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She made a shy curtsy, but said nothing.
Would she not offer her name? His pulse quickened. Etiquette prohibited strangers from being introduced without a third party. But he was desperate, and in a desperate moment such manners were obsolete. “And will you be so kind as to tell me your name?”
Her face flushed with color, adding to the pink that already decorated her skin. “My name is Eliza Campbell.”
Thomas stepped back and straightened. “You wouldn’t happen to be related to the late Dr. Robert Campbell, would you?”
A shadow of grief darkened her gentle features. “Aye. He was my Father.”
The air in his lungs evaporated and all words escaped him. This magnificent woman was one of Robert’s daughters. Somehow he’d figured the Campbell girls would be young and gangly. Eliza was anything but that.
Her lips tightened and her fingers twisted the purse string in her hand. His heart swelled with the knowledge that her grief must be even more powerful than his own. He wanted to give her some kind of comfort, but every word that entered his mind seemed inadequate.
Thomas lowered his voice. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
For a second she didn’t respond, didn’t acknowledge that she’d heard him. Then slowly, she raised her eyes and offered a polite smile. “Thank you.”
An alarming thought suddenly revealed itself and attacked his mind like an armed Indian. Did she know the truth about Robert’s involvement in the Sons of Liberty? Most likely not. Thomas’s brow knit. Tonight’s revelation to Martin could put her in very real danger.
No. They wouldn’t hurt women and children. And since there were no living men to capture, there was nothing to fear. Was there?
Eliza turned toward the door. “I thank you for your assistance. I should be going.” She stopped as if she were reluctant to leave.
Tell her.
Thomas paused.
Tell her you knew her father.
There it was again. He couldn’t deny the voice of God.
Despite his reservations, Thomas stepped forward. “I . . . I knew your father, Miss Campbell. He was a man of great honor, and I admired him very much.”
“Truly?” Her eyes searched him with a piercing kind of longing.
Just then, another younger woman came to the door. She didn’t enter, but stood on the stoop in the pouring rain.
“There you are, Liza. Forgive me for taking so long in Aunt Grace’s shop, I just—” She stopped and her gaze jumped between them for several seconds before she started up again. “This isn’t the bakery, Liza.” A mischievous smile spread on her face and Thomas pressed his lips together to keep from grinning.
Eliza turned toward the girl and smiled. “Forgive me, Kitty. I couldn’t find it and Mr. Watson was kind enough to point me in the right direction.” She took the girl by the hand and led her into the shop. “Mr. Watson, allow me introduce you to my younger sister, Miss Katherine Campbell.”
Thomas bowed, realizing how absurd his assumptions about Robert’s daughters had been. He should have visited Robert long ago. “Very pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Katherine.”
The young girl offered a polite bow and smiled at Thomas before turning back to her sister, with a grin that dripped with glee. Eliza glanced at Thomas again and his muscles turned weightless. He’d
never seen such dark eyes.
“Forgive me for taking so much of your time,” she said, pulling her wet cloak tighter around her shoulders. “I must allow you to return to your work.”
“Think nothing of it.”
She stepped into the rain and Thomas strained to think of something he could say or do to make her stay, but his mind worked at half-speed and nothing satisfactory sprung to life in his jumbled brain.
Before walking away, she peered over her shoulder once more then slipped her arm around her sister. They made their way through the busy, muddy street in the direction of the bakery.
Thomas stood in the doorway like a chunk of useless iron, unable to take his gaze off the two women until they entered the shop.
Miss Campbell. Eliza.
