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Despite everything she must have read about me, she can still look at me.
He forced his eyes back to Chadbourne. “Your man Irons spoke out on my behalf, and I’m here to thank you for it.”
“Please sit.” Chadbourne’s reply was a clear reminder of the social graces he lacked.
“I won’t be staying, not long enough to interrupt a visit with your sister—again.”
“Very we—”
“Your visit is a surprise, but we can manage spur-of-the moment occasions, can we not, brother?”
Chadbourne stared at Clara with near bewilderment.
James delighted in her meaningful words.She’s welcoming me.
He found himself sitting in a brocade chair across from them, taking inordinate pleasure in Chadbourne’s stiffness. He had no doubt that without Clara’s intervention, the earl would have left him standing on the porch without a second thought.
The rub was that James half-hated himself for playing along with Clara’s pretense of a social call. Whatever she was doing, it couldn’t end well.
When has that stopped you from spending whatever time you can with her?
Eventually, Chadbourne turned his attention to James. “My condolences, Robertson. I understand that you lost two employees in the tragedy.”
“Two good men.”
“Dreadful,” Chadbourne uttered in a monotone.
“My brother and I join all of London—nay, England—in mourning and praying after the tragedy. Know that we’ve both been quite affected by it. We wish you and your enterprise well in the recovery.”
James wanted to shrug off her reassurance, at least as to her cold fish of a brother, but her words, as ever, touched him. He couldn’t take his eyes off Clara, and he could see in his peripheral vision that neither could Chadbourne. He watched his sister with a nonplussed stare.
Clara didn’t return her brother’s gaze; she kept her eyes onhim.
Is she telling me she’ll return to me?
“Shall we request tea?” Clara looked questioningly from James to her brother.
Both men shook their heads and spoke at the same time.
“He said he’s not staying.”
“I must be on my way.”
Clara’s eyes widened. One of her hands gripped the other until it was white.
“Such devastation by the fire,” she said quietly, “but what can be done except come together and rebuild?” She let go of her death grip and gestured elegantly toward her brother and then to James. “How heartening to see such cooperation between you! David, it’s clear that your bravery in speaking the truth about the fire is appreciated by Mr. Robertson. And Mr. Robertson, we thank you for paying your respects today.”
James broke the silence that followed. “You are gracious, Lady Clara.”
He didn’t care about pleasing Chadbourne, but after Clara’s words of peace, he would do anything not to offend her. He forced his gaze to Chadbourne, knowing that beholding Clara overlong carried a risk.
“Most gracious,” Chadbourne agreed. His voice held a hint of warmth when he looked at his sister; when his eyes locked back on James’, the chill returned.
“As were your actions at the Council, Chadbourne, through Irons. I’m here to recognize that. You could have let me hang, and you didn’t. I thank you.”
Chadbourne inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Injustice on top of tragedy would serve no one.”
“Such a tragedy can refresh one’s perspective,” said Clara.
