hardly notice they were gone, since he spent so little time with them these days, and she could hardly allow Honor to go off with Jesse unchaperoned. It was an outdated concept, but what did they know of his character or past experiences with women?

“All right,” Geneva agreed. “We can go tomorrow, if you like. Or any day this week.”

“Swell,” Jesse said. “I don’t suppose you will permit me to drive?”

“Not a chance, but you can crank the motor,” Geneva conceded with a smile.

The grin slid off her face when she recalled that, as soon as her father was gone, Jesse would own both the motorcar and the crank, as well as everything else she now thought of as theirs.

“I want a new dress for the party,” Honor announced. “All my frocks are old-fashioned and childish. I’m no longer a little girl.”

“No, you are not,” Jesse said and grinned at her in a way that made Geneva want to slap him.

“I doubt Mrs. Harmon will have enough time to sew a new gown,” she said.

“I don’t want some fuddy-duddy gown, Genny. I want a sleeveless, knee-length frock with sequins and beads,” Honor countered and jutted out her chin defiantly. “There’s bound to be a dress shop in town. And if there isn’t, I will order a new frock from a catalog.”

“I doubt it will arrive in time for the party.”

“It will.”

Jesse smiled awkwardly and backed away. “I don’t think I have anything of value to add to this discussion. I will see you both later.”

“Where are you going?” Honor demanded.

“I’m going for a walk along the shore. Alone,” he added when she looked like she was about to offer to come along.

Jesse bowed formally and strode from the conservatory.

“He’s actually rather nice,” Honor said as soon as he was out of earshot. “All this time I was expecting some hideous gargoyle. I was horrid to him last night,” she admitted with a sheepish smile.

“He is nice, isn’t he?”